“My pandemic was mental first”
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Hey, hey, beautiful being this is Aramis Hamer, and you are listening to another blog cast. This has been fun, y'all! Your girl is coming through with the consistency. Okay, can we get that in the comment section?! This has been so fun for me because you all know that I'm a natural talker. So I've learned in this process of being an artist and a content creator, and entrepreneur, the things that help the most is to do things that you genuinely love and things that truly feel in alignment for you. Knowing that I'm not a writer, and it takes me forever to type shit, it's like, 'Girl, grab a microphone and start talking, okay?' - and so that's what I'm doing today. I'm actually recording this on a Sunday. I had an epiphany how I always do on my Sunday self care days. I just finished washing my hair, and the water is something that's so just purifying, and cleansing, and I just feel like it just gets me back into my online space where I get more clarity.
You all are hearing this during a time after I just made a post on Instagram, talking about how my pandemic was actually years ago, and I just need to hear in the comment section from y'all, if anybody can really relate to what I'm saying. Of course, the pandemic and COVID and everything that's going on in the world these past two years; from the Black Lives Matter movement to this war in Ukraine; there has just been so much that has definitely attacked a lot of our mental, psychological, spiritual, financial, health status. There's just so many things that has attacking us on a global scale. But for me, personally, some of my darkest days have been years ago; have been moments that has already passed. Those moments have made me so strong, and so resilient, and so courageous. Coming through those moments to the other side, has made me feel so empowered, and has really just set me up with the tools to now make it through this time so much better. I've been hearing from my friends, and even some some of my family members like COVID, with all his downside, it has brought like - and I don't want to say COVID because, of course, I definitely wanna be sensitive to the fact that a lot of people have lost loved ones; a lot of people have lost their employment. So, I definitely don't want to gloss over the critical and traumatic impact that it has had on people's lives. But, I also want to talk about the time that this country, and this world, has had in order to just slow down, and to slow down the pace of things. I think it provided a lot of people with the opportunity to really get clear on what they want to do with their lives and what is most important to their lives.
And, I think that's why we saw just like everybody quitting their job, right? It was like just this whole great resignation that was taking place where people were thinking, like, "If this is my one and only life, how am I gonna use it? How am I really gonna show up in the highest version of myself?" And I think a lot of people took this time to really get clear on some personal goals and to really expand themselves. I've just seen so much beauty in that. Whenever the world is in a dark place, or going through something so transformational, I always think about how I've literally have been a phoenix rising, like some of my most darkest days have built me to the to the powerful person that I identify with right now. It definitely takes time to look back on those moments with gratitude, but now I'm getting in the habit of looking at those dark times, thinking about my future self and how these hard moments are going to help build me to become the person that I'm going to be in the future. Because if it wasn't for those hard times, if it wasn't for those struggle moments, I wouldn't be able to handle future hard moments, you know? Let me know in the comment section, if any of this resonates with y'all; if some of your darkest times was actually in '08; or '09; or maybe 2011; or maybe 1987. So when you think about those darkest days, it's like, "You know what? This time actually isn't that bad. I have been through worse I have been through the fire honey."
Pisces XL Print
I really do want to open up about a very life changing pivotal experience that I had back in 2014 that really helped shape me to the person that I am today; and that is showing how much I have grown to even be able to say those words to even say this to you right now. I'm just proud of myself because back when that moment was happening. I was like, "Hell no?! I'm grateful for this? Like, what the fuck? It's a no for me. It's a no." But right now I can look back with so much gratitude and I'm like, 'wow, that began the journey.' That truly began the journey. And it's so funny, like when I just be talking about my journey of being an artist, and I'm like, "Oh, yeah, moved out here from Chicago. And then, you know, went to school out here in Seattle, and was working as a nurse, and then like - boom, decided to be an artist." I have no choice but to show up as my authentic self, so that is 100% my story. But, I also know, as public as I am, there are still a lot of moments in my life that are deeply private. So, I haven't even shared the full story of what actually helped mold me to the person that I am today. And it's funny - now is 2022. I'm thinking maybe I'll actually share their story on the 10 year anniversary or something. I mean, that's only two years ago, because this big life event actually took place in 2014. So yeah, in 2024 maybe I'll do like a whole painting series and art exhibition, a whole documentary, who knows; I'm definitely gonna have to acknowledge that moment in my life.
I just wanted to bring these words of encouragement and to also just give you awesome updates. Y'all know, I love sharing the process. I love just sharing with you all what's going on in my art world, and what's going on in my creative brain. So, some of the things that are taking place are super exciting!! Let's get to it. One of the things has taken place is a new painting series. If you all follow me on YouTube, then you might have seen the video where I talk about art and spirituality, and all the esoteric and metaphysical things that inspire my work. I'm going even deeper into that process, and I'm just super excited about that. So, I've been working on a new painting. If you are watching this on the blog, on my website at aohamer.com/blog, then you are seeing some of the pictures of this new painting that I'm working on - it's included - another self portrait of myself; and I'm also going to link the YouTube video where I share more about the black sheep concept and what's inspired this piece. But I'm also being realistic with myself that these newer works aren't really accessessable commercially. I feel like some of the work that I've done in the past, you all are familiar with, right? Like they just - it's just the purple, colorful cosmic Queen's right? She's bringing a vibe; she's bringing the look; she got the brows on fleek; we got the rainbow glasses, you know? I feel like it's definitely something that is -- I would define my goddesses as beautiful; ethereal; confident; courageous; tapping into this liberation; but also something that could be defined as, "commercially beautiful". And I'm so comfortable with with that description. I don't shy away from something being typically beautiful, because I think we all are drawn to beautiful and aesthetically pleasing things. I feel that that's definitely what my early works was defined as; definitely even some of the Zodiac goddesses.
Paper Prints, from Left to Right: Aries 12"x18", Aries 16"x24", Sagittarius 16"x24" (top), Sagittarius 12"x18" (bottom), Leo 16"x24", Leo 12"x18"
But some of these new paintings, we're going to be working on is something that's more tapping into some deeper messages, which I understand might not be everybody's cup of tea, and I'm fine with that. I'm so fine with that. As I get deeper into my craft, I get more and more clarity about how I want to show up in the world. I'm also not out here to try to convince anybody not trying to, you know, convert. I'm like 'none of that, honey, none of that'. I'm just here to express my ideas, and my creativity with the world and whatever resonates with you, you can take it and whatever it does and just leave it right down the table; because we got a whole buffet and we presented it all and I understand that everybody not may not want to take a bite of that piece, and that's all right. So going into this new space, it's just being aware of that while still offering more opportunities for people to collect in different ways. And so I'm really excited to dive into loungewear! Let me know what you think in the comments.
I teased this at the beginning of 2022. I don't know if you remember, I think that actually might have been my first Instagram reel of the year. In January 2022, I posted an IG reel - I'll probably link it here in the blog - of me wearing some lounge pants and those pants had the print of a painting that I created on them. The painting is called 'Radiant Earth'. That painting is also printed on scarves, silk and satin scarves that I have available on my website. I absolutely love that painting; I love that design; and it really birthed this excitement to create in a different way where I'm creating more patterns and more designs. Whether I'm using, like, procreate, or actually I don't use procreate; I want to learn procreate. The tool that I use is Adobe Fresco. When it comes down to the patterns and different designs, and different outfits that I want to create, I could definitely see myself delving more into this digital landscape, but starting the designs on the canvas, because painting will always be my number one love and I never want to get away from that space. Yeah, this is gonna be the new journey.
The new journey is loungewear, okay? I'm teasing some robes. So like, I don't know if y'all follow my story. If you if you don't watch my stories, then you are missing out. I have a lot of fun stories. I share memes. I check in with y'all in the morning; share different songs I'm listening to; different moments of gratitude; little moments of me and Andy drinking wine watching movies.. Like, definitely check out my Instagram stories, because I have a lot of fun over there sharing intimate moments, but I also feel no pressure from my stories. It's like, okay, if I post 16 IG stories today, and then don't post nothing for the next three days, like whatever. It's whatever. So whenever I post the stories it's something I genuinely want to post and I genuinely want to show up in that way. So, I'm saying that to say, that if you're hanging out with me in IG stories, and you see that I'm always in robe, okay - your girl is always loungin or chillin somewhere - whether I'm chilling here at home, or I'm chilling in the studio.
But if I'm here at home, I'm in a robe. And I think just with this being in lockdown, and with the with the whole panini press and everything that's been going on, I know for me, personally, I've been transitioning to comfort y'all. Okay, I just want to be comfortable. I want something to be flowy; I want something to be loose; but also still beautiful. So if you want to rock this outside in the streets, you can definitely do that too. But if you just want to chill at home and vibe, then that's cool, too. So I'm thinking about different ways that people can collect my artwork, whether that's wearable art, or if that's something that they want to hang on their wall. There's just a lot of different options that's going to be available. And so that's what's coming in the future. Yeah, I want people to wear these loungewear but really wear it with intentionality around 'when I put on this robe - this is my self-care Sunday robe. I'm putting on this unique hand painted design that AO has created and I am wearing this is a part of my sacred ritual where when I don this robe, and when I put on these lounge pants, this is signifying to my body and my spirit that we are taking time for ourselves.' And so that's really what I'm looking forward to y'all.
Now listen, don't hold me to no dates, or no launch times no nothing. I'm literally just putting a bug out and let y'all know what's what's popping off and what's to come. Honestly, this probably might not be coming until the end of the year, maybe like November, December for holiday season; or it might be something that I hold off until maybe February, maybe like Valentine's Day season; or like Black history; who knows, okay, who knows. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do and how I want to do it. I'm really excited about that, and I just wanted to give you all a little bit more of a context about the post that I created today; just really get more clarity on who I am; how I want to show up in this world; what this what sort of artwork that I want to create; and also how that artwork can impact your life; and hopefully bring some more love, light liberation and inspiration to your creative journey. Even if you don't identify as an artist, I truly believe that we all are creators, and we're all co-creating our life with infinite intelligence and Universal Spirit, honey. So even if you aren't out here, putting paint on a brush, you are still creating the life of your dreams, and hopefully my artwork can inspire you on that journey. That's really what I feel like my purpose is here on this planet is - to just really inspire you to be liberated; to have fun; to play; to create; and really understand that you have the power to change any in every aspect of your life if you are courageous enough to do it. So thank you all so much for taking the time to listen to this episode of another blog cast. Let me know your thoughts and comments below. Would you be rockin some AO loungewear? What was maybe a year in your life that was even heavier than then this year? Of course you don't have to go into details; whatever you feel comfortable sharing. I will say my year was 2014, and if I made it through 2014 I know that I can make it through 2020 and beyond. I'm so grateful to be sharing with you all. I hope you have a fantastic day.
