We recently connected with Spawk and have shared our conversation below.

Spawk, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have been able to earn a living doing what I do all thanks to my Mentor Eddie ET. Torres. About eleven years ago, I met Eddie at a poker tournament and we became good friends. We were both artists; I was painting signs for local tire shops and mechanic shops around the valley in exchange for money and wall space to paint my name on their buildings. Eddie was pinstriping lowriders all over the state. He admired my lettering and would ask me to try pinstriping every chance he got. I think it took over a year for him to finally convince me to come out and help him with some pinstriping on a few trucks he needed done. He tricked me in to thinking he actually needed help but what he was really doing is showing me how much money I could make scribbling on some cars for a couple hours. At the time I was not making enough money to live off my art because honestly I didn’t have the confidence or guidance to charge enough money to make a living. Eddie gave me two hundred dollars for helping him on those trucks that day, Mind you I was just cleaning his brushes and bringing him what he needed to complete the job. That day I fell in love with the art but I also started the journey for the rest of my life. These days I’m not just a pinstriper, I incorporate everything Eddie has taught me into whatever project I am a part of. I don’t think that I would have come this far had it not been for the skills and knowledge that my mentor instilled in me. Not only did he teach me this dying art of pinstriping but he also gave me another means of making money so that I am able to earn a full-time living.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Javier but everyone knows me as Spawk. I consider myself a Kustom Culture Artist because I don’t want to label myself anything in particular except the very thing that represents the whole culture of making things kustom, Yes it is spelled with a “K”. It’s hard to put a label on someone who can not only paint a beautiful sign for your business but create the look of that sign first and give you the digital files that will be used to create the identity that represents your brand. Whenever I am entrusted with creating someone’s design or logo I give it my best and its better than a lot of people can say with a straight face. I started my brand Spawk and Co. because I was creating so many graphics that were just sitting on my computer and I needed to find a way to show them to the world and not just on a digital platform like social media but by putting them on things that I wanted to have for myself. Physical goods that look awesome. I started with Stickers and the rest is history. Spawk and Co. is basically a way to make passive income while I get to do all the other fun stuff like paint on things such as cars, skate decks, windows, musical instruments and more. The inspiration behind everything I do changes all the time and at the moment I am obsessed with old circus and freak show advertising. I think its the coolest shit ever. The biggest thing I’m proud of in my career has to be that I’ve been able to make a living off my craft but more recently I designed my first full font for the Phoenix Suns 2023/24 season. They are still using it at the moment and it feels amazing to know that. I have been designing for the Suns for many years but nothing on this level. I am hoping for big things in 2024 and that my work gets more recognition so that I can get hired by big companies that can put me on bigger platforms.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Something I believe non-creatives may struggle with understanding about my journey is the fact that I come from a past of destruction. As a kid my father and uncle would send my mom letters from prison and I was blown away by the art they would put on the envelopes. Originally I thought it was just my uncle that would send these letters but my mom recently brought out a box with a bunch of old memories and i was surprised to see some of those envelopes in were actually from my dad. As i got a little older, the summer after 8th grade to be exact I started doing graffiti and I can never regret anything that got me to where I am today. Those letters from prison and my name in the streets is all part of the path that lead me here today. The artwork on those envelopes were an inspiration and helped spark my creativity. Some of my biggest opportunities have come directly from people and businesses who remember my name in the streets and still admire my work.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is seeing something you created for someone bring long term happiness. A smile is great but when I create a sign for a small business that was struggling and is now successful because of that sign; it is such a great feeling and you know they will forever be grateful. The fact that I was able to contribute to that success; not only for their business but for their peace of mind and for their family….nothing will ever compare.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.spawk.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elspawk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpawkandCo
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elspawk
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spawkandco.
• Other: My email is contact@spawk.co

Image Credits
Anthony Photography Grimlock_Media