Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Armand Unique. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Armand , thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always wanted to incorporate art in whatever I decided to do professionally. But along the way I was discouraged by mentors and educators , who I’m sure had my best interest at heart. Realistically it can be difficult to make a full time living off of your art alone. It takes a lot of work to build upon your craft as an artist , finding your voice and building that clientele on top of that can take years. So, it wasn’t until after I had my first child and really began to reevaluate the life I wanted for myself that I decided to take my art from something personal I did as a form of therapy to something I’d do full time. There’s something out there for everyone and folks out there that my work will resonate with and many ways I could use my art for a living. So I just went for it.

Armand , 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?

My name is Armand Unique

I am a life long artist and creative director from West Philadelphia USA <3

I consider myself a mixed media artist, using whatever medium I can to create, be it something profound or simple. Art in its various forms has always been an outlet for me, as well as form of self expression and care, and in the last few years, a way for me to connect with people in my community.

My work has been purchased and commissioned by business owners, celebrity clients and art lovers and enthusiasts over the world.

In addition to the visual arts, I am also a style and thrift connoisseur, writer, composer, story teller and a dedicated mommy <3

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding thing about being an artist is the freedom that comes with doing your own thing. Art as we know is subjective. And in this huge world we live in, there is something for everyone. No matter what style you work with , there will always be someone that resonates with your work. Everything isn’t for everyone and thats just fine! What’s most important is that you’re true to yourself as an artist, you create what you feel and if folks like it then thats great and if they don’t then thats fine too! You can make a living off of your art but you can also very well keep your work personal. Many of us find our creative time to be therapeutic and for me that’s the most rewarding aspect. Not knowing what’s going to come out when I begin a piece, but trusting myself either way. and sometimes I may not like the result, but that can parallel life when things don’t go as planned but still is a learning experience. The freedom in that learning, the freedom to be vulnerable, to be creative, to learn on my own terms, to be my own boss, these are the aspects I find most rewarding about being a creative.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I am still working on building my audience on social media. It took a long time for me to share my art online, as it was always a personal outlet for me that I just recently, in the last 5 years or so began to share and sell publicly. When building a presence online many artists show their creative process and constantly feel the need to push out content, which to me was difficult because my creative process is personal. I also think that feeling the pressure to constantly drop “content” can take the passion out of the work you’re doing. So it’s been a learning experience for me to tread the line and learn what works for me. I think it’s best to know which platform best suits you and your audience. I played around on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube and post the same content to all platforms. I’ve seen the best results for myself on YouTube, though, I know many people who found success on Instagram and TikTok. Those two have been more of a slower burn for me, but I continue to post because who knows! And it’s okay to build a slow following. We’re not all going to go viral and get thousands of followers right away but thats okay! A loyal few hundred that engage and buy your work is just as good!
I would say drop your content on all the platforms and see which gets the most engagement and tend to that platform a bit more than the rest. Also scheduling my posts has been a HUGE help in keeping me organized and stressed free when sharing my work. And don’t forget to use #hastags!

Contact Info:

• Website: armandunique.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armanduniqueart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/armandunique