Atlanta native, Chris Hamer has been illustrating professionally for a little over four years. He is the founder of Urbnpop, a widely known brand of work that does everything from create comic books to clothing design. At the time he began, he was had just gotten married, the economy had just taken a fall, and his job laid him off. Things were tough, but his pursuit of work led him to another place of employment.
He began working on average 55 hours a week, and in his spare time, played guitar in local bands. There was no sign of change in his artistic career until an accumulation of stress put him in the emergency room. Chris explains, "I ended up in the hospital for a week, and the doctor told me pick one thing that is most important to me outside of my family, and focus on that. So I made a conscience effort to give up playing music, and start focusing on art more".
A short time later, he found a less stressful job at a bakery. However, after three months, the company ran into a financial hardship, and had to cut back. He got laid off for the second time that year. It was then that he began thinking about perusing his love of art full-time. "Every chance I had, every lunch break I had, I would be drawing, or sitting in my car in the parking lot drawing".
He went home and told his wife the bad news that night, and asked what she thought about him pressing art as a career. "I think it's a great thing. I think you should try it, but you have to follow some kind of guidelines, and some rules. You've got to make 'X' amount of dollars. Do your best, and put all your effort into it", his wife exclaimed.
Chris recalls the pressure of being unemployed, "I was jobless, and I started to sit down and brainstorm ways to find income. The first thing that come to mind was doing comic conventions. And with the blessing and the support from my wife, I began my journey of finding ways to make more money".
Even though my friends and family thought what he was doing was crazy, they still supported him. "Once I got that taste of freedom, like to do my own thing full-time, and call my own shots, and I started it seeing it being a little bit successful, there was no other way I could go back to working for someone. That flexibility to call my own shots, to succeed and fail, all that is the reason why I have my own business".
"Each year, I look back and I go 'what now'. Each year is just a new challenge to do it"
What Do You Attribute To Your Success
My drive to not stop. I'm constantly working. I do 40+ shows a year, whether it be comic book conventions, gallery shows, festivals, craft shows, etc. The fact that I spend so much time drawing, and that I put so much effort and energy making it a point that people get a chance to see my work, and that they get a chance to own something (because I try to make everything as affordable as possible), has helped me be at the level of success that I am right now.
Typical Day
I know the whole "early to bed, early to rise" theory, so every morning I get up between 7:30 and 8am regardless of what day of the week it is, regardless of how late I stayed up the night before. I try to go to bed between 9:30 and 10pm every night. I spend the majority of the day, between 5 and 8 hours drawing, coming up with ideas, sketching, doodling, painting, or making something. I do that Monday through Friday. Many days after my wife gets home, and we'll be watching TV and having dinner, and I'll get a pen and paper. It'll be back in my hand, and I'll be doing it again - just working on my hobby, as opposed to my job.
Biggest Mistake
Assuming. Not seeing certain things through, expecting things to be a particular way, and letting one thing dictate the next. For example, I'll go to one town, and do a show, and expect the next show to be the same. I would say "I did one convention, and made this much money, so everything is going to be like that from now on", and that is not the case at all. I've learned over the years that no two shows are the same. It was a huge surprise that I had to learn. You can't expect things to be a certain way, because you are always having to adapt and change to it.
How Did You Keep Yourself From "Assuming"
I realize that when you get to the point when you feel like you know what to expect, you become board with things. My friend Mike Groves, and I have done MegaCon about six times now, and call him the other day and was like "what are we going to do today, how are we going to do this, and how are we going to do that". He told me to calm down because we had done the show so many times it was sure to be easy. But I have to know how things are going to go. I need to know about the little things. If I ever go to the point where I thought I didn't have to worry about where I was going to go, what time I had to be there, or thought that I had enough art for a particular festival, I would make more errors by just assuming.
Greatest Piece of Advice Received
I was at an at show in Tyler, Texas, doing a live painting demonstration for a class, and afterwards I asked an art teacher there how he teaches his students to price their artwork. He very simply, and plainly said "What is your gas bill". I was a little confused, but then it dawned on me that you price it for what you need. Not necessarily what you think it's worth, because we all what to get what we feel we deserve for our time and our efforts, but that can lead us to over price ourselves sometimes.
It made me begin to humble myself in my pricing, and begin to ask myself what I needed, as opposed to what I felt I wanted. That advice kept me at a growing pace in my career.
Vision Behind Urbnpop
I didn't start out with a clear vision. I just took the things that influenced me, and rolled with it. I did my version of what I enjoyed based on what I grew up on [toys, cartoon, etc.] and what inspires me now. I didn't want to say "I'm going to be an artist, and I'm going to do things this way" or "Urbnpop needs to be about this." I followed my natural influences, and let things take shape organically.
How Did You Book Shows
That's a funny story! When I fist started out as an artist, I would email galleries and introduce myself with a link to my website, and they would always write back asking for my artist resume. Unfortunately, when I informed then that I didn't have one, and that they would be my first show, they'd say "we're looking for someone who is more established. Please contact us when you've got some more stuff under your belt".
I would scratch my head and wonder how I could have more under my belt when I couldn't get a show. So my wife, friends, and I started a group, Souther Drawl. We booked art shows in bars, clubs, and any other place we could find a spot to show our work. We'd call up a bunch of our friends and put on shows with the word "gallery" at the end. Like "Come to the Five Spot Gallery" instead of "Come to the Five Spot Bar".
I updated my resume without the word "bar" or "doughnut shop" on it, and when I sent my resume off, finally one or two places decided to exhibit my work. After that, one thing lead to another. Two shows became ten, and now I do forty-plus a year.
Bottom line, nobody is going to do this for me, and the sad thing about the art community is that it can be a lonely job, and you can't depend on people. We don't always get the reaction we want, and we don't always get attention and praise when we need it. Why sit back, and hope for something to come out of your career? Get out there and do it. Think of a creative way to make it happen.
What Can We Look Forward To With UrbnPop
I'm really happy to say that my first custom toy is coming out this year. It has been a project four years in the making. Being a big toy fan, this is my dream.
If all goes well, I'll be going to Puerto Rico for a convention. Even though it is still American soil, I still consider it to be international. So, I'm going international this year!
Also, I was the Zazzle jury accepted me into their Artist Program, and I will be designing sneakers for adults and children.
This year, there will be more shows. I am booking up show that take my artwork place around the US. That's the exciting part. Each year seeing where else I can go, and what I can do if I keep pushing it.
What Piece Of Advice Would You Give To An Artist Trying To Make Their Own Way
If you've got something you believe in, don't let anybody tell you can't do it. Don't let anything (friends, family, loved ones, work, life) get in your way. One of my favorite people, is Joseph Campbell, and he says "follow your bliss".
You are basically going on a hero's journey. You set out after your dreams, you face trials, tribulations, antagonist, and you end up winning in the end.
Don't use the excuse that you don't have enough time, because there is enough time to do what you want. I am not saying "you need to be a better time manager". I'm saying that you need to look at the things in your life and better prioritize them to get what you want.
In my house, I've got pets, music, TV, video games, etc., and all those things take from my day. The thing is, I don't want to be a musician anymore, I want to be an artist, so I don't let those music things get in my way. That doesn't mean I don't still play, but I don't let it get in my way, and ruin my plans. I focus on what's important. My bliss is being an artist, and crating things.
Last Words
I cannot thank people enough for the love and support they give me. I appreciate people coming out, owning my work, and putting me in shows. There is not enough time and ways to thank everyone
Upcoming Show
The Birth of Cool: Solo Art Show Opening Reception
Rev Coffee, Feb. 11/ 8p-10p, Free Admission
Dedicated to the lovable one eye monster, "BYRON", this solo show features the new artistic creations of Chris Hamer. Live music by Heather Luttrell. Sponsored by Wise Ash Cigars, Perdoma Cigars, and Best Little Dog House in GA. There will be deals on Perdoma cigars as well as free art give aways.
Dedicated to the lovable one eye monster, "BYRON", this solo show features the new artistic creations of Chris Hamer. Live music by Heather Luttrell. Sponsored by Wise Ash Cigars, Perdoma Cigars, and Best Little Dog House in GA. There will be deals on Perdoma cigars as well as free art give aways.
"I did a show at Rev last year, and they asked me to come back. The events there are awesome. There is just a really cool vibe."