Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Pyro.
Hi Ali, 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?
Hey y’all, I’m Ali!
I was born and raised here in SATX, and I make art and costumes for a living.
I started drawing when I was in elementary school and sewing when I was in high school. I’ve always been a huge nerd and my art reflected that, I drew a lot of things related to videogames and tv shows I really liked, and I even got into sewing so I could start cosplaying. Recently I’ve been making moves and I’m starting to make merchandise like stickers and keychains to sell on my online shop, and I’m hoping in a few years I can try to get a brick and mortar set up somewhere in SATX so I can sell in person as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not. Between the imposter syndrome, lack of knowledge around marketing myself during my early years, and the self-doubt that caused me to shelve my art for a few years in favor of a more “realistic” job, it’s been a very bumpy ride.
I started selling my art and making costumes back in 2014 when I was just fifteen years old. I really didn’t know what I was doing business wise, and of course I had school, too. During college I just wasn’t growing as fast as I wanted to, I was burning out a lot because I just wasn’t sure what to do. Should I continue my art, go down the path of a theatre degree and try for a realistic but still fulfilling costume design path, or go for a “real” job, and keep art as a hobby?
I ended up shelving art as a full-time career for a bit around 2023. I still did it on the side, I got a few commissions here and there, but I barely drew for myself. It wasn’t until 2025 that I started on my goal of being a full-time artist again. At first it was a “just until I had enough in my savings” type deal. I’d just started a new job then and I figured I’d quit after a year or so when I had enough money, but due to unfavorable work conditions, it didn’t last long.
So now I’m a full time artist. The good news is I did start getting my bearings and growing a bit more a bit before I was fired, I’m immensely grateful to the other artists in the local scene for helping me gain both confidence and knowledge in maintaining an art business. Now I’m confident and happy with the growth I’m seeing in both my skill and the people interested in my work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
So if you just glance at my work once I’m sure you’ll notice a theme. I draw furries 😛
A furry, for those who don’t know, can refer to a few different things, either people interested in the subject of cartoon animals that can walk, talk, and emote like humans (i.e. Nick Wilde from Zootopia, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, etc) or the subject itself. I got into this scene around the same time I started taking on art and costume commissions. In fact the exact type of costumes I make the most are “fursuits”, similar to the coyote you’d see running around the Spurs court but built for one specific person of their specific character.
I tend to represent myself using a purple dragon character named Ali Pyro.
I got into furry because of the artistic aspects of it. I love a unique character designs I’ll see people make. Not to mention how complex the costumes can be. I’ve seen people make costumes with speakers in the limbs so the suit can play music! Most of my audience is furry, so most of my art is furry. However I feel like I should mention I don’t just cater to them, a lot of my merch I have planned is also very nerd-centric, a lot of kaiju, anime, superhero, and deep cut fandom references are going to be showing up in my booth when I eventually start selling at conventions. I’m even working on a kaiju-related line of merch with my dear Godzilla-obsessed boyfriend and biggest supporter, who runs his own Youtube channel by the name SciFiLOL. He’s helping me design and come up with ideas for the line.
In terms of commissioned work I’ve done a number of projects form logo work, to character references, though my most popular commission type are definitely the telegram stickers. I’ve been told that not only my art, but my customer service is what brings people back to me. I take care in making sure my clients know what’s going on with their art and being fully transparent with them.
However outside of that I like to experiment with my art quite a bit. I have so many plans for non-furry projects lined up for the next few years. I’m not quite ready to share too many plans just yet, but I know I’d like to delve into more horror-related projects soon, less cutesy and more creature.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to support me would be to give me a follow on social media, share my work, maybe buying some stickers for yourself or friends. I’m also almost always open for commissions as well!
For collaborations, reaching out through DMs or email and pitching your ideas on what you’d like to work on together would be good!
Pricing:
- 3 In vinyl stickers will start at $5 on my website soon
- Art commissions can range from $30 for a simple portrait to upwards of hundreds for more complex pieces.
- Fursuits can start at $900 for just the head, and can quickly climb into the thousands for a full costume.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nerdydragonden.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdydragonden/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066814766743
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdy.dragon.den
