We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shawn Perkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shawn below.
Shawn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.
The year was 2013, and my good friend and roommate, Reggie, just moved out of our apartment to Austin, TX. Since our lease was ending and I couldn’t afford to renew it by myself, I asked my close friends, Jacques and Mike, if I could crash on their couch for a couple months to get back on my feet. What was supposed to be just a few months ended up turning into over a year. With the combination of cost of living in DC and my inconsistent income as a waiter surviving off tips, I struggled to save enough to secure my own place. My life felt stagnant, and I knew if I didn’t make some type of change things would continue to be the same. So, I started painting in our living room when I would get home from work. One painting turned to two, then two to four, and before you knew it our entire apartment was filled like a gallery, with my work covering the walls from end to end. I was still working quite a bit and never really made any significant sales from my art, but I felt a sense of accomplishment because I could see the fruits of my labor all around me. One day, I was scheduled to be on-call for a dinner shift and my phone rang with my manager telling me I had to come in. Reluctantly, I gathered my collared shirt, apron, wine key and the rest of my attire to catch the train downtown to clock in. Long story short, I got into a heated argument with my manager because I was assigned to serve a small party whose gratuity would not be paid until 4 weeks later, versus having regular tables and walking with tips that night. We had a house rule that you would never be assigned more than one party a week, yet here I was working my second in 3 nights. I was told to deal with it and get to work. I felt disrespected and decided enough was enough. I immediately started taking off my uniform while telling the manager a piece of my mind before leaving moments later. As I walked into the alley behind the restaurant, I tossed my work clothes into a nearby dumpster while I wondered “What do I do now?” I had barely $200 to my name, and was now unemployed. I called one of my best friends, Trey, and began to vent to him about what happened. He was actually excited for me; he always thought my job was holding me back from my real passion and said he’d be the one to buy my first painting as a full-time artist. The next day he came over and bought a Biggie piece I had finished and that was my official first client now that I decided to go all in. It was a spark that ignited a burning desire my dreams come true. I always dreaded waiting tables, but it paid the bills. But it was never enough; after all I was still sleeping on a couch with nothing saved to change my situation. The most important aspect of my life that changed during this time was my availability. I had the freedom to pursue any and every opportunity that came my way. Without working 9-10 shifts a week, I reclaimed my time. And time is the most valuable asset we have. I took that time to learn more and to paint more. By no means were the tough times over, but at least I was the captain of my own future. Looking back, I always wonder how long I would have stayed in the restaurant rat race I found myself circling in had I never been called in for that shift. In my faith practice I’ve learned that God works in mysterious ways – and I truly believe that my biggest blessing came in the form of freeing myself from what I thought I needed to prosper. And I’m forever grateful to my close friends for their support and belief in my dreams.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m an all-around artist. My background in graphic design allows me to be multi-faceted in terms of the services I offer. Aside from the fine art side of work (paintings on canvas, mural work), I also offer creative direction when it comes to brand design, illustration, printmaking, layout and marketing. I have over 2 years of experience contracting with the federal government offering graphic recording services – working closely with NASA, Department of Justice, Commerce, Treasury, among many others. This skillset also proves valuable when submitting for artist proposals and other admin tasks that appear as you begin to pursue larger contracts. I’m most proud of my overall perseverance, being able to pivot between fine art and the digital side of being a creative. This range opens up doors for endless possibilities when it comes to being a full-time artist, while also giving me an edge of some of the competition.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When the pandemic hit in early 2020, I was scheduled for a large contract at SXSW down in Austin. When news hit of the entire festival being cancelled, I felt a knot in my stomach. I was really counting on that payment to handle rent and other bills that were right around the corner. Then, the whole world shut down. This was an unprecedented event that affected all professions, and I began to wonder how on earth am I going to figure this out. At the time, I had just ordered an iPad, and it just so happened that the tragic death of George Floyd had just occurred. With the outside world at a standstill and nothing but time on my hands, I digitally painted my piece “Breathing While Black” which was my visual commentary on the events happening in Minnesota. It garnered a lot of engagement on social media and ignited another spark inside my spirit to create work that depicted the events happening in real time. Having the iPad allowed me to paint without needing actual materials and canvases like I was used to. It also enabled an easy transition into creating merch – because all the work was already in digital format. I began heat pressing my own shirts and hoodies to sell at protests and public gatherings that were happening all around me. This new form of work also brought coverage from local news outlets inquiring about thoughts behind the work. Slowly, the world began to open back up, and I was now equipped with another tool in my arsenal.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
Funding for my business had no rhyme or reason. It was just me and my paintbrush, with really no initial capital to begin with. However, whenever I would make or sale or have a few extra dollars, I would try to buy things that would help me grow. An artist can never have enough paint or canvases, so this was always a no-brainer. I could buy a $40 dollar canvas and turn it into a thousand-dollar painting – with the right client of course. I invested in a vinyl cutter and heat press. This allowed me to create my own shirts and hoodies among other gear. Artist prints are another big investment. With the right manufacturer, you can get a great return on selling different sized prints both online and in person. As long as I would continue to invest extra money back into the business, I could continue to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sptheplug.com
- Instagram: @sptheplug
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-perkins-005457219/
