Jared Brewster of Circa Wear. Beard sold separately.

How did you get into screen printing?

Ever since high school, I’ve wanted to do it. I was always interested in it as a medium for getting designs out. Then I had umpteen jobs I wasn’t satisfied with. So it escalated from a hobby into a job.

What is your screen printing company, and when did you start it?

I have two businesses. The first one is Label Thirteen, which I started in 2007. It began as a hobby, then I went full-time with it in 2011. It’s a custom screen printing outfit, sort of the commercial side. Then I started Circa Wear in 2012, which is an outlet to get my own designs and other local artists and designers’ work out there. Label Thirteen is more for other businesses; Circa is my own retail outlet.

What local artists have you worked with in Circa Wear?

Design by Wayne Bledsoe. Available thru Circa Wear.

I’ve worked with [former Pub soundman and Blank Newspaper art director] Jon Eaton, and with [Knoxville News Sentinel reporter and local artist] Wayne Bledsoe. I’m not very adept at drawing myself; I’m better at the conceptual end than I am with execution. I can come up with ideas I like, but then I look for a graphic designer to flesh it out.

I have an open door policy. If anyone has a great drawing or something I feel fits Circa Wear, I’ll use their stuff. The great thing is that everyone has a T-shirt idea or five. You can be completely without ideas, and still come up with plenty.

What do you like best about your work?

I like that I’m self-employed, and I don’t have to work under the constrains of a 9 to 5 job. And it’s instant gratification. You make something with your hands, and then you see the end result pretty soon after.

Design by Wayne Bledsoe