Meet DeAndre Ross

 

We recently connected with DeAndre Ross and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have DeAndre with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

Honestly, it was something I had to grow into. I feel like some people are just born with a strong drive and well equipped work ethic from the get go, but that wasn’t the case for me. Growing up as an only child with a single mom, I saw early on what it looked like to push through challenges and figure things out, even when resources weren’t always in abundance. At the time though, I can’t say I fully understood it. In high school, I was one of those kids who could get by without putting in much effort, and I still managed to do pretty well.

That all changed when I got to engineering school. College was a literally a wake-up call to where all of a sudden “winging it” wasn’t enough. I realized that if I didn’t get myself together, I was going to fail. I actually did fail, College Algebra to be exact. That’s when I started leaning into the resources available to me, putting in long hours to study, and really pushing myself in a way I never had to before. It was tough, but it forced me to develop discipline and more importantly consistency, and it shifted the way I saw work and responsibility. Consistency I’d say is really the highlight of that statement. I studied, talked to professors, intentionally put myself around people smarter than me over and over and over again. Eventually results came from it.

That period shaped a lot of who I am today. The mold that was formed back then stuck with me—whether it’s showing up at my 9–5, putting in hours on my art, or making the effort to be present in my relationships. I’ve learned that without putting in real work, I simply just don’t get the results I want, no matter the area of life. So while my work ethic wasn’t something I naturally had, college was where it got built, and it’s been the foundation for how I move through everything I do now.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is DeAndre Ross, and I live somewhat of a double life. By day I’m an engineer and Project Manager overseeing construction projects (9-5), and by night I’m building an independent path as a character artist (5-9). My career in engineering has taught me a lot about problem-solving, structure, and collaboration, but my true passion is in art.

Art has always been my outlet. I’ve never been the best at expressing myself with words, but drawing allows me to channel what I’m feeling and translate it visually. That freedom of expression in being able to create whatever I want, however I want—is the most exciting part for me. It’s where I feel the most like myself.

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to showcase my work at major events across Southern California, including San Diego Comic-Con and L.A. Comic Con, where I’ve either exhibited or sold my art in Artist Alley. While my current season of conventions has wrapped up, I’m planning to return to a few shows in early spring 2026.

Beyond events, I’m also working on a personal project for a comic that I hope to share more about soon. My art and brand are still evolving, but at the core it’s all about creating pieces that connect. Whether that’s through an original character design, or just the excitement of seeing a character crossover (which is what I’m most recognized for), it all comes full circle for me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful for me are adaptability, time management, and consistency. With those three things, you’re really set up to tackle most challenges.

Adaptability has been huge because circumstances are always shifting, whether it’s in my 9–5 as a Project Manager or in my art. Being flexible allows me to pivot and keep moving forward instead of getting stuck. Time management is another big one. Balancing a full-time career with a passion outside of work isn’t easy, but learning how to structure my time so there’s room for both productivity and fun has been key. Last there’s consistency. Nothing really happens overnight; it’s about showing up again and again, building habits, and letting the results stack up over time. Same with going to the gym. After a few weeks in the gym, you either see muscle, weight loss, or some form of physical improvement. Same applies to your passion or interests you’re chasing.

As far as advice, I’d say leverage what you already do well and incorporate it into your dream. For me, my day job involves a lot of collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. I bring those same skills into my art practice and into meeting other creatives. You might be surprised by how transferable your “day-to-day” skills really are.

And one last thing, show yourself grace. Not everything will go as planned, and that’s okay. Sometimes the best move is to pause, pivot, or just take a break until you’re refreshed with a new outlook. Progress doesn’t have to be perfect but it just has to keep moving if that makes sense.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Right now the biggest challenge I’m facing is burnout. It’s something I think a lot of people are dealing with and for me it shows up both at work and in art. On the work side, burnout has reached a new high, and on the art side, it sometimes looks like creative block, questions about recognition or direction, or even just hitting a wall when I’m trying to learn new skills and techniques. A big part of the struggle is also figuring out what direction I ultimately want to take art, whether I keep it as a side passion or eventually transition into making it a career choice.

To manage it, I’ve learned to be more intentional about how I move through things. At work, I’ll request different assignments or tasks to keep the stimulation new. With art, I give myself permission to take breaks and step into real life whether that’s going to a park, checking out an event, or just getting outside my routine. Those moments often recharge me and give new inspiration.

I’ve also gotten better at listening to myself and not forcing things when the creativity just isn’t there. Instead I try to align my actions with purpose including asking whether what I’m doing has some kind of future payoff or contributes to the bigger picture, even if it’s just in a small, positive way. That mindset helps me keep going without burning out completely.

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