About DevKrea

About Deviant Kreations (devkrea)

Deviant Kreations, is a neurodivergent, queer and trans art boutique founded by Dandy Knopf and co-owned by Phoenix Flaxman. Our business is focused on making a change. It is rooted in intersectionality, mental health, peoples rights and committed to helping other marginalized communities. We want to provide access to art that is as unique as you are at every price point.

The word "deviant" means to be different from the norm. It often can have a negative connotation, but here I use it in a positive way. To be socially deviant, in my definition means to different, "othered", outcasts, "weird", or to be a part of a marginalized community. We are deviant, but we are not less than. 

We are based out of Harrisonburg, Virginia, located in the Harrisonburg Farmers Market and the Shops At Agora. 

 

How do you work towards your mission?

I first and foremost strive to make art that people not only enjoy, but feel represented with. And with this art business I can use my money consciously; donating monthly to organizations that need it.

How it Started:

I founded Deviant Kreations in January 2020 after graduating from JMU. After studying sociology, I knew I wanted to make a business that would help work to make a difference. The pandemic started a few months later. From there, I was suddenly thrown into the world in a way no one could have prepared for. I had to find a way to help not only pay my bills, but do something I could do from home. Suddenly, my passion was helping me not only with my depression and anxiety, but it also became a way to help brighten other people's days. In a time when we were required to be inside, I wanted to help provide something nice to look at, that you could feel good about supporting.

 It's been a constant learning and humbling experience, throughout it all I've learned so much. I tried a lot of ways to get my work out there, I read business books, and listened to podcasts, and tried a lot, and failed a lot. I thought I would need to do other jobs to support me. Then suddenly I decided to jump all in. I took a chance and made it my full time job. 

I tried opening a Pop up shop in my yard sporadically. I got a tent, and some tables and table cloths, and then I put all my work out. I made a couple of sales, in fact I made about $100 which was so exciting for me! I was making money with my art.

Form here, I tried to do all kinds of things. I thought about renting a space downtown for a shop front, but I was scared I wouldn't make enough money to make it. I didn't know where to go from there. It wasn't until the end of March of 2021 that I got accepted to be a vendor at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market. And that has afforded me the ability to pursue my passion.
Suddenly I was vending once a week at the downtown market, then I got asked to also vend at the Saturday Market. I now started learning all the things I needed to become a market vendor. I had to figure out how to set up and tear down efficiently, make an appealing booth, figure out how to display my items (all of which I'm still constantly learning and improving). My initial design looked something like this: 

I quickly learned that wind would be constantly working against me. But that didn't stop me. I adapted and improved. Everything with my booth is DIY'd, it has been a labor, but a labor of love. My business has grown with me during this time, and has shown me not only that I can overcome obstacles, but that I can help other people along the way with their own. And here we are today, I wouldn't be where I am without you and my loving support system.

 

 

If you have any suggestions for future projects, would like to collaborate with me, or have anything else you want to talk about, feel free to contact me at deviantkreations@gmail.com or on Instagram @devkrea

Live Deviantly

-Dandy

Disclaimers

  • I retain all rights to all artwork and items I create

  • I retain the rights to the image of sold & commissioned paintings

  • I retain the right to make reproductions of any and all artwork I create unless the collector has purchased the full or partial rights to the artwork (in addition to purchasing the original)

  • Contact me if you are interested in purchasing full or partial rights to your painting

  • Collectors may choose to purchase my right to reproduce the artwork to ensure it will never become a print

  • The collector or buyer may not reproduce the artwork in any way without my written permission

  • If the artwork ends up being reproduced in a magazine or other media I must be credited with @devkrea

  • Purchasing the original painting gives you the right to display the artwork in your home or business

  • Artwork may not be resold or reproduced without my written permission

  • For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dandy Knopf via deviantkreations@gmail.com