Today we’d like to introduce you to Cooper Neil.
Hi Cooper, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Hilton Head Island, SC, and have been interested in art since I can remember. Artist like Rick Griffin and Salvador Dali influenced a lot of work in the early years and still does to this day. Later graduated from Flagler College with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Fine Arts. After College, I spent three months living with my parents to work and save money to move out to Boulder, Colorado, to pursue an art career. Once out there, I started apprenticing under one of my favorite painters Jack Shure and would do design work for Jack in trade for the apprenticeship. I learned a lot during those two years, painting-wise and even design. I was working different freelance jobs and startup companies. Eventually, I needed something more steady and got a job screen printing official concert posters for bands, festivals, and different Red Rocks shows at Good Thoughts Printing. Getting to print for bands like Dead and Company, The Misfits, Eric Clapton, and Primus was my 15-year-old dream coming true. That job changed my life, and I fell in love with the screen printing process and art form. Once covid hit, my job was the first to go and probably the last to come back. After being in Colorado for 6 years, it was time for another change. I was printing T-shirts out of my two-bedroom apartment and starting to get some clientele. Eventually, my girlfriend and I moved back to St. Augustine, where I decided to open my screen print shop, Sessions Printing. Today I have a little shop, Sessions Printing off US 1 in St. Augustine, and I print T-shirts and do Design work out full time.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
It has not been a smooth road; navigating your way through being an artist and progressing your skills while trying to be good at business is challenging. The struggles are what keep you humble and always learning to do better. The struggles can be different and all over the board. Some days it can be being a new business and trying to find more clients to keep the shop lights on. This can be relatable with many artists but just trying to stay positive and not think you suck at art just because you aren’t necessarily making money off it yet. One thing I have learned is the art game goes up and down. Some months are really good, and the next month could be no business, and trying to find a balance between those highs and lows is key to keeping the flow going.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sessions Printing. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Sessions Printing is a screen print shop that is only me now. I am the one you email, handles the computer work for designs, prints the garments, and ships / delivers the orders. Sessions print custom garments such as T-shirts, hoodies, crew necks, and tote bags. It is currently all manual printing, mostly water-based ink and eco-friendly chemicals to help with sustainability. Besides water-based inks, Sessions also can provide in-house design work to help make your idea come alive or convert your design into something printable on a shirt. The turnaround time is usually two weeks, and we do our best to stick to that timeline. I want to help other businesses and artists boost their brands and build a community around this shop. I am very proud of my work in starting this business out of my bedroom, to my parent’s garage, and a little shop off US 1, and I want to continue to grow and provide more creative services to others.
Let’s end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
My mantra, you could say as a reminder, is “ART IS FUN.” What matters to me most is having fun while doing what I love. I love art and anything that has to do with it. Even during the hard times, I still enjoy creating something. I pursued this career because I have fun doing it, and I take it seriously, which leads to serious fun on most of my projects. Problem-solving, working with people, creating something from nothing, and seeing the stoked face on the client when they see their idea printed make this whole thing fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cooperneilart.com
- Instagram: cooper.neil.art and sessions.printing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cooper.neil.art
