Artist of the Week: Shawn McClure

Shawn McClure is the Seattle-based artist behind Skylinyl Records, creating custom pieces of art out of old records.

Seattle Refined: How long have you been creating? What mediums do you work with?
McClure: I started cutting city skylines from old vinyl records with exacto knives about 11 years ago. I get them from shops or collectors that are going to otherwise be thrown out.

Can you tell us about your artistic process and how the different stages work into it?
I've always enjoyed playing with negative space. I take a photo or image of whatever the client would like and turn it into black and white, then I would trace the image onto the record with a knife to make a score and then go back and cut out all the little pieces. Skylinyl just got a laser a few months ago, so we can operate much more efficiently now. It is annoying how fast it is, but my fingers need a break after 10+ years of cutting old vinyl!

Tell us about where your inspiration for your art comes from.
11 years ago, I was exploring Australia and happened to acquire a bunch of old records from some people moving to Croatia. The records later melted during a heat surge in Sydney, so I decided to cut the Sydney skyline into one of them as a memoir of my trip. Months later, someone noticed it on the wall of my apartment and commissioned 10 Seattle skylines. So, I started making more and kept getting better at it. I've now cut thousands of records for customers all over the world.

Do you have a specific "beat" you like best – nature, food, profiles, etc.?
I've been playing drums for 26 years, so I'd say I best like a tasty Mozambique.

Do you have one piece of art that means more to you or is extremely special to you?
I sometimes get commissioned to make portraits of lost loved ones, and that is always very special and an honor. The piece that is the most special is the very first one that I cut in Australia with a kitchen knife that started everything.

If we want to see more of your work, where should we go to find it?
You can find the brand new Skylinyl Gallery on 1st Avenue downtown, just south of the Harbor Steps between Seneca and Spring. It's a very beautiful space; we are very lucky. Follow on Facebook and Instagram here.

What is next for you? Anything you're working on right now that you're really excited about?
With the recent purchase of the new laser, the idea is to be able to operate at a larger scale and fulfill a larger volume of orders. I'm also making more 3D pieces and exploring new ideas like making functioning mazes and Skylinyl that have moving pieces.

Lastly, how do you take your coffee? (We ask everyone!)
I don't drink much coffee, and when I do, it's different each time. But I do like to make banana milkshakes and throw peanut butter and iced mocha coffee in there.

About 'Artist of the Week': This city is packed with artists we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist in mind that you would like to see featured, let us know at hello@seattlerefined.com. And if you're wondering just what constitutes art, that's the beauty of it; it's up to you! See all of our past Artists of the Week in our dedicated section.