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

Hi John, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art has always been part of my life. Growing up, I was a pretty busy kid, and art was a natural way to channel my creative energy. I was always drawing, building, painting… Although I received my BFA in Graphic Design, I still wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do after college. When I first moved to Charleston, I worked in Food and Beverage, but I also continued to paint, experimenting with different media and techniques. My introduction to spray paint and mural art was open painting in a place where it was understood that your great masterpiece might be covered with another artist’s work an hour later. I really liked this form of sharing my art with others. I began painting a few murals in Mynt, where I was working at the time. Although I’d been looking for the right career, it’s more like the right career found me. I’ve always had a passion for art, but I never thought something I enjoyed so much could actually pay the bills.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think I’m most proud of the fact that, after working professionally as an artist for 10 years, I still love what I do. There have definitely been challenges along the way, but, in the end, every challenge has proven to be a great learning experience. At first, I pretty much said yes to everything, without asking a whole lot of questions or appreciating my own value. However, I quickly realized that the planning process needed for a canvas versus a mural is completely different, and thorough communication with a potential client is the key. It’s sort of like creating a critical path for your project.
As for my work, my art ranges from serious to whimsical, depending on the project. I think it’s important to understand the client’s expectations, and it is my goal to make sure that we both feel good about the end product.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Queen Street Grocery is a great spot for breakfast. There are many places to see in Charleston, with Rainbow Row, the Battery, art galleries and City Market on every list.
As for lunch, you can’t go wrong with Legend Deli. Then grab Graffiti Limo for a ride to Folly Beach or to Windjammer on Isle of Palms for the afternoon. Later, take the Limo back downtown to either Henry’s or Frontier Lounge for the evening.
There’s never a lack of great food and entertainment in Charleston. Concerts, art festivals, River Dogs games—-just depends on what you feel like at the moment. There really is something for everyone in Charleston!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve had a lot of very supportive people in my life—family, friends, clients, businesses, teachers. You could probably say my mom is my biggest fan. She laughs about this, saying that she enjoys living vicariously through my career as an artist. Whatever, she’s always been there to cheer me on as well as to offer some solid ground when needed. As for my friends, they thought of me as an artist before I ever saw myself in that role. Charleston has such as awesome artist community, and I’ve enjoyed the opportunities that I’ve had to collaborate both professionally and “just for the fun of it” with other artists. I’ve met some great people in Charleston, and their recommendations and referrals have had a huge impact on getting my name out there. It’s also a great feeling when former clients contact me for additional works as well. All said, I’m very thankful to the individuals and businesses that have given me a chance, as an unknown artist, to prove myself.

Instagram: @reese.designs

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