We were lucky to catch up with Amelia Jamerson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Amelia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

The number 18 holds a special place in my heart. Aside from being born on the 18th day, the digits also connect to the Hebrew word, “chai” (חי), which translates to life. The numerical value for “chai” is 18. Therefore, the number prompts me to link the value of life + love. To love is to live and it’s important to share and to practice that idea.

Aside from the actual meaning, it was important for me to choose a Hebrew word because this entire illustration style really took root for me when I moved to Tel Aviv, Israel for 6 months, for an internship.

Amelia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am born, raised, and still living in Savannah, GA. I’ve always been the “art kid” and have had a heart for creating things. I’d sell clay mice in middle school, made “magazines” in high school, and received my BFA in Advertising Design at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). I’ve always been in pursuit of all things art.

After college, I lived in Tel Aviv, Israel, for 6 months while I participated in a graphic design internship. While living away from home for the very first time, I naturally got super homesick. It was then that I started to journal and doodle more. It was so therapeutic to combine encouraging words with cute, happy, art. That unlocked a whole new world for me.

My style was my coping mechanism. It eased my soul and mind.

When I got back to Savannah, I kept exploring this style more and more. And it grew into all that you see now. I decided to try and make something more of it, beyond my sketchbook, and in 2017, participated in my first art show.

That lit a fire in me and for five years (with a full time job!), I traveled three weekends out of every month, selling my work at various art shows and markets across the Southeast. After years of that, and hundreds of markets and shows, I decided to make the jump to leave my full-time job so that I could travel further and sell my art across the nation.
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Two months later, I had the opportunity to open my very own art shop + studio, right in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia. A total dream come true!! In the Summer of 2021, I officially become a shop owner and have been happily creating ever since.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Absolutely! I started my business as a way to get extra income and to add onto my mediocre salary of my full time job. I would work my office job Monday through Friday, clock out and hit the road and travel anywhere within 8 hours of Savannah. I had to be back in the office on Monday so this was my radius. I would seek out art shows and festivals to share and sell my art – I knew it wasn’t likely people would discover my art without really putting myself out there.

I did this for about 5 years straight. I gave myself one weekend “off” every month to recharge. Looking back I think, “Holy cow! How did I manage that!?” But I really trained my mind and looked at my business as a baby. If people can raise newborns and give their energy into the growth of their children, I can do the same for my art. That’s what kept me going.

Over the years, I naturally began to scale. I was ready to leave my full time job once my sales began to surpass my salary pay. I quit my office job to pursue selling my art in larger areas, up north, out west, etc.

After quitting, the opportunity to open my own little shop, right on the river, in downtown Savannah, GA, opened up. I was all in! This was the next logical step to have a permanent space to sell and create in and it meant I wouldn’t need to travel often.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I was able to fund my business from ground zero, with lots of discipline and energy. I gave all of my energy and time into making my dreams come true. I’ve always been a hard worker and carried two jobs since the age of 16, right until I opened up my own shop.

Working multiple jobs allowed me to build my funds so that I actually had money to put towards my art. There were points where I worked three jobs. I divided my income from all the jobs into rent, living, and my art.

Eventually I was able to put more and more dollars into my art business and it continued to grow from there. But, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without working so many various jobs. I’d work the typical 9-5 office job and then switchover to the service industry in the evenings. I did this for years. It was a double down for money coming in so that I could put it towards my wildest dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.18loves.com
• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/18lovesart
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/18lovesart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/18loves/
• Other: Trip Advisor: www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60814-d24859656-Reviews-18loves_Art-Savannah_Georgia.html

Image Credits
Photos all taken by me :)