We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel LoBosco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It’s hard to think of HemlockVale as a business hahaha. It is really just me making whatever I think is cool and hoping someone else finds it cool enough to buy it. It was always my dream to be able to work on my own art and have it pay for my living, and apparel is just a perfect avenue to make my work accessable to everyone. My background in screen printing made me figure out what looks good, prints good, and feels good. So I just took that and ran with it!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a fantasy & nature artist! I think that deep down, everyone just wants to be a super cool fantasy wizard that can turn their enemies to ash with fireballs and ponder orbs in a tall stone tower overgrown with ivy. Or maybe thats just me? I was a pretty bored kid growing up and I daydreamed a lot. Crazy thing is, the more you try to visualize things in your head the better you get at art. The technical skills are just additional things that if you are like me, you never learned or figured out from a youtube tutorial. Stubbornness will always win out over talent.

I want to say yes it is easy to be an artist. If you love making art, nothing can stop you from getting good at it. But the truth is it’s hard because of the other things being an artist comes with. Social media is always changing, day jobs are draining, and folks would rather pay for an AI tool to vomit some blended up chunks of other real artists work than support them. I’m not bitter… But you know… If I was a wizard with fireballs, AI artists would fear me slightly less than they fear a pencil and paper.

I want whoever is reading this to know that if I can make it this far, you can probably go further.. Never give up on your dreams!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Catamount trail, my favorite hike near Colorado Springs. The views are unmatched and it’s even better in the fall. I could sit and draw there for hours.

I have a weakness for Cheba Hut and usually draw in there for a few hours after work. The bikeride on Sinton trail I take to get there is also super refreshing and full of wildlife.

I also do archery, so I go to Bear Creek Terrace and shoot some arrows on occaisi0n.

If you are looking for art supplies, my favorite place to go is HR Meininger Co. You can always find some tempting new art supplies for any medium.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to the people that have given me so many chances. I’m a slow learner but I don’t give up, and the poeple who had patience for me are why I am where I am today. The people who believed in me and encouraged me even when I was starting off with nothing to show. I’ll never give up on what I love, and I have a burning desire to succeed thanks to you all.

My sister who made my silly drawings feel so special.

My parents who supported my first attempts at launching a business.

My old boss Katie who gave me a shot at my first design gig.

And all the artists and art friends that have inspired me with their own creativity.

Thank you all!

Website: https://www.hemlockvale.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemlockvale

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lobosco-94b9a5227?trk=people-guest_people_search-card

Twitter: https://www.x.com/hemlockvale

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