Meet Sean McGill | Aerosol Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sean McGill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sean, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor in my success has developed through building relationships with my clients. Most of my work is referral based, the best compliments I can receive is either repeat business or positive reviews. The medium I use can have a negative connotation without seeing the work I produce; I feel that those relationships have helped to champion my brand and raise the level of expectation. The other key has been my flexibility, I have worked on a vast array of projects from business signage to the interior doors of homes, gyms or garages or pieces directly on vehicles and of course canvas and exterior wall pieces. Each piece has a different challenge and I welcome them all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an aerosol art purist through and through, I follow an old-school outline of principles I was mentored with on how I handle my craft and create my work. I don’t use stencils, projectors, airbrush or paintbrushes and I’m stubborn about this to a fault at times. While this way of working has some size limitations it also offers unlimited protentional of large-scale high energy brightly colored pieces. My largest hurdle has been customer expectation of what is possible from my medium, the only way I have been able to overcome this is through the work. My brand is loose and ever changing, each piece is unique to the customer and one time only experience. Versatility has propelled my business to the point it is today and is the only way I will continue to grow in the future.

The hardest lessons I have learned were early on, disregarding gigs because they weren’t my specific specialty or accepting jobs that I’ve regretted later after poor negotiations or lack-luster concept for a payday. I’ve had to learn to evaluate the time and energy output over the financial gain. If I’m not confident in the collaborative vision and excited for the job, I’ve learned to pass, if I find myself in the position to compromise my art’s value, I will seek the next opportunity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There’s just so many great places to list in the valley for a food tour. Cornish Pasty, Stockyards, and The Vig are a must, but Royal Thai in Mesa would be my go-to for any first timers looking for an experience, it’s a little divey and hidden, the food is authentic and amazing and tastes the same today as it did my first visit 15 years ago, the place is perfect. Cocktails would be at the Salt Cellar in Scottsdale, same vibe, quiet, hidden and random and an overall experience drinking underground a few feet from the local cemetary.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I have to thank my wife, Xia, for holding down the fort with toddlers while I am away at all hours of the night or long weekends to keep this thing going. She’s the first person I brag to when things are going well and the first call I make when I need someone to talk me down off the ledge when things aren’t coming together as planned. Starting a business while having a young family and maintaining a full-time day job is a tall order, without my home support system it wouldn’t be possible. My family is and always will be my biggest support system, if I post a piece on social media you can count the seconds before my Mom or brother, Scott, have an encouraging comment or a phone call to talk about it, Secondly, I’d have to say that my graffiti family keeps me pushing my level of art on every piece I do, there’s a lot of talent in our crew and holding my output to that standard is a high priority.

Instagram: @imakethepainting

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-mcgill-147172142/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/imakethepaintin

Facebook: facebook.com/imakethepainting

Image Credits
Afsheen Damanafshan