Today we’d like to introduce you to Emlynn Jones.
Hi Emlynn, 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?
I started Milky Tomato in February 2022 with a handful of stickers, buttons, and prints that I made myself in my bedroom and listed on Etsy while finishing my Associate of Arts degree at Austin Community College. I have always loved building characters and little worlds that feel both cute and slightly creepy, and I began sharing that process daily on TikTok. Inviting people into the journey of starting my store changed everything. As the orders came in and my online followers grew, I soon realized this was becoming something bigger than a side project.
Over the last four years, Milky Tomato has grown into a character-driven indie artist brand with more than one million followers across social media and over 3,000 products. We have sold more than half a million items across the world and brought our Star Babies, Ghosties, Clowns, and other characters to more than 100 conventions across the United States.
Today, we are expanding into brick-and-mortar stores, exhibiting at major trade shows like New York Toy Fair, and exploring licensing opportunities. What started as a small Etsy shop has become a growing universe built on consistency, community, and the belief that art can help people express themselves in a joyful and meaningful way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. From the outside, growth can look fast and effortless, but behind the scenes, it has required intense discipline, long hours, and constant problem-solving.
In the beginning, one of the biggest challenges was simply keeping up. Two months after launching my Etsy shop, demand grew so quickly that my family had to step in to help manage packing and shipping. Learning how to scale without losing quality or creative momentum was overwhelming. I had to figure out manufacturing, inventory management, convention logistics, and customer service in real time, often while still creating new art every day.
Exhibiting at more than 100 conventions across the United States has also been physically and mentally demanding. Travel is exhausting. Setups are long. There are risks with inventory, weather, and unpredictable sales. But the face to face interactions with customers make it worth it.
Another challenge has been protecting my work. As the brand grew, we encountered copycats and had to learn how to defend our intellectual property. That was a crash course in business that I was not expecting as a young artist.
The biggest lesson has been that consistency is everything. Talent is important, but showing up daily, even when you are tired or discouraged, is what builds momentum. It is not glamorous, and it is not easy, but staying committed through the hard seasons is what turned Milky Tomato from a small Etsy shop into a growing national brand.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What I do at my core is build emotional connection through characters. I design original personalities that feel like they already belong to someone, then translate them into tangible pieces people can carry into their everyday lives. My specialty is turning expressive illustration into full product ecosystems, from wearable pieces like sweaters and cardigans to collectible blind boxes and plushies that feel like little companions.
I am known for leaning fully into contrast. I love pairing sweetness with sharp edges, softness with attitude, and playful color with slightly eerie themes. That tension gives my work depth and makes it feel honest rather than just cute. I also prioritize intentional design across formats. Whether it is packaging, display experiences at conventions, or how a collection rolls out online, everything is part of a larger creative vision.
One thing I am especially proud of is expanding Milky Tomato into wholesale and brick-and-mortar spaces while staying independent and artist-led. Walking into stores and seeing my characters on shelves is a completely different kind of validation. It proves that a strong artistic voice can translate beyond social media and live in physical retail environments.
What sets me apart is that I approach art with both imagination and structure. I am deeply creative, but I am also strategic. I build systems, empower my team to execute, and stay consistent even when it is hard. That balance between creative energy and disciplined execution is what allows the world of Milky Tomato to keep growing.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was quiet and introverted. Art became my language early on. I had always loved drawing, but when I was 13 I saw classmates creating artwork that completely amazed me. I had no idea kids my age could draw like that! I decided then I would improve my skills. From that point on, I practiced drawing two hours a day, every day, for years. It was not glamorous. It was repetition, sketchbooks, and discipline.
My family and I watched a lot of movies together, especially Studio Ghibli films. Those stories left a deep imprint on me. The beautiful art, the emotional depth. I was also obsessed with anime like Hamtaro and A Little Snow Fairy Sugar, which I watched with my sister and mom!
I got an early taste for running a business at an early age. In fifth grade, I made hundreds of Perler bead creations and sold them at the Knowles Elementary Business Fair. I remember loving the feeling of someone choosing something I made.
During my teenage years, I practiced Karate for six years. The leadership seminars and training instilled a work ethic and discipline that I still rely on.
I have always known I wanted to make art, especially the kind I personally loved and connected with. I did not grow up thinking about running a business. That part came later out of necessity and opportunity. At the end of the day, I still see myself as an artist first. Milky Tomato is simply what happened when I kept creating and decided to share it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.milkytomato.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milky.tomato/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/milky-tomato
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MilkyTomato5
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@milky.tomato
