Meet Brandon L. | Always Lucky Studio

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

Hi Brandon, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started Always Lucky Studio with the intention of helping creatives and small businesses bring their ideas to life. I’ve always found strength and excitement in collaborating with others, and after years of working as a graphic designer and mortgage processor, I knew that I didn’t want to be confined to a desk or limited to one task for the rest of my life.

Personally, I am at my best when I have a healthy balance between working digitally and physically. I enjoy having all parts of myself involved in a project, regardless of how easy or difficult it may be. As an artist, I know the importance of maintaining this balance, as it’s what helps us face the juggling act that is logistics, planning, and execution.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Before I opened Always Lucky Studio, I was a street artist under the name of INKSAP. I created works depicting Vietnamese families and individuals going about their daily lives, all while wearing gas masks. A lot of my early work spoke to the importance of keeping our environment clean and healthy, which is why I often incorporated pieces of trash into the pieces I made. Each piece brought awareness to the issue at hand, while simultaneously showing it in a positive yet different light. Progress is possible!

It’s cliche, but I got to where I am today by simply never giving up and never taking “no” for an answer. When I announced that I was going to start my own business, some people close to me questioned whether or not it would be a profitable endeavor. They worried about its stability and how it would grow, but as someone not adverse to the unknown, I knew in my heart that this was the path I needed to take. While certain elements were easy, there were plenty of days where I wondered if I was doing the right thing. “Who was to say it will work out?” I would think, but just as quickly as I did, I realized that I’m the only one who can make it happen, and I knew I would do so tenfold. Everyday I grow and learn, so does the business. I have no doubt that Always Lucky Studio will continue to expand and prosper.

As with many things in life, each day brings a new challenge, but it’s never one that I don’t greet the same way I do my customers: with a smile and “Let’s get to work!”. I’m very fortunate to have a group of supportive friends around me that help me work through some of these challenges, and I think having people around you–ones that are positive and want to see you succeed–are of the utmost importance.

The brand that is Always Lucky Studio is simple: we want to help you succeed. Let us be that group of friends cheering you on!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles is a city with so many things to do that it’s difficult to give any sort of blanket itinerary. If I were to give just a few of my favorite things, I’d probably suggest they take a trip to the beach (preferably one with good surf), swing by Descanso Gardens up in Glendale, grab a meal at Suehiro Cafe in Little Tokyo, hit some art shows across downtown Los Angeles, and treat themselves to a little sightseeing tour of my art around town. Trust me, you’ll see some posters out there. Just keep an eye out!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I want to give a shoutout to my soon-to-be wife, Allison. She always encourages me to keep pushing forward, and she has a way with words that can lift my spirits on any occasion. In addition, she helps run the operations here at Always Lucky Studio, so without her the studio would be a hectic one man band!

Next, I want to shout-out and thank my friend Rolland Berry for always believing in me, and for showing me the way of the artist. When I dropped out of college, Rolland took me under his wing, and for four years I learned how to foster my creativity into a career. What I learned at Rolland’s studio is the concept of artistically going twelve rounds, and learning how to get back up if I’m ever knocked down.

Lastly, I would like to give recognition to my mother. We have not seen eye-to-eye on most things, but I will always acknowledge that being a single, immigrant mother and raising kids is a herculean task. I’ll always appreciate your dedication to helping me become a fine, upstanding young man. I hope I can make you proud.

Some books I would like to recommend would be Endurance by Alfred, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by B.F., and Grant by Ron Chernow.

Website: www.alwaysluckystudio.com

Instagram: @alwaysluckystudio.com

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/always-lucky-studio-los-angeles

Image Credits
All images are Always Lucky Studio