Even if you’ve never heard the name Bree Rawn before, there’s a better-than-decent chance your head’s been turned by their work more than once.
Currently the resident illustrator at Dine Alone Records, where they design marketing materials, vinyl packaging, and merchandise for both the label and its artists, Bree also creates bold, colourful designs for a number of other clients, everywhere from Larry’s and Brockton Haunt to the 2024 Born and Raised Festival in St. Catharine’s.
They’ve also designed posters and merchandise for some heavy-hitters in the music industry, like local legends The Beaches, Sam Roberts Band and Finger Eleven. Not too shabby.
“The diverse range of clients and projects I’ve had the privilege of working with has pushed my skills and expanded my creative boundaries in ways I never imagined,” Bree, who cut their teeth creating illustrations for Disney XD and Family Channel, tells blogTO.
Another local business that’s recently gotten the Bree treatment is Stereo Coffee, who’ve have launched a seriously stylish collection of packaging for their Echo, Not So Dark Roast and Reverb blends, all designed by Bree.
“I was fortunate to have Geoff from Stereo Coffee Roasters reach out to me about designing their coffee bags,” Bree tells blogTO. “His vision of creating fully illustrated bags inspired by music immediately resonated with me, especially since their entire brand revolves around music — it was such a perfect fit.”
That perfect pair is plainly evident in the bags, which feature colourful floods of boomboxes, skulls, UFOs and planets in a way that speaks, quite powerfully, to both Bree’s journey as an illustrator and their distinct style.
“The experience was amazing, as Geoff and his team gave me a lot of creative freedom,” Bree tells blogTO. “We decided on psychedelic, maximalist designs, each tailored to a specific blend. I created a unique set of icons for every bag, alongside custom typography and distinct colour schemes that reflected the essence of each blend.”
With such a diverse array of clients under their belt, it raises the natural question of how, exactly, Bree chooses their projects; is there some sort of secret sauce that appeals to them as an artist?
As it turns out, though, the secret really lies in Bree’s willingness to take on any and all opportunities that arise.
“I’m more of a yes type person,” they tells blogTO. “I feel incredibly fortunate to work with anyone who reaches out. It’s fascinating to learn about so many different businesses and projects, and I truly consider it a privilege to collaborate with the clients who’ve come my way.”
Regardless of how wide the landscape of Bree’s clientele might look, the results always come down to a decidedly distinct style, which has been cultivated from a number of influences, including Surrealism, Pop Art, Street Art, Traditional Flash Tattoo and music.
“I’m particularly inspired by vintage typography, psychedelic posters, vinyl album covers, skateboarding culture, and antique knick knacks from the 1960s,” they note.
Being a member of the queer community, Bree adds, has also played a particularly large part in their own self-discovery and growth as an artist.
“I am a queer, non-binary designer and I bring that unique perspective to every project that comes my way,” they tell blogTO. “In the future I would love to work with more LGBTQIA+ organizations. It’s something that is very important to me.”
Despite their decidedly bold style, Bree tells blogTO that the beginning of their creative process is actually a deeply quiet and contemplative one.
“I often work through ideas visually in my mind before putting them on paper,” Bree tells blogTO. “Once I have a clear vision of a design or illustration, I’ll begin with a loose sketch.”
From there, the designs move to Bree’s iPad or computer, where they’re further refined, and, finally, Bree sprinkles that extra bit of magic on them, taking them from cursory ideas to polished Pop-Art perfection.
“It’s taken years of practice to bring my concepts to life in a way that closely matches what I envision in my head,” Bree tells blogTO.
Bree’s style fosters a welcoming feeling that’s almost immediately palpable, with bright colours, familiar forms and even sometimes — as is the case for Crave Doughnuts and the Dine Alone Store — cheerful characters that put an instant smile on your face.
That feeling, Bree tells blogTO, is quite literally by design.
“I like to describe my work as ‘friendly nostalgia,'” Bree tells blogTO. “I aim to infuse a sense of warmth and familiarity, with just the right amount of charm.”
“My goal is to create pieces that make you smile — or at the very least, catch your eye and make you look twice.”
Suffice it to say, Bree’s succeeded in that goal, creating some of the most eye-catching, charming work adorning the streets of Toronto today.
You can learn more about Bree by visiting their website, or check out their work at the Dine Alone Store.
