Meet Brandi Kjarsgard | Owner and Artist of BrandiBeast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandi Kjarsgard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandi, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk taking is such a huge part of finding success in my opinion. Without taking those leaps and knowing that failure can happen, we can’t ever truly experience true reward. It’s in reaching that we find new levels. I never expected to work in California, to manage a haunt for 2 years, or to have my own business/brand. All of these things happened because I did things that were scary, and I put myself out there! If I didn’t try, no one would come looking for me, I had to show people what I was about. I’ll always encourage anyone with a deep dream to go chase it, the worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work….which in itself may open new doors and angles you never thought possible. Life is funny that way.

My whole experience has been built on not being afraid of rejection. The worst someone can say is, “No.” Now this doesn’t mean that I act like I own the place or forget my manners, but it does mean that I’ll be forward enough to ask someone about something if I want to make a connection. This has served me well over the years, and it is what allowed me to get the training I’ve accumulated and put into my own business today!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is my own. I often say it is art that would make “7 year old Brandi” happy. This is at the core of what I do and how I design. I have a process where I ask myself, “
Is this what I would have begged for at Party City on the mask wall? Is this something I would have saved and spent my birthday money on?”
While I’m creating I also allow an organic process to occur. Unless I have to copy a concept, I adore the stage of letting clay “speak.” I see shapes in clouds and do the same thing in the clay. I use my knowledge of anatomy and nerdy mental library, and combine it with things that happen in real time while I sculpt. This always creates something fresh and surprising, even I don’t know what will come out of every piece! That excites me deeply, it really makes it fun to see what a piece becomes, it tells me in a way.
Simply speaking, I’m obsessed with creature creation and monster making. Anything fantastical and horrific is going to excite me the most. My favorite blend is alluring and alarming….you want to talk to her, you want to pet the beast, you want to know his story….but they’re unsettling and dangerous in a beautiful way. That is the best blend and challenge to create in my mind.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Haha this one is tough! I live near Nashville, but I’m quite the shop goblin. I don’t explore my own city as much as I should! I could tell you more about Austin, St. Louis, or Reno! I’ve been to Burning Man but I couldn’t tell you much about my own backyard! Haha. I love traveling and seeing new things, but when I travel for work is usually when I get to explore a little more.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many shoutouts and thanks to be given, I could not be who I am today without a lot of gratitude!

My family supporting me needs recognition, my mom being my best friend and right hand, and my grandfather getting me hooked on practical effects at an early age.

My friends encouraging and protecting what I do, people like Lynn, Jack, Doot, and so many others who just inspire and influence me to be the best person and artist I can be!

My professional history and training coming from people like Lee Joyner granting me the opportunity to meet Howard Berger through Cinema Makeup School. This opened the door to friendships I will always cherish and the ability to have a dream career at KNB EFX INC. for 4 years of my life. This hands on experience in the shops and on set in Hollywood is invaluable.

My haunt roots also need noting. I’ve always been obsessed with haunting and designing for them. From my mom having a PTA fundraiser haunt that was my very first acting gig, all the way to Travis supporting my art at Reaper’s Revenge…I’ve had people in my corner even when others didn’t believe in me or wanted to see me fail.

Website: https://brandibeast.com/

Instagram: @thebrandibeast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrandiBeast

Other: @brandibeasttiktok – tiktok

@brandibeast.bsky.social – bluesky

Image Credits
Dante Dellamore

KHKProductions

Dante is every photo except for the Male Demon last photo. There is a KHK logo/watermark on that photo!