Sassy. Provoking. Colorfully Radiant. Kendra Dandy’s illustrations are a social media sensation and licensed worldwide in categories that include home décor, beauty, apparel, and lifestyle. Kendra launched the Bouffants & Broken Hearts brand in 2012. Her entrepreneurial ingenuity has fueled her ability to build a global cult following. Her unique artwork continuously captures the attention of household name brands such as Anthropologie, Coach, Vans, Nike, Sephora, Estée Lauder, and Bobbi Brown, who have commissioned Kendra for custom campaigns.
Each original piece of artwork provokes an unexpectedly engaging conversation. Kendra’s unique patterns and media mixing are youthfully imaginative, from seductively winking fries to leopards strutting bright red pumps. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kendra specializes in both traditional and digital painting. With a style and voice that is uniquely her own, Kendra has been profiled by Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and PopSugar. She is a champion for up-and-coming artists and protecting the copyright of digital creators. Kendra is a Founding Member of the American Influencer Council.
Home decor proiducts by Bouffants and Broken Hearts. Photo by Kendra Dandy
How did you get your start as an artist?
I’ve always been creative since childhood. After majoring in fashion merchandising in college, I didn’t really find it aligned with what I wanted to do as it lacked the creativity I enjoy so in my last year of college, I took whatever graphic design classes I could take to diversify my skill set. After I graduated from school, I ended up working in retail for several years due to the difficulty of the job market and trying to figure out what I really wanted to do. When I would get home from my retail job, I’d always draw every day, work on new designs and utilize social media platforms to post about my work to get discovered. Eventually all this persistence paid off and I began getting noticed by major brands and decided to try my hand at doing this full time and I’ve been working as a freelance artist ever since.
What is the story behind your brand name?
I can never remember why I came up with the name, but it’s a registered trademark, so it’s going to stick from now on.
Who or what inspires you?
I like to describe my work as sassy, colorful, stylish, and fun and it represents uniqueness and self expression. I am inspired by a lot of modern art and art from the Impressionism era forward and things like nature, beauty and fashion. Current events also play a role in what I may choose to create.
What is your typical day like?
A typical day is fairly simple. I work on projects if I have any upcoming deadlines or catch up on other administrative tasks. If I don’t have any particular projects due, I may play around with new ideas or create personal work. If I don’t feel like doing that, I will take a break and relax.
Has the pandemic affected your artistic practice?
Not really. As someone who has always worked from home, the pandemic has not changed how I create.
You have worked with a lot of brands. What was the first brand that you worked with?
The first brand I ever worked with was Anthropologie.
Are there any brands that you would love to work with that you have not yet?
I can’t think of any off the top of my head but I’m definitely looking forward to any awesome opportunities that will come my way.
Are there any emerging artists on your radar that we should know about?
Andrea Ballo @cocomicheleillustrations, Sheena @shemeetscity Melissa Koby @mkoby_ and Reyna @reynanoriega_ on Instagram all make awesome work
Many artists, including yourself have had their work copied or shared without proper credit. You have made a lot of videos and Instagram stories about protecting digital copyright. What advice do you have for fellow artists on this topic?
I would say don’t be afraid to speak up about it and let your feelings on the topic known. It could be helpful for yourself and others to have a highlight or some sort of place where your policies are shown so that potential reposters can easily find them. Also, don’t be afraid to protect your peace. If someone is rude to you about your policies, feel free to remove them from your space. Blocking and reporting the post for copyright infringement are effective tools. You always have the right to protect your intellectual property and posting your work online does not mean it’s up for grabs.
Follow Kendra on Instagram @theebouffants
All photos by and provided by Kendra Dandy
By Glodeane Brown
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