C H O M P

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

I'm moving @ChompBrand warehouses. I can't take it all.

Warehouse sale

https://t.co/qa5l7cgvQ3

[C H O M P @ChompBrand]

@chrishume_ Thx Chris ❤️

[C H O M P @ChompBrand]

🥹🫶

[Chris Hume @chrishume_]

Tell me @ChompBrand isn’t goated

“I just like to make things” amen

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

working on ad copy

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

why do I sell @chompbrand tees for $40, I'm too nice

[Adam Eargle @adameargle]

Still one of my favorite illustrations. So well done.

[Anthony Collurafici @CheckYourVector]

@Joshua_Ariza my son picked out a @ChompBrand board all on his own! own. (It was the best graphic)

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

I USED TO WORK WITH LARGE BRANDS

While updating my portfolio I noticed something.

I cut my teeth working exclusively for large corporate entities. Big brands used to be a co-sign on the value of any designer’s work.

But frankly, the bureaucracy has gotten more tedious—too many stakeholders, slow feedback, and long payment terms.

This kills creativity and momentum.

Lately, I’ve been picking up way more projects from small and medium-sized businesses.

They’re nimble and there’s less office politics—if any.

The goal is simple: make something rad and move on.

In creative services, that should be everyone’s goal.

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

I PISSED OFF MY FELLOW ILLUSTRATORS.

Last year, I tweeted a few thoughts about generative AI and its impact on illustrators’ livelihoods.

One tweet read:
Tbh if illustrators struggle, it’s not because of AI. It’s the same reason they’ve always struggled: they don’t understand the utility of illustration in the market.

CommArts found it interesting and reposted it to their audience. Folks did not like my take.

Commenters were outraged. Many assumed I wasn’t a creative myself.

But I wasn’t dismissing the threat of AI. It’s real. It’s here. It’s being used.

What I meant was—illustrators were struggling long before AI entered the chat. It’s not a talent issue. It’s often a mindset one.

Too many illustrators haven’t been taught to see their work as adaptable, scalable, and useful across industries. But it can be. Your art can live on garments, packaging, branding, surfboards, signage, animation—literally everywhere.

The world is a canvas. Treat it as such.

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

ART IN THE AGE OF ALGORITHMS

Thoughts on making it as an illustrator.

I never wanted to be a fine artist showing in galleries. That world feels closer to high fashion—full of smug socialites and trust fund kids.

I wanted to be an illustrator. It’s a world full of the socially awkward. My people.

I’m one of the lucky few who’s made a living drawing. But when I was starting out, there wasn’t a clear path. Most illustrators, regardless of talent, were broke.

I once heard Michael Emerson, the bad guy from LOST, was an illustrator. He couldn’t find work—so he became an actor. Imagine that: acting as the safer career path.

Many illustrators end up teaching. That’s not about effort—it’s about market fit. There just aren’t that many jobs.

Pre-internet, you needed an agent. Maybe you'd get hot, maybe not. But it wasn’t sustainable.

By 2007, you needed design skills. You had to wedge your art into icons, branding, blogs—those were a new canvas.

Today, there’s more talent and more tools than ever. But most illustrators still struggle.

Illustrators today NEED to be unabashedly self-promoting. Especially in the age of AI.

Learn to market. Learn email. Learn video. Paid social. Pick two and go hard.

People buy art from people.

Be a person.

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

R&D OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.

I’ve posted to the @ChompBrand Instagram 1,330 times. I estimate about 60% of that was unique illustrations. That’s 700+ pieces of art over a 10-year period.

If a post gets engagement, I’ll likely make some type of product from the illustration. Most of it gets used eventually.

One of the biggest challenges in creating art is knowing what people want to look at versus what they’ll actually buy.

Most companies only need to solve the second challenge. In fact, all of commerce is answering: Would someone buy this?

My success rate for producing an illustration that both garners engagement and sells well is low. Probably five new items a year really hit. I release around 50. That’s a 10% success rate.

The 90% that doesn't work is just research and development.

Remember that, new creators. It might take ten tries to get near the bullseye.

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

Whipped this up yesterday. 3 hours of work cuz I had to redraw what was inside the skull a few times.

No AI used. Fuck AI 🫶😋

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

I had a moment to draw for @ChompBrand.

two hour project. No AI used. fuck AI.

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

Boochcraft x @ChompBrand in stores nationwide

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

spring drop

https://t.co/3wcm60C180

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

I love the sampling process for @ChompBrand

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

Running behind on making enough art for the sales team. Two hour illustrations

(No I don’t use AI, nerd)

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

In an effort to circumvent tariffs, @chompbrand is hiring mules to travel wearing as many items of clothing/inventory as possible. You must look like a little Michelin man when crossing at customs.

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

Latest @ChompBrand drop.

Number one brand of middle aged, self employed dads of two.

https://t.co/b8BdL1G628

[Joshua Ariza @Joshua_Ariza]

TEN YEARS OF @ChompBrand

This has been my inspiration the whole time. Thx for making my dream come true.