Meet Bridget Dvorak | Artist

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

Hi Bridget, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always known that I rarely fit into a traditional mold… I tried my hand in Corporate America and it was not a good fit for me. I knew I wanted to build something that I loved doing and that brought other people joy too. I have always been creative and thus – I became an artist.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have had a laundry list of attempts of making art into a career. And I am beyond grateful for each and every one. I was a professional photographer for over ten years, I tried my hand at art fairs with hand crafted items, I had fine art photography in galleries, I attempted making trendy items for Etsy… none of it fully panned out how I wanted… but it DID lead me to learning more about myself and what drives me as an artist today.

My current art revolves around finding joy in musty old things. I used to be weird about sharing the fact that I love antiques, creepy old stuff and the history of objects. I didn’t think many people would resonate with that side of me… but boy oh boy have I discovered a different story. Turns out there’s plenty of other people who LOVE digging through old boxes in their grandparent’s basement to find “treasures.” So now when I create art, I find inspiration from things that light my soul on fire, that excite me, that make me ask questions, and that tell stories.

Finding my path to this art niche has NOT been easy. As many artists can probably attest, it’s a twisty-windy road down the artist’s career path. So my main advice to other aspiring artists is: Don’t be afraid to pivot. If something isn’t working for you… pivot. If you HATE what path you’ve chosen… pivot. If you begin to dislike the medium you’re working in… pivot. If you touch upon something that feels right but you’re not sure if you should pursue it… pivot into it!! Creativity is ever flowing and cannot be expected to remain the same forever. So the more open you are to your art, business and self pivoting to the flow of creative energy, the easier it’ll be to weather the storm during those transitions.

I am so thankful that my circle of humans love me for the weird, witchy, old-soul artist that I am. I find that the more I lean into who I truly am, the more things work out for me. I have fully embraced that I love creating art from the couch under a pile of blankets (I’m also oftentimes a floor-gremlin under a pile of blankets), so creating digital art from my iPad feels the best to me. I have fully embraced that I love spooky, witchy, old things…but also love color and am not afraid to combine the two. I have fully embraced that my art is best when it tells a story that attaches to people’s heart strings. I’m not here to create mass-produced, trendy items. I’m here to create art that pulls at your heart’s core memories and passions.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh my – soooo many places to mention. So here’s my top choices depending on your vibe…

For my antique lovers:
– Do not sleep on this antique store… Old Crows Antiques, in Littleton. They even have a root beer bar inside. Yes. You read that right. You can get a root beer float while shopping for antiques. The store is HUGE so you’ll be thankful for the refreshments to keep ya going.
– A classic South Broadway shop, The Oddemporium, is another must-see for the oddities/antique lover.
– Don’t look over less advertised museums like the Molly Brown House or Colorado Railroad Museum.

For my witchy souls:
– My all-time favorite metaphysical & witchy shop is Ritualcravt in Wheat Ridge. It is SUCH a vibe, and their entire staff is really helpful for anything you have questions about. They also offer classes on a lot of different topics which is awesome!
– If it’s the right time of year, my favorite witchy Expo is Body, Mind, Spirit Expo.
– I also love the Belu Olisa Holistic Faire.

For my Colorado basics:
– Red Rocks. Duh. But pro-tip for first timers… enter through Entrance 3. It’s the prettiest, most majestic view to first drive into, and you get to see more of the park that’s less busy. Then exit through Entrance 1 so you still get to drive through the tunnel.
– Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret is a hidden secret in the heart of downtown under the D&F Clock Tower. They put on the best burlesque shows in town!! Best night out, in my opinion!
– My favorite hike to take out-of-towners is Apex West / Enchanted Forest Trailhead in Golden. It has prairies, deep forests, waterfalls… a little bit of everything… and not too far outside town.
– Some of my favorite areas of town to just go wander for food, shops and vibes are: Olde Town Arvada, Tennyson Street, South Broadway, and Old Town Littleton.

For my hungry humans:
– BarTaco: SERIOUSLY delicious tacos. Locally owned. SO so good.
– Parisi pizzeria, trattoria e vino: My fav. Italian go-to restaurant. They even have a counter inside for gelato for dessert. YUM. Can’t go wrong here. Plus, it’s a great area to walk around after you eat – lots of boutiques, art galleries, and even a cat cafe just up the road.
– Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery: Absolutely do not miss this spot! Fry bread loaded up with some of the yummiest toppings you can think of! GO! NOW!
– Grammy’s Goodies: Featured on Diners, Driveins, and Dives. Great locally owned spot – but be warned – the portions are HUGE! Worth every bite!!!!
– Sushi-Rama RiNo: Conveyor belt sushi?? Yep! It’s a small space – so I wouldn’t recommend larger than a party of 4 to get the best experience. But you just grab whatever sushi you like as it passes you by, and pay by the plate at the end! Super fun dining experience! (and delish sushi)
– Post Oak Barbecue: Come here hungry. Amazing bbq – my fav spot in Denver – and save room for pie from next door!
– Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen: Need a flaky biscuit breakfast sandwich? Here’s your spot. Unique flavor combos daily for the biscuits (and regular). AND DO NOT SKIP THE HASH-BROWNS.

For my thirsty peeps:
*Disclaimer… I’ve been sober for 4 years now, so these are all recommendations of my favorite places to get mocktails in Denver. You’ll have to ask someone else for recommendations for the strong stuff.*
– Honey Elixir Bar: This spot had fun mocktails that are artist-fully made and not just a fancilly-named shirly temple that’s trying to pass as a mocktail.
– Poka Lola Social Club: They have a good size mocktail menu that also offers delicious concoctions. They also have more basic nonalcoholic drinks too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Many many thanks to my parents for their continued encouragement to embrace my true self and chase my dreams. Thanks to my mom for her entrepreneurial spirit. And thanks to my dad for his passion for photography that he passed onto me. More thanks and gratitude extended to my art teachers through high school and college for pushing me to become a better artist, and continually cheering me on through my growth in the art world.

Website: www.thevelvetdot.com

Other: TikTok: @thevelvetdot