We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alison Hamil a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alison, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I think one of the most challenging things about being a creative is the unpredictable nature of self-employment. It can be really frightening to be in a position where you don’t have a stable source of income and all the perks that come with a 9-5 job.
I recently went through a divorce and was suddenly in a position where I had to support myself on my artistic income for the first time in my life. It was super scary, but I decided to take a leap of faith and hope that everything would work out for the best.
At a certain point I was stretched so thin financially that I had to find other sources of income just to get by (thank you Door Dash!). I was almost forced to give up and change careers altogether, but then, just when my savings were about to run out, I got a phone call out of the blue and landed the biggest project of my life.
Through all of the struggles I have learned to have faith in my path, surrender to the flow of the universe, and trust that everything I need will be provided at the right time. It always is and always has been, and I know now that I am divinely guided, loved, and supported every step of the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am an Atlanta-based visual artist and have been painting murals for about 15 years. I always knew I wanted to be an artist, but I fell in love with mural painting during a study abroad trip to Costa Rica as an undergrad. We got to work outside, climb around on ladders, and learn how to transfer small designs onto a larger surface. It was so fun! At that point I just knew it was what I wanted to do for a living.
After graduation, I found some work designing and painting signs for local restaurants. Eventually I was able to build up my portfolio enough to wiggle my way into Atlanta’s public art scene, and began developing my own style and artistic vision.
My aesthetic developed organically over the course of time through many different projects. Most of my work incorporates bold colors combined with elements of painterly realism and uplifting quotes and phrases, and is most recognizable for my signature sunburst pattern seen in the background of many of my murals. Nature is also a common theme in my work, as well as interconnectivity and spirituality.
Throughout my career as a muralist, I have been awarded several public art commissions from the Cities of Atlanta, Brookhaven, Canton, and Roswell, Georgia. I have also painted murals in various places across the globe including Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Kefalonia, Greece. Creative Loafing named me Best Emerging Visual Artist in their Best of Atlanta 2013 edition, and the Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Buckhead, Georgia awarded me the honor of 2020 Artist in Residence, where I have painted three murals throughout the property.
Some of my other notable clients include Google, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Fulton County Public Schools, Pianos for Peace, and The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. Whether working as a mural artist for the private or public sector, I specialize in transforming mundane, forgotten spaces such as parking decks, stairwells, and bathrooms into beautiful, uplifting works of art.
I feel beyond blessed to be able to do what I love for a living, and in many ways feel like I have only just begun to make my mark on the world. I am excited to see what the universe has in store for me next!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Flexibility, Gratitude, Play.
Flexibility: Things don’t always line up with our idea of the way that things are supposed to be. No matter how much time I spent researching and planning, every single project I’ve ever worked on has had some type of unexpected curve ball, or something has gone “wrong.” My most successful projects have been the times when I’ve been willing to let go of what I can’t control, learn from the experience, and allow things to be as they are. When we are able to be flexible, let go of perfection and be willing to go with the flow, our perspective will shift so that we perceive failure or things going wrong as an opportunity to shift directions or see things in a new way.
Gratitude: Simply put, it just feels good! Showering my clients, stakeholders, collaborators, the Universe, and myself with gratitude is one of my favorite parts about my job. It feels amazing, helps you build relationships with return clients, and sends a message to the Universe that you are ready to attract more of the same.
Play: Have fun! Remember why you started doing this in the first place. Allow yourself the opportunity to play and experiment without caring about the end result.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Stop. Take a break. Meditate, or do whatever calms your nervous system (nature walk, bath, yoga, etc.)
Practice mindfulness and being fully present.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed it’s usually because I’m preoccupied with the future and trying to plan and control every little thing, which is impossible.
All you ever have to deal with is whatever is right in front of you in this moment. Be here now.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://alisonhamil.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonhamilart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonHamilArt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonhamil/
