Check Out Justine Mcneill’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Mcneill

Hi Justine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up watching all sorts of anime like Soul Eater, Tokyo Mew Mew, and Bleach. I was heavily inspired by these animes and spent the majority of my time doodling on my schoolwork. It wasn’t until 2012 that I realized out you could actually cosplay as your favorite characters. So that year I attended Youmacon, an anime convention in downtown Detroit, and found out that people were selling their art at the convention. Every convention I attended after that I stayed in the Artist Alley for hours. I thought those people were so cool. They reminded me of traveling salesmen! I was always so inspired by their art and their work ethic, but never had the guts to actually pursue it myself.
I spent a lot of time trying to find out what I wanted to do. I tried photography for 4 years and really enjoyed it at first, but over time it didn’t feel like a good fit. It was in 2019 when I started drawing again and remembered those people in artist alley. I had never dedicated so much time and focus on one thing before, but once I created Lucky Cat Market it was like I was finally creating something that felt like me. The first convention that accepted me into their Artist Alley in 2021 was DokiDoKon, a convention in Kalamazoo that I still table at! I had never put myself out there before like I did at that convention. I’m a very shy person, but somehow I found myself talking to attendees and selling my art like I had been doing it for years. When I got home from that convention I was so inspired to create more and become something bigger.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While my ambitions were large, it didn’t mean I had the capital to do all the crazy things I do now. I have worked full-time and part-time at several different places just so that I could fund my art. Not only was I putting my own personal money into Lucky Cat Market, but a lot of my time. When I would get home from my 9-5 day job, I would start work on my small business till late into the night.
I’m someone who struggles with their mental health and found that owning and operating a small business didn’t necessarily help my mental state. While there are plenty of benefits, there are quite a few drawbacks as well. I often find myself comparing myself to others, or questioning whether or not my art is worth being bought.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I create a wide range of products inspired by fandoms as well as my own original designs! I currently offer enamel pins, stickers, charms, keychain plushies, and purses. All of the merchandise I sell is designed by me! I now have over 80 enamel pin designs and plenty more on the way.
One thing I’m known for is my unique display at conventions and events. I wanted attendees and customers to have an experience when they bought from me, so I created a market stall inspired by Japanese ramen stands and vintage circus tents. I made my own red and white striped canopy to hang above my table and added lights to hang from the “ceiling” to add to that market stall feel!

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I travel around the country selling my art at conventions like Anime Expo in Los Angeles, Kawaii Kon in Honolulu, and Sakura Con in Seattle. I love supporting and promoting conventions that are located around the Detroit area like Isshocon, owned and operated by Otaku Detroit. I would also like to urge your readers to support local artists as much as they can. Any support you can provide, whether it’s making a purchase, spreading the word, or leaving a kind comment, I promise it all makes such a difference!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theluckycatmarket.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckycatmarket
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theluckycatmarket
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/market_cat
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@luckycatmarket