We were lucky to catch up with Nick Hughes recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nick, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Growing up I felt invisible and overlooked. My teachers didn’t see anything exceptional in me, and my family didn’t really understand me. This was my reality until I had a life-changing moment while studying Art at the University of Colorado, Boulder. During a critique I literally had a teacher tell me that my work “belongs in a dumpster in some alley somewhere.” And after overachieving with no acknowledgement for so long, I was now being told in the worst way that my work wasn’t worth the materials that I made them out of. I decided at that very moment, that I would prove everyone who ever doubted me wrong.
I would not compromise – if anything got in the way of my art I discarded it, with prejudice. I graduated in May 2009 and by October 2009 I had an art studio in downtown Denver. It had a hole in the wall, but it was mine, and I practically lived there while collaborating with some of the best artists in Denver. I poured my heart and soul into art, and immediately found that unlike my professors in college, people generally loved my art. I finally felt that I had a voice. I had found my purpose with absolute clarity.
Almost 20 years later, I feel like I am just getting started. I have been in nearly 100 art shows, curated major gallery events, managed artists, built several art studios and built multiple successful creative businesses. I have sold thousands of pieces of art and worked with companies of all shapes and sizes. My purpose has never changed since the moment my heart was ripped out back in 2009. I want to make the world a more beautiful, intelligent, and interesting place, and that happens not only through my own artwork, but inspiring other creatives to do the same.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’ve been a digital artist for over 25 years, and because there wasn’t a “digital art” major at CU when I studied there, I studied painting and art history instead. My favorite thing to do was to combine digital art with traditional media, making something that was so new that nobody really understood what I was doing.
My experience in digital art lead my almost immediately to the world of large format printing. I was obsessed with the idea printing my work large scale, without a loss in quality. I worked with several print shops to produce my work, until I ended up working directly for one of them as their lead designer. I quickly mastered the one of the hardest design mediums – vehicle wraps. They are hard enough to accomplish on simple terms, but when you add artwork to the mix, things become exponentially complex. I quickly found out that this was my favorite medium as an artist. I could use all of my skills as an artist to do something no other designer could. Because even if they understood how to design a vehicle wrap, it’s unlikely that they also knew how to draw and paint.
After spending 5 years working for others, I started my own creative studio. Pureblind is now 8 years old, and we have won numerous awards for being the best vehicle wrap shop in Denver. The inside of the shop is like a giant art studio, with giant printers, digital artists, videographers, sales people, print production specialists and installers. I’m proud of our team and how far we have come over the years, from starting it in my garage to having 20 people working in the same building every day. I would argue there no better design team in Denver, and virtually no project we can’t take on.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The first thing that comes to mind is work ethic. I learned this from a very young age from my father, who is the hardest worker I have ever met. You’re always more likely to succeed if you are able to push yourself and keep your momentum up. If you procrastinate or do a poor job, not only are you not accomplishing as much for yourself, you’re also potentially letting someone else down. Always remember that someone else wants exactly what you have, and is willing to work harder than you. The only way to actually grow is to push yourself to work harder than everyone else around you. Work harder, but work smarter too.
Second, I want to recognize the importance of patience. We are told as children to be patient, but I always felt like it was an instruction to stop being disruptive. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I understood that patience isn’t for others around you, it’s for yourself. Your own mental sanity. So while you may feel like others are cutting in line or getting a lucky break while you struggle to pay rent and nobody appreciates your artwork, recognize that things take time to develop and nothing is instantaneous. You should always try to get as far as you can any given day, but don’t torture yourself over anything that is outside of your control.
Last, I think the thing that has helped me most as an artist and business owner is courage. Even just starting out initially is too much for most people to stomach, which is why not everyone owns a business or starts an art career. If you do go for it and make something of it, now you have people’s livelihoods and families on the line. You’re going to have several weeks, months, maybe even years where you feel like you’re one bad deal, or one bad art show from losing it all. It takes real grit to make a big statement in any profession. You have to take major educated risks to succeed.
How would you describe your ideal client?
Pureblind is a creative studio, and while we specialize in vehicle wraps, almost everything with a flat smooth surface can be wrapped. For instance, one of our favorite clients is the Denver Art Museum. We do most of the interior graphics for exhibitions, including wall graphics, display graphics, and all of the artwork ID cards that you see scattered throughout their buildings. I say that because while we love wrapping vehicles of all shapes and sizes, it’s only part of the overall story.
Ideally we want to work with other clients who have a similar appreciation for art, and a way to apply it to as large of a footprint as possible. Whether that means a vehicle wrap fleet, a giant warehouse mural, or even a helicopter, we want to flex our creative muscles and work with our clients to make it as great as it possibly can be. We work overtime to make sure our printers are perfect, our designs are flawless, and the end product of what we produce not only looks great, but stands the test of time. We may not be the least expensive shop in Colorado, but we absolutely produce the most value for our clients. Our wraps last longer, bring in more business, and have the best and most honest warranty in the industry. Simply put, we want to collaborate with the best, and make the best work possible!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pureblind.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pureblind
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pureblind/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pureblind
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
