One of a Kind

PULLMAN-- Cans of spray paint being shaken, the hustle and bustle of interested people, happy customers and paintings scattered about; a peaceful place in a crazy atmosphere.

“I enjoy making my artwork and having people purchase my paintings and hang them in their house for others to see, this is what I love doing,” said Paul Nunn, owner of Peace Pirates: Creativity In A Can and a student at Washington State University.

Nunn owns his own business, Peace Pirates: Creativity In A Can, which consists of stencils, spray painted pieces and prints of favorite icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Jim Morrison. Artists such as Andy Warhol, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and Banksy, all influence Nunn and have inspired his artwork that he makes today. Nunn also makes custom made spray paintings for those who want something special and one of a kind. Nunn travels around the Pacific North West to different festivals and venues to sell his artwork.

Over the past few years, the nation’s economy has plummeted and jobs are scarce to come by. Nunn has turned to starting his own business and being self sufficient.

“I’ve always wanted to be self sufficient,” said Nunn. “I’ve had enough jobs to see that I could run my own business and have seen enough people hate their jobs.”

He has also hired his friends to help make the canvases and splits the earrings with them after each show.

“I like working for Paul and helping him with his artwork,” said Ben Heller a co-worker of Paul Nunn. “He is one of my really good friends and it is fun to travel around and be apart of this experience.”

Running your own business, one understands that with success there are always bumps in the road. Nunn said that building a customer base, developing his painting skills, establishing a production method and learned business logistics are all some of the successes that he has come across while running his business.

“A show is like opening up shop for the day or weekend,” said Nunn. “You have to consider product placement, and there is a fine line between selling and annoying the browsing customer.”

Some bumps in the road that Nunn has encountered have been trying to sell the wrong paintings and spending money to sell at unpopular venues.

“The challenge is that it is difficult to be 20 and self finance a biz,” said Nunn. “My friends often help with labor and when a show goes well we split the money. When a show doesn’t go well, I have a choice to pay my bills or pay my labor…people don’t always want to work if they aren’t sure what their paycheck will look like.”

Nunn is an extremely productive person and has made a business in just a few years. His paintings show his passion for art and the icons and artists that inspire him to work harder and pursue his dream of opening a gallery in Portland or Seattle, are apparent.

“I started out as a Biotechnology major for the first two years at Washington State University, and then started dabbling in spray paint and selling pieces occasionally,” said Nunn. “Summer 2007 became my start and every weekend turned into a road trip and a passion for what I loved doing.”

For more information about Nunn’s artwork and his business, you can go to www.peacepirates.net or contact him at (866)546-0901.

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