THE INSPIRATION PLACE PODCAST
Aramis Hamer: Truly, truly. It’s an honor. And even reading reading your book, I’m just like, Thank God for you. Like literally, literally Miriam. Like, I feel like this is going to help so many artists. And I genuinely wish that your book existed ten years ago.
Miriam Schulman: Me too. It’s incredible. That’s why I wrote it like.
Aramis Hamer: Yes.
Miriam Schulman: Yes, I was a broke ass bitch 20 years ago and nobody wrote a book for me.
Aramis Hamer: And there you did. Which is which is so great. And it was so cool. Like hearing about your story and like, I don’t want to dive in too quickly.
Speaker 3: It’s the Inspiration Place podcast with artist Miriam Schulman. Welcome to the Inspiration Place podcast. An Art World Insider podcast for artists by an artist, where each week we go behind the scenes to uncover the perspiration and inspiration behind the art. And now your host, Miriam Schulman.
Miriam Schulman: Hello and And welcome to The Inspiration Place podcast. I’m Miriam Schulman, your curator of inspiration, and you’re listening to episode number 342. Our guest today is the Seattle visual artist. Her subject matter is inspired by spirituality, nature and the complexities throughout black culture. Since 2013, she’s been showcasing her large scale paintings at many different venues in the greater Seattle area, including Museum of History and Industry, the Bellevue Art Museum, Climate Pledge, arena Museum of pop Art, and many more. So please welcome to the The Inspiration Place Aramis Hammer. Well. Hey there. Welcome to the show.
Aramis Hamer: Thank you so much, Miriam. I’m so honored to be here. And I’m just so grateful for the work that you’re putting out into the world. And. Yeah, this is this is exciting.
Miriam Schulman: Yes it is. And we are grateful for you for coming and sharing your voice and your wisdom. So the reason this came about is I had been talking to my community about artists using LinkedIn and also YouTube. And I said, well, the only problem with YouTube is I haven’t been able to find an artist there who’s using YouTube to sell art, who isn’t monetizing it for coaching or teaching. And then somebody raised their hand in my audience and they said, wait a minute, I know somebody. Look at this girl. Look at what she’s doing a hammer. And I was like. And I looked you up and I was blown away.
Aramis Hamer: Shout out to your community. Okay, look, I love that we have overlap. And somebody had made you aware of my work, but, yeah, you know, I saw the same thing, you know, on YouTube where there there’s a lot of coaching, there’s a lot of courses, Is. And I think there there’s no harm in it. Like I’m all about like, get your bag however you can get your bag. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Miriam Schulman: I can’t tell people to use YouTube unless there’s an example of somebody who’s using it in the way that they want to grow in their careers.
Aramis Hamer: Totally.
Miriam Schulman: And you are this example of what’s possible, which is such a beautiful thing, and your messaging is so good, you just show up and you be you’re real and you’re honest. I would love for you to talk about the mural that you had to redo, because certain IP police came after you. Would you like to share that story?
Aramis Hamer: You know, good old, good old Lego, I love it. I mean and Lego don’t play there like do not mess with me. But yeah, I had the honor of painting a mural at the Westfield Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, Washington. And so that’s kind of like South Seattle in between, like Tacoma and Seattle. And so I painted this mural in 2020 where you could pretty much find all the different elements in the mall. So there was like toys, there was food, teddy bears, tires, all sorts of different things. And I submitted the proposal to the mall management and they they approved the design. It had the Lego element in it. And yeah, four years later, I guess one of the Lego reps was was walking through the mall and saw their intellectual property there. And yeah, reported that to the to the mall management. They reached out to me in order for me to cover up the Lego elements. And so yeah, I went out there repainted it, made a, made a video about it on my YouTube channel. But it was it was interesting. It was interesting for sure.
Miriam Schulman: We’ve all done stuff like that. I just want you to know I’ve done it too. I have, and then there’s even things I’ve done where this is back in the day when I was selling art on eBay and eBay was the Wild To UST. And this is pre.
Aramis Hamer: Still kind of is isn’t it. Ebay is just.
Miriam Schulman: Probably probably but this is when it was it was truly very profitable to be there because there was nothing else to do in the internet. There was no Instagram, there was no Facebook. Youtube started maybe around that time, but it wasn’t a thing yet. Yeah. Okay.
Aramis Hamer: So like cat videos.
Miriam Schulman: I don’t even know if it was that. I don’t even know. So I decided that I was going to paint pictures of Webkinz because Webkinz was the thing. And oh, why can’t I paint pictures of Webkinz? Can’t you paint whatever you want? Well, you can paint a picture of something that you want, but if you’re using their name in the title now, it’s trademark infringement. So this is for all those artists who think I’m going to paint Chanel, and I’m going to paint this, and I’m going to paint that. You can’t use the name of the of the product in your title, because otherwise it’s like saying that they endorse you. Like you can’t use their brand name. It’s like. Whereas what you were doing, I think it’s more like along the lines of maybe I don’t know, you know better, you know what they came after you for. But you know, like how people think they can just do a Disney character. Well, you can if you pay Disney a licensing fee.
Aramis Hamer: Right? Which I didn’t I didn’t know about that till like, after the fact, you know, because it’s like, you see so many people you.
Miriam Schulman: See people doing it.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah, totally. Like, you see it all over Instagram. You see it on TikTok with the Chanel and, you know, people paying celebrities. That’s a big thing. Yeah, it’s kind of fan art. So it’s just like, yeah, it was it was really interesting. And I guess it just like, depends on whoever sees it, because mind you, it was up for four years with no.
Miriam Schulman: Yeah, yeah.
Aramis Hamer: No commentary.
Miriam Schulman: That was like the sort of thing that if you had made a painting in someone’s private home. Fine. Yeah. You know. But because it was in a public place. So I felt bad for you about that. Because I’ve been there where things, like, got ugly. And I was like, oh, gosh.
Aramis Hamer: It wasn’t too bad, you know?
Miriam Schulman: Not for me.
Miriam Schulman: I made $15 on this piece of art.
Aramis Hamer: Right. You know what was fun? It’s it’s been funny sharing on YouTube and stuff because I’m, I’m sort of seeing everything as, like, a content moment. I’m like, hey.
Miriam Schulman: Yes, it is.
Aramis Hamer: You know? So I was like, hey, like I because I didn’t even, you know, in that video, I was sharing old footage, like, I didn’t even share the process of me creating it when I created it four years ago.
Miriam Schulman: Yeah.
Aramis Hamer: So I was like, okay, like, here’s a moment I can, you know, show that old footage, tell the current story now of me repainting it. And so, yeah, it’s like, it’s it’s really cool to live your life like a movie where now it’s like all of these sort of ups and downs are, are, are, you know, opportunities to share educational entertainment and, and just really connect with the with the folks.
Miriam Schulman: Okay, so can you turn your camera so we can look at that beautiful painting behind you?
Aramis Hamer: Yes, that is Taurus.
Miriam Schulman: Tell us about her.
Aramis Hamer: Yes. So I painted a Zodiac series back in 2020. Well, it was actually over the span of four years. I was working on painting all 12 of the astrological signs. And she is Taurus, where the archetype is the bull. So we kind of have her hair. Yeah. And then like the Bantu knots kind of with this bull. And then it’s like subtle, iridescent horns that’s behind her certain light. You could see it. And.
Miriam Schulman: Yeah, it’s very creative. Thanks. Because I’ve seen other artists do Zodiac, but then it’s like, Taurus is like it’s a bull.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah, literally.
Miriam Schulman: Literally a bull. Right? Right. It’s not like.
Miriam Schulman: They made an archetype of Taurus as a woman. So I love what you did there.
Aramis Hamer: Thank you. That was fun. That was a whole lot of fun.
Miriam Schulman: Tell us about how long ago you ago you started your YouTube channel and what the journey has been like with that?
Aramis Hamer: You know, YouTube has been so much fun. I started it 2020. Yeah, well, I kept I uploaded like my first video, like Christmas of 2019, but since it was December then it was kind of like the the new year. And so it was crazy because like, the pandemic hadn’t happened at that time. And so I was just like, you know, this is an opportunity to share. I’m a major consumer of YouTube. Like, that’s my favorite platform. I don’t even watch TV.
Miriam Schulman: Same, same. I mean, and now that’s why I’m finally waking up to, well, if I’m only watching YouTube and nothing else and I don’t even I don’t listen to podcasts anymore, why am I putting all this content everywhere else? It’s like, this is where I am too. I, I canceled my Netflix. I canceled Paramount, we have Amazon Prime because mama likes to shop. Me too.
Aramis Hamer: Yes. Yes.
Miriam Schulman: So sometimes I remember that there’s things on Amazon Prime I might want to watch, but mostly I’m on YouTube.
Aramis Hamer: Same. Same. It’s like it’s on my TV. Like, that’s. That’s what we watch mostly.
Miriam Schulman: Like, that’s what I’m watching in the dentist’s office.
Aramis Hamer: Yep. It is crazy. Like people who are. I mean, like you, you know, the people who are YouTube people are YouTube people, you know. And so I was like, hey, why not, like, let me start sharing on this platform I do. I am like intentional about my consumption. So it’s like if I find myself consuming too much on a certain platform, I try to create on that platform. I’m like, okay, we have to balance it out, you know?
Miriam Schulman: Oh, I love that philosophy. Okay.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. And, you know, and that’s why I struggle with TikTok is like, I’m not I’m not on TikTok. I don’t really consume TikTok as a consumer. So I feel like each platform has its own culture. And so it’s like, I don’t even know the culture of A TikTok to sort of even like be relevant on it. But anyway. But yeah, so YouTube started back in 2020, but I’ve been watching it. It’s been like an OG watcher of you, like even starting my locks. I’ve had my locks for 13 years and so like the whole natural hair community was really big on YouTube and like 070809 well, of course, like even later, like it’s still it’s kind of fizzled out, kind of like with the beauty community. The beauty community has moved over to TikTok, but YouTube has been has been really fun. And I started in 2020. And so yeah, it’s coming up on it’ll be it’ll be five years next year.
Miriam Schulman: And when did you first start getting traction? Tell the listeners who do not know you the name of your channel, because it’s not exactly the same as you have two channels, right?
Aramis Hamer: I do, I do it’s like the the Gemini diary is like, it’s like my little b side, you know.
Miriam Schulman: It’s like that one too, though. I watched that.
Aramis Hamer: Whole.
Miriam Schulman: Nothing. We’ll be talking about that in a moment. Hey there artists, are you ready to finally get your art noticed by collectors, galleries and the media that matters for artists. Back by popular demand, my audience building workshop is happening live on February 13th. And you don’t want to miss this. In this workshop, you’ll be learning tactics for your art to get seen that goes beyond social media. This will help you attract the right collectors, the right audience. Tell your unique story and finally get the recognition that your art deserves. This is your chance to develop a plan that works for you and your artistic goals. Reserve your spot now at SchulmanArt.com forward slash audience. That’s SchulmanArt.com slash audience. Let’s make 2025 the year your art becomes unforgettable. And I’ll see you there. Now let’s get back to the show.
Aramis Hamer: So my channel is Ayo Hammer, the artist, which is my first initial Aramis. My middle name is Octavia and Hammer. So Ayo Hammer the artist. And you know, YouTube is one of. I literally just posted two on my community tab. I was like, man, YouTube is one of the hardest platforms to stay consistent on, but I feel like it’s where you grow the deepest community. Like people are waiting on your video. They are watching it. They are they are like really invested in your journey. And I know for me, like as somebody who has her favorite YouTubers, like whenever, whenever my favorite YouTuber is, I’m like, where’s she at? You know, like, you know what’s going on. So it took about a year and a half. Maybe it was two years, actually, it might have been a year and a half until I was monetized. And that’s when you need 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours. That 4000 watch hours is no joke. It takes it takes a good minute to to rack up those hours. So yeah, I really feel like YouTube is one of those things where you just you genuinely gotta love it. I highlighted one of the quotes you had in your book. You said something around the same thing with art. To make money from your art, you need to want it. Yeah, you need to want money. Yeah. Right? Right. Want the money chapter.
Miriam Schulman: Right. Like stop saying, oh, I don’t care about the money.
Aramis Hamer: No. What you really.
Miriam Schulman: Want, you’re going to hurt money’s feelings.
Aramis Hamer: Yes.
Miriam Schulman: Money will hear you and it will go someplace. Who to? Someone who wants the money.
Aramis Hamer: Totally. Have you read books? You are a badass.
Miriam Schulman: No, I haven’t, but should I?
Aramis Hamer: Oh, you have to. That’s. That’s what she says too. Yeah. She has, like, a whole you are a badass series.
Miriam Schulman: Yeah, I have heard of her for some reason. I reason, I just, I don’t know. I think I’ve, I took one of the books off of downstairs. So I live in an apartment in New York City. So we have, like, the reject bookshelf down by the laundry room. I think I took it off there. I think it’s great back, you know.
Aramis Hamer: It’s great, you know, and especially if you’re an audiobook listener, she’s hilarious. She reads it and like, it’s all it’s full of jokes and riddles.
Miriam Schulman: And just maybe I should listen to this.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah, I think she’s from Jersey. Like, she’s just so.
Miriam Schulman: From new Jersey.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. So I feel like you were. You were so like related vibe with her. She has this dry sense of humor that’s like, it’s not all self-helpy and preachy or like, whatever. She’s just like, look, you know, and she talks about how the language we carry around money can, can really repel it, you know?
Miriam Schulman: Well, it’s because we’re hearing it ourselves. You’re telling yourself you don’t want money. It’s not you’re not acting modest for the rest of the world. That’s not what it’s about. It’s the messages you’re giving yourself.
Aramis Hamer: Totally, totally.
Miriam Schulman: And don’t complain when you don’t have it. When you said you don’t want it.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. There’s so many layers, you know, it’s it’s truly an energy, you know. And like the energy we have around money isn’t is important. But yeah, coming back to the to the energy of YouTube. Yeah I just I was just having fun, you know, I was having fun playing around and really just trying to connect with other folks. Not exactly to connect with only artists, but definitely with artists, but also just people who I identify as being like creatives. You know, even if art isn’t their profession. And that’s where I find a lot of my audience actually is. It’s like, you know, creative people who have other jobs and just and just like to see my, my journey as a professional artist.
Miriam Schulman: Okay. So tell me about how people come to buy your art from seeing it on YouTube, because that’s really what my audience needs to hear.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. You know, honestly, I don’t feel like people come to my YouTube channel and buy my art.
Miriam Schulman: Yes.
Aramis Hamer: So it’s kind of like a funnel, right? And you’re familiar with, like.
Miriam Schulman: My mom.
Aramis Hamer: And I and everything, right?
Miriam Schulman: Really happy you’re saying this. So say more.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. And so I was so great about YouTube and people probably hear it, but it’s so true, though. It’s like it’s a great evergreen platform. So if people are searching for certain things and like, and there’s people who’ve come to my channel who don’t live in Seattle, but they’re like, I want to visit Seattle. So they’ll see my stuff come up because it says Seattle Artists. And so now I’m sort of on their radar for Seattle, you know, and so but people will come to my channel, they’ll, you know, enjoy the vlogs, they’ll become a patron, for example, how you became a patron, you know, so thank you so much. And so people will become that and then they’ll, they’ll follow me on Instagram as they’re following me on Instagram. I’m posting more. They join the newsletter, I’m sharing email newsletters and sharing.
Miriam Schulman: Yours because this is what my audience needs to hear. How often are you emailing?
Aramis Hamer: Probably about once or twice a month. I can definitely do better with the emails because I feel like email is is where I convert the most honestly.
Miriam Schulman: Okay, we are going to take your audio and repeat that.
Aramis Hamer: Yes yes yes. Email newsletters is where I convert the most. Yes. Yes. And it’s and you were you were mentioning I was like 100% true. I think we’re just getting we’re getting oversaturated with social media. You know, it’s like we’re just seeing stuff in our feed. And I think it is important to transfer people to a platform that you own, and also a platform that people not only consent to follow you like we’re so used to like, okay, I’m just going to follow this person, like, oh, I’m just going to subscribe. But I feel like when people join your your newsletter, they’re subscribing and consenting on like a deeper level where they’re like, I want to hear about the shows you have coming up. I want to hear about the about the new art you’re making. And when that art becomes available. So that I can become a collector. You know, like, people, like, are really like. No, keep me updated. You aren’t bothering me. Like, I’ve heard from some of my supporters, they’re like, they will be upset if I haven’t informed them about an event. That’s right. I know, I’m like, oh my God. Okay. So sorry. You know.
Miriam Schulman: Because if you’re creating one of a kind art and I love your art, and now I’m a Capricorn and you’re going to come out with a Capricorn painting, I want to see it before somebody else gets it. Yep. Like, don’t deny me that opportunity.
Aramis Hamer: 100%. 100%. And you know, this is this is really what I’ve heard from my collectors. And it’s so encouraging. It’s so humbling to see that there is genuinely people in the world who care about our work, you know?
Miriam Schulman: Yeah.
Aramis Hamer: And so, yeah, definitely, I think emails is a great place. But I do try to like make the email I am subscribed to a couple newsletters, but I think it’s I know, like part of my behavior as a consumer is like, if it’s not, I don’t I don’t like too many emails. You know, I think we can all feel like, okay, you know, back, back, back, back with some of the emails. So I do try to batch my emails where it’s like, this is here are my events for the month of June. You know, save the date. Here are the events.
Miriam Schulman: Here I’m going to coach you on that.
Aramis Hamer: Okay.
Miriam Schulman: Because is your open rate 100%? No, I mean, that’s a rhetorical question. Right? Right, right. So is it 50%. Is it 25%. Most people it’s 25%.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. You know, my my is about 45, but I only have about 1500.
Miriam Schulman: Let’s go to the land that it’s 50% okay. And if you’re emailing twice a month that means you have one shot to get your stuff in front of people because they’re probably only opening one out of two.
Aramis Hamer: Very true.
Miriam Schulman: Very true. And what I want you to ask yourself, would you ever only post one YouTube video a month?
Aramis Hamer: No.
Miriam Schulman: So if email is your best converting platform and mama likes to shop and mama likes money, doesn’t it make sense to email more often?
Aramis Hamer: It does. It does. I also feel like.
Miriam Schulman: Make the email shorter.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah, that’s true because I’m like, I’ll have like a whole, you know, and it’s like all these different things. So no. Very, very true. Miriam. You’re like, you’re right on that. I also feel like all my other platforms are also serving as those, like visual cues, right. Like, oh, she has. But I’m thinking about.
Miriam Schulman: Watching and consuming 100% of everything you put out there.
Aramis Hamer: No no no, you’re right, you’re right. Yeah, yeah.
Miriam Schulman: We all do.
Aramis Hamer: This. Opportunities to increase do this.
Miriam Schulman: So what I tell the people I coach is, is don’t call them newsletters even to yourself. Because when we think of newsletters, we think it has to be all our news. And there’s got to be all these sections, like, like the way email looked ten, 15 years ago. Yeah, it’s really just got to be like an Instagram post, like, here’s my update. Here’s the event happening this week. Hope to see you there. Love, Aramis.
Aramis Hamer: Totally true. No it’s true, it’s true. I know I could definitely shorten mine. And then if I shorten them I can increase the frequency of sending them out.
Miriam Schulman: I can’t wait.
Aramis Hamer: Okay, you’re encouraging me.
Miriam Schulman: She’s going to kill me. Like, why did you do that? Like, you know, like, right.
Aramis Hamer: No, I think I think it, I think it would be good. You know, the thing is, I realized I have different audiences, different places, and so I feel like the bulk of my email newsletter people are like Seattle locals, people who are like, they want to know about the events that I’m at. They want to see, like where they can see me in person, like where my next show is. Yeah. And then I feel like when it comes down to my socials, if it’s YouTube, if it’s Instagram, that’s just more of like, hey, this is the art that I’m working on. But also, by the way, shop because that’s like, that’s international. Anybody can shop, you know. Yeah. But the newsletter I do try to curate it a little bit more to people who are close who could come to my events.
Miriam Schulman: Okay. All right. I have some more questions for you. Yes. Let’s talk about your Gemini, I’m assuming. Right.
Aramis Hamer: Yes.
Miriam Schulman: Yes.
Aramis Hamer: The Gemini diary.
Miriam Schulman: The Gemini diaries. Okay. So one thing, one video I watched there, I was like, oh my gosh. Preach. You were telling people, if you just want to paint for fun, don’t start an art business.
Aramis Hamer: Yes.
Miriam Schulman: You want to climb up on your soapbox and talk about that?
Aramis Hamer: Because I can. I can soapbox on that for so much. So that was the and it’s funny that video was kind of took off on that channel. But the title of that video was please stop taking advice from the internet because there is a lot of just there’s just like there’s so much. And I think what’s so great, we are now getting to a point of conscious consumption where people are sort of seeing through the like, glitz and glamor. And as more of us are becoming content creators, we see like, oh, she had to set up the camera to sort of frolic through the fields like, you know, like, and it was just.
Miriam Schulman: I know.
Aramis Hamer: I love vlogs, like, those are fun.
Miriam Schulman: You know, if I can just take you off your soapbox for just a minute, but I’ll let you climb back on. Okay. So like there was an influencer that I loved until I was asked to create my own Amazon channel, and then I started getting emails from all the brands she talks about, like telling me how much they were going to pay me Amy, if I put their lingerie brand on the channel. And now, like, I don’t trust anything she does anymore because it’s like I see through it all. It’s like.
Aramis Hamer: Yes.
Miriam Schulman: Oh, that crappy pajamas you recommended. That’s because they sent you free ones, and that’s because they paid you. And it’s like, oh.
Aramis Hamer: So like you start to see through so much of it.
Miriam Schulman: Yes. It’s like seeing how the sausages are made and it’s like, I don’t want to be a part of that.
Aramis Hamer: Yep, yep. And so there is a moment to but I mean, you know, at the at the same time still just just consuming consciously, you know, it’s like if people want to create this like beautiful moment. Great. Like we totally love that for entertainment. Yeah. But there is this like illusion thinking that like, oh, these people are like 100% authentic, 100% right?
Miriam Schulman: And they’re friends and they just have our best interests at heart. It’s like.
Aramis Hamer: It’s not the case. They are they are working professionals who are getting commissioned, you know, and so it’s like.
Miriam Schulman: Which is which we applaud.
Aramis Hamer: Exactly. It’s it’s totally fine. It’s totally fine. But it’s it’s also good to be aware of that. Like be aware of the parasocial relationship. Be aware that they were given this free item, you know.
Miriam Schulman: Hey artists, are you tired of feeling burnt out, invisible, trying everything you possibly can and it still doesn’t work. It is time to change all of that back by popular demand. My audience building workshop is happening live on February 13th and you don’t want to miss it. This will show you how to attract the right collectors, pitch yourself to the media, and craft a personal story that truly connects. Plus, you’ll walk away with the tools that you need to stand out without relying on endless hours of social media scrolling. You’ll also be learning cutting edge AI prompts to make all of this easier. Spaces are filling up fast, so you don’t want to wait. Head on over to SchulmanArt.com forward slash audience to grab your seat. That’s SchulmanArt.com audience. Let’s make 2025 your breakthrough moment. And I’ll see you live on February 13th. And now let’s get back to the show.
Aramis Hamer: And so it is difficult to navigate. Okay. So coming back to.
Miriam Schulman: So coming back. So first of all the title was amazing about stop listening to the people on the internet. And so I had this moment like of like, oh my God, I hope she’s not talking about the things I say on the internet.
Aramis Hamer: No.
Miriam Schulman: You know.
Aramis Hamer: Like.
Miriam Schulman: So that’s why I tuned in to it. You know, it’s like.
Aramis Hamer: You know, I think it’s I think there’s, you know, the same way how you said during during the beginning was like, I want to have people on the show who’s a reflection of the goals that my, you know, like, like listeners aspire to, you know, so it’s like, if if I don’t aspire to be a coach, then I’m probably shouldn’t listen to this specific coach. You know what I mean? It’s like, yeah, I, I do like seeing people who are similar to me who they’re like in the field, you know what I mean? And so it’s just a it’s just being like pure honest about the like the sort of different spaces, you know. Yeah. But also people who are sharing, sharing incredible information like yours is helping us. Who’s out in the field, you know. And so to me that there isn’t this hierarchy. This isn’t like, oh, who who’s better. Who’s doing it quote unquote. Right. You have to like, figure out what works for you, you know?
Miriam Schulman: Yeah.
Aramis Hamer: But there is this mindset that artists have that if you aren’t making money directly, directly from a painting you are creating in your studio, then you aren’t a real artist. That is completely.
Miriam Schulman: False. Oh yeah. Completely. A lot of people tell me that, and I was like, well, you do know I’m 56 years old and I’ve been doing this.
Aramis Hamer: You don’t look at it like even when I was reading, I was like, what? Like like New York back in the 90s. Like, wow. I’m like, I would have never thunk it, but.
Miriam Schulman: Well, five filters, honey. You know, like, I’ve got the portrait filter on. I’ve got the cream tone. I got the touch of my appearance.
Aramis Hamer: That’s hilarious. Shout out to. Shout out to the realness. I’m here.
Miriam Schulman: For you. Okay. No, but like, I’ve been in the trenches for a long time, so, you know, you can say whatever you want about me. But I’ve been doing this long before the. Before the internet.
Aramis Hamer: 1,000% and and and what I notice about people who make comments about artists who aren’t real artists because they aren’t making money from their art.
Miriam Schulman: They’re doing it. Typically they’re trying to do it to like whenever somebody says that comment to me and I skip on over to look at their Instagram, it says artist business coach in their profile. Yeah, but they’re not successful at it. So what they really are resenting is the fact that I’m a successful artist business coach, not the fact that I’m an artist business coach.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah, there’s so there’s so much projection, there’s so much jealousy. There’s so much. But also I do notice it and maybe because the internet is how it is, but it tends to be from like younger artists who don’t have enough experience in the field where they realize like, oh, first of all, like artists to me is a term like where you are literally a creator of life. So you can be a fashion designer, culinary artist, gardener. Like, there’s so many different things where you don’t have to limit yourself to just painting on a canvas, because to me, video editing is genuinely an art form in itself, you know? So like, that’s why I don’t hate on too much of like the influencers who are making like super esthetic videos. First of First of all, I love those. Those are beautiful. It’s like pure entertainment. Yeah. Also, it’s it’s such a creative art form to be able to edit in that way, to curate sounds and music, to, like, elicit a certain emotion, you know. So, yeah, there’s a there’s a lot that I did say in that particular video about stop taking advice from the internet, but it was around the idea that Kelsey was attacked for because but I feel like what was different in her case is that she she isn’t a coach coaching other coaches, which can kind of be this like pipeline of like coaches teaching other coaches.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. What what was interesting about her model is that she genuinely was a coach teaching other artists how to sell their art, which is the same thing that you are doing, you know. And so I think I think that’s what a lot of people can resonate with that. It’s like, yeah, I want to learn how to sell my art, you know? But unfortunately in these algorithmic spaces. Money does get clicks when people talk about how much money they’re making or how to make money on YouTube, how to do. Those are the videos that can put us in these spirals of making more content, that is, around how to make money as an artist, and those end up becoming your highest generating videos, which now put artists in the loop of making more videos like that versus sharing more videos where they’re sharing their art. You know, people that’s just like, that’s just an entertainment video. You know, you’re watching a painting, it’s a time lapse or it’s an artist vlog or whatever. But people go to YouTube to, you know, some people go to search stuff. They’re searching how to become a full time artist, how to, you know, so sure, those videos will come up more. So it’s just about curating who you’re consuming and making sure that that path is on the path that you want to follow.
Miriam Schulman: It’s interesting because my experience as somebody who has been both selling my art and a business coach on YouTube, my most successful videos that have like 100,000 views, they’re all art videos. Mhm. Not the ones where I’m talking about this stuff. I mean, my podcast, I’m more seen on my podcast probably, and that’s why. Yeah. More visible there. Yeah. Anyway.
Aramis Hamer: Well and that and that. That’s not good to know. And there’s also in like in that’s possible too. You know what I mean. It’s like I don’t want the narrative to only be where, where people are like having a certain experience where, you know, views are only higher if you are talking about money. There are art channels where their main, their main thing is their art and they are getting millions of views. Yeah, it’s wonderful and it’s beautiful, you know? And so yeah.
Miriam Schulman: Let’s bring this back to you and back to you and your channel. I’m just going to share the screen for the eventual putting this on to YouTube, which I’m really enjoying that creative process. Do you have a team helping you or do you do it all yourself?
Aramis Hamer: You know, like I did have a team and they were so great. I had a virtual assistant, Shannon, for about three years, and then I had a studio assistant and Alicia for about a year. She was helping me like pack orders and in my studio, and really. So I really needed the most help during the launch of my Zodiac show. And so that’s where they really helped me out. So now that show’s over, and now I’m just like focusing on working on a new a new series. So now it’s just me and I’m enjoying that.
Miriam Schulman: Okay, how I store huge paintings. The week in a life of a full time artist. Art of the matter.
Aramis Hamer: Oh yeah. This is this is like search. You can you can go to my my page if you want. These are like other videos that’s popping up that have my name in it, which that was great. I had a I did a podcast interview with my friend on her channel.
Miriam Schulman: Okay.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah, yeah. So those are some of my latest videos.
Miriam Schulman: Okay, so she has before this goes live, she has 14,000 subscribers. We’ll see how much it goes up after this. This airs.
Aramis Hamer: Oh, that’ll be fun.
Miriam Schulman: How much of my audience comes over? Yeah. Okay. I did shadow work. The inner child. Oh, this is a good painting. I’m just going to click.
Aramis Hamer: On.
Miriam Schulman: That one. Let me just turn off the sound just so it doesn’t interfere with what we’re talking about.
Aramis Hamer: I love a good chat. She’s always chatting and sort of be rolling.
Miriam Schulman: The process is very soothing. Thanks I love this. All right. And tell us about your Patreon because that is something that we have, I haven’t discussed on, on my podcast really at all.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. Patreon is incredible. It genuinely is. And I need to get back to like really committing the time to it. How I did before. I have a Patreon tutorial on my channel as well. It was like a live stream that I had did. But so and I feel like YouTube just people are like used to the culture of like YouTubers having a Patreon. So I feel like people who find you on YouTube are more likely to become patrons. But so yeah, so with Patreon, I was sharing like behind the scenes stuff that I wouldn’t share in the main channel, or they were getting early access to footage that was going to a vlog later. Um, they can get discounts on my studio shop. Um, what’s nice now is that Patreon is doing drop shipping stuff so you can set up tiers in Patreon that where Patreon will ship out many prints, greeting.
Miriam Schulman: Cards.
Aramis Hamer: Stickers, or mugs.
Miriam Schulman: Explain how this works. So what do you mean? They drop? Ship it, they manufacture it, they do.
Aramis Hamer: So they manufacture all these different products and you can upload the image to their website and you can put it on mugs, greeting cards, all these different products. And once your patron has, has, has fulfilled a certain amount of months as a patron, they sort of unlock different perks and products.
Miriam Schulman: Wow.
Aramis Hamer: So and then Patreon sends those products to your patrons, which is so great because I’ve had my Patreon for about four years, and they just started this maybe about two years ago. And so when I was doing it, I was shipping out products to my patrons. I was shipping out greeting cards. So that was like a whole nother job. It’s like I was managing my my e-commerce site, shipping those products out and shipping out products to my patrons. So it was a lot. And so when they did that, it was really great. Mind you, they do take a percentage of the patronage.
Miriam Schulman: Of course. That’s fine.
Aramis Hamer: Totally, totally. Yeah. And so it all sort of works out in the end, but I feel like patrons are just incredible people who genuinely just want to support what artists are doing. And yeah, I love it, I love it. And you know what’s funny?
Miriam Schulman: I’ll say more though. Like give us some more, like details and numbers. Like, how many people do you have right now? Yeah, patrons and patrons.
Aramis Hamer: I have, you know, I have about maybe 130 patrons, and I’m making about $900 a month on on Patreon.
Miriam Schulman: That’s beautiful.
Aramis Hamer: Yeah. You know, I, I was making about $1,500 a month on Patreon at a certain point. And so what I’ve learned about patrons is that people just ebb and flow. You know, people people come and go and you have to be comfortable with that process. Patreon is really something. The energy that you put into it is the energy you’re going to get back from it. And so I, I follow, you know, I follow a lot of creators and stuff. And I’ve noticed some people will close their Patreon because it can feel like a lot of work. And honestly, it can be, but it’s all up to you. It’s all up to like how much energy you want to commit to it. And to be honest, when I started my Patreon and even like my patrons was telling me this, me this. They was like, girl, you do the most for your patrons. Like they were like, I’ve never been a part of anybody’s Patreon who was giving as much as I was giving. I was shipping out greeting cards. I was doing live streams every month. I was giving them exclusive like vlogs that never was shown. So I was like, I was double editing videos. They were like, you give us so much. Like, you don’t even have to do all of this. So I definitely toned back my Patreon a lot, to the point where I kind of like, don’t even mention it anymore, but I’m going to get back into mentioning it because it is an incredible tool where I’ve noticed that there’s people in the world who just genuinely want to support artists. You know, they’re not like, oh, where’s my exclusive behind the scenes vlog? You’re behind, you know, like, I’m I’m leaving because you.
Miriam Schulman: Have I mean, that’s why I joined. I just decided you’re. Yeah, you’re going to I was going to support you. And I was hoping you would come on my show, and. Yes, and I wanted a relationship. So I was like, I was genuinely interested in supporting you, totally.
Aramis Hamer: Can’t.
Miriam Schulman: Wait to get my print.
Aramis Hamer: Yes, yes. And you know. And that that that’s how it works out in the stages. And that’s what I’ve realized is that there are genuinely people who just want to support you, you know? And so, yeah, Patreon is such a I could I could really talk for days about Patreon. I’m happy to come back and have a whole just Patreon talk, because I think there’s a big mental thing that has to take place as well, where you open yourself up to receive. Because like a patron is different from a shopper, you know, like with the with the shopper.
Miriam Schulman: To ask you is like, how many patron people become your clients? Like, what’s that look like?
Aramis Hamer: Well, the patron and talk about conversion. The patrons are the first ones. The first. Because when it when it comes down to like the order of things, I have this sort of circle in my mind. Right. There’s the people who’s a tight circle, the outer circle and sort of expand. Expand. The patrons are the inner sacred circle. You actually had an event called like Sacred Circle, and it was a private event for the patrons, so I also do like live events with them in person in Seattle. So it’s like it’s the whole thing, but they’re there like the sacred circle of people who get access to everything first. And so with that, they are like the first shoppers to buy pens, prints, paintings. I had a soft opening at my studio. Patrons came and bought paintings off the wall there, like it was my studio event and one of my patrons, she was like, I’m buying that. I don’t want anybody to get it. I was like, okay, Anna. Like it was, yeah, it was great, you know? And so these are people who are like super fans, super fans who genuinely want to like, support what you’re doing. And so they are the first people who I even tell like, hey guys, I have I have three paintings that’s available. I’m actually trying. So I kind of did something a while back saying like, hey, I’m cleaning my studio out, guys, I’m moving. I have these three paintings. I’m, you know, I’m just doing this like discount on them to really clear my studio. I’m giving you guys first access to these paintings as patrons. And so of those three paintings, two patrons purchased from that email purchased paintings and became clients and collectors.
Miriam Schulman: And so it also becomes a way of really awarding your best people.
Aramis Hamer: Mhm. 100%. 100%. Well, and you know like I’m a, I’m a huge fan of Beyonce. Like my whole community knows I just I love Beyonce. And so when you do when you are like a fan there is something exciting where you feel like, oh I have like this sort of insider perspective of like what paintings she’s working on or like what’s coming next. You know, so there’s also that feeling too, where you feel you feel special for having like first access to certain things as well.
Miriam Schulman: Yes. And that is why people join the email list. Yes. They want to be the first.
Aramis Hamer: Yes. Well, what’s great with patron is like they they pay to be the first. You know.
Miriam Schulman: It’s like, yeah.
Aramis Hamer: You know, it’s like, hey, like let’s let’s contribute to it.
Miriam Schulman: Yes yes, yes.
Aramis Hamer: Put your put your money where your where your mouth is. I’m all about that. Yeah. And you know what’s crazy? Like I like, really like, have me back for Patreon. I, I really would.
Miriam Schulman: Love to do an own Patreon. I would definitely have you back because I have to wrap up soon because my husband just came home and I have a thing, but I’m like, we have to talk again.
Aramis Hamer: Yes, I would love that genuinely, because this has just been so great and I have.
Miriam Schulman: To I will give you free coaching again.
Aramis Hamer: Okay.
Miriam Schulman: Do you want to listen? Okay, I do it anyway. It’s kind of like I walk around and my my daughter, who’s 27, she elbows me. Stop it mom, you know.
Aramis Hamer: But that’s beautiful. It just comes so naturally for you. And like, you are just truly a gift to the world for sharing the insight that you’re sharing. And so and this even like, encouraged me. I was just like, oh, thank you. Thank you for having me. It’s been an honor and I would love to come back.
Miriam Schulman: Okay. Do you have any last words for our listener slash watcher slash I don’t know. However, they’re consuming this. Before we call this thing complete.
Aramis Hamer: You know, I would love to share with people that being an artist is something that’s just, like, naturally innate in us. You know, whether you’re selling your paintings or just, you know, sketching at the living room table while your baby is taking a nap. Like, you’re still an artist. You know, it doesn’t have to be this grand thing where we’re now making making money from it. But that is also possible, too. And we are living examples of it.
Miriam Schulman: Beautiful. Well, thank you for being an example of what’s possible. And I want to give a last message to our listeners, one of the best ways to learn how to do this, besides reading a book or listening to my podcast or whatever, whatever it is you’re going to get from me, is actually finding out what it’s like to be on the other side and to patronize somebody like Aramis, see how she treats her customers, be that customer, because you’ll gain so much insight from supporting another artist and being on the other side of that that you can’t possibly read about in a book just from that experience. Totally, totally. I know I support other artists. It’s great karma and it’s a beautiful way. Just like we said, you tell tell the universe money is important. You tell the universe. Art is important when you support other artists.
Aramis Hamer: I couldn’t agree more.
Miriam Schulman: Okay.
Aramis Hamer: Yes, yes.
Miriam Schulman: All right, my friend, thank you so much for being with me here today. I’ll see you the same place, same time next week. Until then, stay inspired. Bye for now.
Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to The Inspiration Place podcast. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/schulmanart, on Instagram @schulmanart and of course, on SchulmanArt.com.
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