Meet Shawn Pavlas | Software Engineer / Multi-media Artist

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

Hi Shawn, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Sticking with something long enough to see it gain traction. I know I am not the only creative person who has struggled to stay focused on one idea or project. As someone who both loves learning new things and has a mind constantly abuzz with considering possibilities and alternate perspectives I spent years of my life just exploring but not having much to show for it. I would try new things often, and it was always enjoyable and I’d learn a lot, but would end up with a half-finished idea that would eventually be forgotten as I moved onto the next one. Worse yet, I would try to make two things happen simultaneously. It wasn’t until I started doing something just for its own sake that things went differently.

In early 2017, I realized that I had been neglecting my more creative side. My day job was in programming and in my spare time I was also exploring more technically-heavy projects. I am happiest when I am both creative and technical, so I decided I would start a small side project in the form of an Instagram page. The goal was to make one illustration each day whether it was a rough sketch or something more polished. I just wanted to make sure I carved out some time each day to do at least one thing creative. It was this small idea that was the first thing that stuck with me, and that I stuck with. Years later, that simple daily practice evolved into my art brand, Coffee Hotline. Keeping my goals realistic and succinct and sticking with them helped me to build something lasting.

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 design and illustrate a web comic and apparel brand called Coffee Hotline. It was born from a life-long love for Coffee as well as from my professional experience working in design and marketing for the coffee industry. At its core, it’s really just my love letter to coffee that evolved into something more.

It all started in 2018 when I began doodling coffee cups every day and publishing them to Instagram. I have since drawn a ridiculously large number of coffee cups, which is a weird thing that I suppose not many people can say. In the beginning they were mostly crude sketches with silly puns on them, but as time went on and I kept up with it, a style and brand of humor began to emerge. Things became more consistent and grounded. Puns scribbled next to doodles became four-panel comics featuring cartoon cups and other countertop fare.

In 2021, I was recognized as a top-selling designer on [TeePublic.com](http://TeePublic.com) – something I would never have imagined back when I first started. In 2022 I was making over a grand a month just from making cartoon animations on Instagram and brought in a little extra from streams for original music I was composing alongside them under my instrumental musical spin-off project “Coffee Attic”.

Getting from a daily doodle project to an established brand definitely did not happen overnight. I learned pretty quickly that it takes a ton of dedicated effort to build an online audience. I also learned through my experience the importance of consistency and community.

Consistency because in order to get really good at something you have to do it many many times over. Furthermore, wherever social media is involved there’s a set of algorithms determining how many people get to see your work and those algorithms demand consistently posted content.

Sometimes the biggest challenge is just putting aside perfectionist tendencies and and sharing something even if I think it could be better. Sometimes, its knowing when to take a break and recharge.

Community is crucial because connections are what make it all work. This has always been the most valuable thing to me. Engaging with other artists, coffee enthusiasts, and fans of the comic in meaningful ways led to some of my favorite collaborations, conversations, and ultimately a more successful and personally fulfilling project. For me, making this art has become much more about connecting with a broader community than self-expression. I love creating content that prompts.

At the end of the day Coffee Hotline is about enjoying the moments. It is art and comedy that I make during some of the most enjoyable moments during my schedule. Through my art, I reflect on and prompt conversation around all things coffee and humanity, from silly things like complicated drink orders to less trivial matters such as the coffee industry’s impact on the environment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite thing to do around here is getting out in nature and especially the mountains, so I’d make sure we have at least a day or two to explore the outdoors and hit up some hiking trails. Boulder, Nederland, and Estes Park are some of my favorite areas for that. Back in the city, I’d want to share the absolutely incredible Convergence Station experience at Meow Wolf. For food we’d go to Avanti for lunch more than once, Dae Gee for some of the best Korean BBQ, and Historians Ale House for the atmosphere and great beer. And you can’t experience Denver properly without some live music. I’d probably first check to see if my friends BrandWine and the Mighty Fines are playing anywhere that week and it’s always worth seeing a big show at Mission Ballroom. I’m also a big fan of antique stores and book shops, so some time just wandering around downtown perusing is a favorite pastime.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One of the greatest lessons I have learned in my adventures so far is that success is not a solo story. I would not have achieved any successes without the amazing connections I was fortunate to have made with like-minded creatives and the web comics and illustrators communities online. There are too many to name all of them, but when it comes to people making art paired with relatable humor on the internet, there is no more-supportive and uplifting group of people to be found. I’ve had the joy of collaborating with some of my favorite artists through this community.

I also want to shout out my IRL friend and talented illustrator Emily (illustrationsbyem.com) who’s art and friendship inspired me to keep going early in my journey when I may have otherwise given up.

One more thing: the book Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon was pivotal in my journey. I still read it when I need a creative pick-me-up.

Website: https://www.teepublic.com/user/coffee-hotline

Instagram: https://instagram.com/coffeehotline

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coffeehotlinemedia

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCxvvW1wyMVwURoNhzTcuvw