Meet Luck of Kings: Art, Fandom and Everyday Magic
YourStuffMade Community Feature · Melbourne Artist & Independent Design Brand
Created by Melbourne artist and designer Brenden De Vries, Luck of Kings transforms everyday products into imaginative pieces inspired by anime, comics, fantasy and pop culture.
From illustrated playing cards and guitar picks to art prints and merchandise, the brand brings creativity into objects people can use, collect and carry with them.
Each design blends storytelling, self-expression and a touch of luck, encouraging fans to celebrate the interests and fictional worlds that inspire them.
Welcome to Luck of Kings
Luck of Kings is a Melbourne-based independent art and design brand created by artist Brenden De Vries.
The brand combines Brenden’s interests in graphic design, illustration, superheroes, anime and fantasy to create artwork that can become part of everyday life.
Rather than limiting his illustrations to traditional wall art, Brenden applies them to products such as playing cards and guitar picks. This allows collectors, musicians and pop culture fans to carry a small piece of creative expression wherever they go.
Whether someone is shuffling a custom card deck, playing music or displaying a print, every Luck of Kings product is designed to add personality, adventure and imagination to an ordinary moment.
What Makes Luck of Kings Special?
Art You Can Use
Brenden brings original artwork beyond the page by applying it to functional objects people can enjoy every day.
Inspired by Fandom
Anime, comics, superheroes, fantasy and pop culture all influence the imaginative world behind the brand.
Portable Personality
Each product gives fans a way to express their interests through the objects they carry, use and collect.
Artist-Led Design
The brand remains proudly independent, with Brenden guiding every product through his own creative vision.
Luck of Kings makes everyday life feel more adventurous by turning practical items into story-driven works of art.
Products & Creative Offerings
Luck of Kings offers a growing collection of products that combine Brenden’s original artwork with practical and collectible formats.
Playing Cards
Collectible card decks featuring original illustrations, bold themes and imaginative visual storytelling.
Guitar Picks
Functional miniature artworks created for musicians, collectors and fans of unusual accessories.
Art Prints
Bold illustrated designs influenced by fantasy, anime, comics and wider pop culture.
Apparel & Merchandise
Wearable and practical items that let fans bring creative flair into their everyday style.
Functional Art for Fans and Collectors
One of the most distinctive qualities of Luck of Kings is the way the brand places original art onto products with a clear purpose.
A guitar pick can become a musician’s favourite accessory. A playing card deck can become both a game and a collectible object. Apparel and merchandise can help someone communicate their personality without saying a word.
Designed to Be Used
The artwork becomes part of an activity, hobby or daily routine rather than remaining purely decorative.
Made to Be Collected
Original themes and limited designs give fans something meaningful to discover and keep.
Created for Self-Expression
Products help customers celebrate the stories, genres and characters that matter to them.
Connected Through Story
Each piece reflects Brenden’s creative influences while inviting customers to form their own connection with it.
The Story Behind Luck of Kings
Brenden launched Luck of Kings as a way to bring together the creative interests that had shaped him.
Graphic design and illustration provided the technical foundation, while superheroes, anime, fantasy and pop culture gave him an endless source of inspiration.
Rather than keeping those passions separate, Brenden turned them into one artist-led brand. Luck of Kings became a space where he could experiment with original ideas and make them available through products that felt accessible, useful and collectible.
Every product is created with the goal of helping people live boldly and carry their interests proudly.
Luck of Kings was created to give imagination a practical form—something people can hold, use, wear and make part of their own story.
Inspired by Anime, Comics and Fantasy
Fandom plays an important role in the visual identity of Luck of Kings.
Brenden draws from the energy of superheroes, the emotional storytelling found in anime and the rich worlds of fantasy to create designs that feel adventurous and full of character.
Anime Inspiration
Expressive storytelling, dynamic imagery and memorable characters influence the brand’s creative energy.
Comic Book Influence
Bold shapes, dramatic action and heroic themes inspire graphic compositions and visual storytelling.
Fantasy Worlds
Magic, mythology and imaginative settings help transform familiar products into adventurous objects.
Personal Nostalgia
The stories Brenden has loved throughout his life continue to influence the work he creates today.
Highlights & Achievements
Luck of Kings has continued to grow through conventions, community support and the development of new artist-led products.
- Exhibiting at conventions and creative events throughout Australia and New Zealand.
- Building a loyal audience around original, handcrafted and story-driven artwork.
- Connecting directly with collectors, musicians and pop culture fans.
- Expanding from illustrations into playing cards, guitar picks, prints and merchandise.
- Maintaining an independent and artist-led approach while growing the brand.
- Creating products that help customers express their interests in everyday life.
The Power of Creative Conventions
Conventions have played an important role in the growth of Luck of Kings.
These events allow Brenden to display his products in person, meet the people who connect with his work and learn which themes and items resonate most strongly with customers.
They also create opportunities to meet other independent artists and become part of a wider creative community across Australia and New Zealand.
Meeting the Community
Face-to-face conversations allow Brenden to hear directly from fans and collectors.
Testing New Products
Events provide valuable feedback on new artwork, product ideas and merchandise formats.
Building Recognition
Consistent convention appearances help new audiences discover and remember the brand.
Creative Connections
Events make it possible to form friendships and collaborations with other independent makers.
Lessons & Challenges
Like many independent artists, Brenden has found that the business side of running a creative brand can be challenging.
Developing products involves much more than creating artwork. It also requires planning, manufacturing, pricing, marketing, convention preparation, customer service and managing an online presence.
Brenden continues to navigate these challenges by staying committed to his creative vision, building strong community connections and remaining open to learning.
Balancing Art and Business
Brenden works to protect his creative energy while managing the practical demands of an independent brand.
Learning Through Experience
Every product launch and convention offers lessons that help strengthen future decisions.
Building Community
Connections with customers and other creators make the challenges of the journey more meaningful.
Remaining Adaptable
Staying open to new ideas allows the brand to grow without losing its original identity.
What’s Next for Luck of Kings?
Brenden plans to continue expanding the Luck of Kings universe through new products, stories and convention appearances.
- Developing new product collections and merchandise lines.
- Expanding the range of illustrated playing cards and guitar picks.
- Working on a forthcoming graphic novel project.
- Attending more conventions and creative markets.
- Growing the brand’s online presence and reaching new audiences.
- Continuing to create artist-led products inspired by imagination and fandom.
A Graphic Novel in Development
One of Brenden’s most exciting future projects is the development of a graphic novel.
This project will allow him to expand beyond individual illustrations and products into longer-form storytelling. It creates an opportunity to build original characters, settings and narratives within a complete fictional world.
The graphic novel also represents a natural progression for an artist whose work has always been influenced by comics, fantasy and anime.
Original Characters
The project will give Brenden space to develop characters with their own personalities and journeys.
World-Building
Fantasy settings and visual storytelling can grow into a larger and more immersive creative universe.
Sequential Art
Comic panels will offer new ways to combine illustration, movement, dialogue and pacing.
Future Merchandise
The story may also inspire new prints, cards, accessories and character-focused collections.
Brenden’s Advice for Other Makers
Let your imagination guide you. Don’t wait for perfection—create, share, learn and grow. Passion and persistence will carry you further than you think.
Brenden encourages other artists to begin creating before they feel completely prepared.
Waiting for an idea or product to become perfect can prevent makers from sharing their work and learning from real experiences. Progress often comes from completing a project, putting it into the world and using the response to improve the next version.
Imagination provides the direction, but persistence is what allows an independent creative practice to grow over time.
Creating Without Waiting for Perfection
Luck of Kings reflects the value of turning creative ideas into something tangible.
Every finished product provides a new opportunity to learn about design, production and the audience. Even when a project does not turn out exactly as imagined, it can reveal lessons that improve future work.
Create
Give ideas a physical or visual form instead of leaving them unfinished in a sketchbook.
Share
Allow people to discover the work and form their own connections with it.
Learn
Use feedback and experience to understand what can be improved or explored next.
Grow
Apply each lesson to stronger designs, products and creative decisions.
Turning Illustrations into Custom Merchandise
Luck of Kings demonstrates how original artwork can become memorable products such as playing cards, guitar picks, apparel, prints, enamel pins, acrylic charms, patches, stationery and collectible accessories.
Connect with Luck of Kings
Follow Luck of Kings to discover new illustrations, product releases, convention appearances and updates about Brenden’s upcoming graphic novel.
Luck of Kings is based in Melbourne, Australia, and regularly appears at conventions and creative events across Australia and New Zealand.
Carrying Your Interests Proudly
Luck of Kings is built around the idea that the stories people love deserve a place in everyday life.
A piece of art does not always need to remain framed on a wall. It can become a deck used during game nights, a guitar pick used on stage or an accessory carried as a reminder of a favourite creative world.
Through these products, Brenden helps fans celebrate their personalities and interests openly, creatively and proudly.
Final Thoughts
Luck of Kings brings together art, fandom and functionality through a growing collection of independently designed products.
Brenden De Vries has created a brand where original illustrations can become part of music, games, fashion and everyday self-expression.
As Luck of Kings continues to expand into new merchandise and long-form storytelling, the brand remains guided by imagination, persistence and the belief that everyday life deserves a little more magic.
Comments (0)
Be the first to share your thoughts.
Leave a comment
Leave your comment below. Comments may be reviewed before publishing.