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 we use it in a positive way. To be socially deviant, in our 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?

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

How it Started:

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

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 us, or have anything else you want to talk about, feel free to contact us at deviantkreations@gmail.com or on Instagram @devkrea

Live Deviantly

-Deviant Kreations

Disclaimers

• Deviant Kreations retains all rights to all artworks and items we create

• Deviant Kreations retain the rights to the image of sold & commissioned paintings unless a license is purchased by the customer

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

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

• Collectors may choose to purchase our 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 our written permission

• If the artwork ends up being reproduced in a magazine or other media Deviant Kreations must be credited with @devkrea for social media and also Deviant Kreations

• 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 our written permission

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