We recently connected with Chris Hamer and have shared our conversation below.

Chris, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Taking a risk is the first step in becoming an artist. Especially if you want to do this full time.

I try to never forget that first year of me not playing is safe and getting a regular 9-5 because I fully believe that it’s what keeps me motivated after 16 years of doing this.

I remember my last year working for someone else and coming home feeling beaten, feeling like I had nothing left to give those I cared about around me. But not thinking that working for myself was an viable option. My confidence was low and my self esteem was taking a beating and there is nothing that could have made me believe I could work for my self much less so for the next decade.

But when my job laid me off and I’m faced with what to do next, that nagging voice in my brain spoke up and said talk to your (now ex) wife and see where she is with you trying this. Just explain to her you got nothing to loose? Just ask her to take the risk with you.

For me that risk was asking my partner to trust me, to trust that it will work .. and be able to support our life together. That’s a bold move for anyone to ask this but alone support this. So in looking back, taking a risk was not as scary as working a job that you hate.

I’m glad I did. Funny thing is I took a break after a decade of working for myself and started working for a tattoo shop and just recently did this all over and tell my new partner to trust me and trust that I will be making a living..

I’ve since left tattooing and returned to the life of a full time artist. Once again my reward has come from me taking a huge risk.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

My name is Chris Hamer and I’m an born and raised Georgian. artist who works under the studio name Urbnpop. I have been an full time artist these past 16 years here in Atlanta. My art has been featured both here in the states and international, I have done mural and art work for Mellow Mushroom, Spotify, mail chimp select trading cards for marvel, Dc, the Star Wars, mars Attacks , adventure time and Rick and Mortty license. I’m the writer and artist for an all age comic series called adventures of Byron. My art has been featured of AMC’s walking the dead and more.

I have spent the past decade criss crossing the United States in search for new ways to showcase art.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Just seeing the world the way we do. Something I learned from personal experience is that everyday is a struggle, honestly every minute can be for an artist or creative. Our brains are wired different that non creatives we are constantly thinking and creating ideas from nothing or from something that appears to be nothing to most.

Have you ever had that moment when you feel like a creative is not there or being distant? Sometimes we are not ignoring you we are filing away random shapes or patterns that just inspire us or breaking down the countless steps it will take bring the next idea to life. Sometimes it’s just a struggle to focus on daily tasks because the ideas for future art are moving around in our brains like a tornado.

The need to always create and the reason for what we create at least for me has felt lost on some of my peers or love ones. Sometimes we need to be left alone and just let loose.. there is not a reason for why we did this or that, we just did. That’s what sets us apart from each other.

I know being creative is draining for me. When I’m releasing all my emotions and passion on a white square called canvas it’s hard to turn off those emotions that help us get here in the first place and sometimes we are left in a fragile state and we need to be approached carefully. If non creatives could remember this from time to time I know it would be appreciated.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

It’s almost daily when I will create something and when it comes time to show it to the general public i will be asked “ I know you have priced it for this amount” but.. can you do better.

In the beginning, my answer was always “yes I can”because I felt have not found my place in the art community or I’m still learning my value of my place in the art community.. but there was a pivotal moment a few years back when I realized that after a decade of making art that people enjoy that I can say no to people asking me for a cheaper price.

That moment hit when I had just poured my entire soul and heart out in to a series of paintings . I was creating this art to help heal from a major life change and I was just barely hanging on as a human and I had just had a few days where I was feeling better from things and Feeling like the art I had just made was some of my best to date .. I was showing this work off to strangers and very proud of myself for being able to do this. Especially this particular body of work.

Here I am at this point having a good time and being appreciated for what I create by many folks and one person asked me for a better price and when I politely declined their offer they got upset and verbally commented toward me in a negative way.
( what was actually said, was not important)
Their comment caught me off guard and slipped thru what I though was impenetrable thick skin. I thought I had just accepted their comment like it was nothing more than a nod. In fact it hurt me, tore me up on this inside, I was sitting there questioning what I did wrong by declining to not sell my art (actually my emotions) cheaper to them .. as they walked away continuing to grumble a about things , I felt my brain go into hyperdrive with all the negativity that comes with self esteem issues, at this moment I paused myself and in my head screamed to myself to stop.. to stop letting something like this moment make me feel less and to stop letting someone who doesn’t know where my journey had come from to get to where it was dictate my value.. my value as an artist or as a person making art. I swore that I would stop letting my art be valued by someone who really did not appreciate it as others do .. that I would stand my ground and no longer allow this kinda of moments change my mood or direction . Since then I’m doing much better.. and if your wondering the painting that was in question later sold for the value I was asking.

Contact Info:

• Website: Http://www.Urbnpop.com
• Instagram: Urbnpop
• Facebook: Urbnpop
• Twitter: Urbnpop