We were lucky to catch up with Aaron Stouffer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aaron, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Picture it – Palm Springs, 2014. I’m poolside sunbathing with a cocktail in hand, flipping through the current issue of Palm Springs Life. The San Jacinto Mountains are seemingly touchable, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” is flowing through a distant speaker, and I am still soaking in my inaugural exploration of the picturesque Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood. I’m glued to the magazine cover – a vibrant illustration of the Kauffman House, which I was quite familiar with from my academia days and the owner’s additional home (Falling Water) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in my home state of Pennsylvania. I quickly learned that the cover image was designed by local Palm Springs artist, SHAG. Hold my cocktail!
Majoring in architecture at Kent State University, I was well versed in digital rendering. Could I do this? Could I take my experience, my love for this animated, color block graphic and create my own spin for homes and iconic Mid-Century Modern works of architecture in Phoenix?
Against my wishes, the weekend came to a close and I ventured home. A few weeks later, friends of mine purchased their first home together in a north central Phoenix neighborhood – designed by famed Mid-Century Modern architect, Ralph Haver. This was my chance! I surprised them with a framed piece of art, unique to their house and interior palette. It was an instant hit and before long, I was receiving inquiries for custom illustrations of friends and neighbors homes. As they say, the rest is history. Or is it? I hold my journey close and draw from it constantly to improve the level of nostalgia that a childhood home or theatre where a first kiss was shared can evoke.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My earliest memories involve an 11”x17” pad of construction paper and a pencil. I would spend hours sketching floor plans of every home I could dream of. Sketch book after sketch book, my parents would provide and I would fill. Eventually, a family friend said, “You should be an architect!” From that moment on, I knew that is what I wanted to be. After three architecture courses in high school, I enrolled at Kent State University in 2005 where I went on to receive my Bachelors Degree in Architecture and Environmental Design and Masters Degree in Architecture. The idea of capturing a home in a graphic representation has always been inside of me. This sounds fit for a story book, but in reality, I graduated in 2011 when the economy was still recovering from the crippling 2008 crash. Architectural jobs for hire were scarce and I was staring down a six figure student loan on a part time waiter’s income. Post & Beam was born at this time in Palm Springs, as you previously read.
I cannot thank my clients enough for entrusting me to create memorable illustrations of their homes, businesses, and treasured venues. My favorite moment in the process, hands down, is presenting the final piece. I live for the reaction and the emotions, and the lasting connections and friendships that are created. In 2014, I could have never imagined that I would be carrying exclusive limited series of art in stores throughout Phoenix and Palm Springs with over 200 custom works nationwide. I would have to admit that there is not one single moment of achievement, rather the entire process in getting here as I relive it while writing this article. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has been a part of the journey.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Without a doubt – listening before talking, Observing before doing, and always being humble enough to admit my mistakes!
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
I truly believe that fostering a personal relationship with each client and incorporating their individual design aspirations will welcome a lasting relationship, and hopefully, referrals!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.postandbeamaz.co
- Instagram: @postandbeamaz
- Facebook: @postandbeamaz
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/aaron-stouffer-23907740