S7E6 - Blending Emotions and Art: Inside the Creative Soul of an Artist <Part-2>!!

What happens when the world of art mingles with the dizzying, yet dynamic world of social media? Join us and our talented guest, as we explore this intriguing intersection, delve into the nuances of international art, and discuss the art of overcoming creative blocks. Hear her thoughts on adapting and breaking boundaries in life, and take notes as she decodes the impact of viral moments on an artist's sales.

In our engaging discourse, we're shedding light on the value of maintaining a consistent core following, and the balance between personal life and social media presence. The dangers of comparison, and its impact on one's mental health also find a place in our discussion. We traverse the globe to understand the influence of different cultures on art, the importance of generational wealth, and the valuation of art across borders. 

The episode wraps up with a detailed conversation on collaborations, their power to ignite creativity, and the importance of planning future projects. We also uncover ways to overcome creative blocks, the significance of finding the right tools, and the art of documenting the creative process for social media content. Get ready to plunge into an insightful discussion that not only enlightens but also equips artists to thrive in the digital age.

Transcript

Paula 0:01

Hey shit talkers, welcome back to part two. If you haven't checked that part one, please do so before continuing with part two. Otherwise, enjoy Speaking of social media. Social media has transformed. Our artists and designers share their work with the world. It reaches much more people, but it also brings as much. As more praises come, also more criticism come as well with it. How is this platform impactful after your career and how do you engage with your audience through these channels?

Tamara 0:37

Social media. I think for me you know it's funny because my following really hasn't changed over the last maybe three to five years right, the same consistent people that have been following me, that follow me now. I haven't had that old viral moment or whatever. Yes, I had viral moment where sales were top of the brown, where my swimsuit, my dress, my leggings yes, I had an impact on sales, but I think overall my core following is the same people who have followed me all these years, so it almost became family, right Is the people who come in to see me at WSL. So social media can break you, if you are allowed to break you, because their posts are posts and there are only 15 likes that come on there. But then I get the same orders from those people. Some people don't like. Some people don't like certain things.

Tamara 1:29

I'm not really a big TikTok person. I haven't migrated to that because I'm doing everything myself. So it's kind of hard. Like you know, people always say, oh, I forgot to film the beginning and the end of this piece. It's like, yeah, half time I'm not filming because I forgot to film or engage with customers when I'm painting live in the store. But social media is important and so way for people to see and inside of what is that I do, who I am. Outside of it, I think, going forward, I may let them in a little bit more into my personal life. Every now and then I post my son, one of my sons, the other two I don't usually post.

Paula 2:07

I mean, I loved it during the graduation season. You were literally embracing that, I was living for that, I loved it.

Tamara 2:16

Well, I'm not allowed to post him in the other twin anymore. He's working, so he's like no, not now.

Paula 2:26

Eventually kids get to that phase like Mom, I don't want to be on your social media, leave me out of it.

Tamara 2:33

One told me legally you can't post me without my permission anymore. I was like really.

Paula 2:41

You know what it's legal on you.

Tamara 2:46

How about that? You're like, I wish I was in Jamaica and I was like, oh fuck, but she's not like.

Tamara 2:55

If you don't go somewhere with that foolishness. But you know, it's one of those things about privacy, because people think they know you just because they see you on social media, some people make assumptions. So if you go into my DMs and talk about criticism, it's like, well, why are you not painting certain things? Why are you painting so expensive? Because I want to paint yours? Yeah, well, because I work hard to create these things, but you do it so quickly.

Paula 3:24

Just like Picasso said, you know, don't worry about the time it takes me to paint it, it's a skill and if I did it quickly, that means that I've become very good at it, but that doesn't change the fact that my work is valued at this. Being quickly means do you know how many years I've been doing this shit to the extent that I've gotten to a place where I'm doing quickly.

Tamara 3:48

Where I can sit down in front of people. Most artists can't paint with other people going around. Oh yeah, I see hundreds of people walking by me, knocking on the window. Hey, thank you, You'll see a video. A friend of mine came by to see me on Sunday and he's videotaping as he's walking up to the store. I'm here painting and I see him and I'm like hey, I like everybody else who comes to the window and it's always the funny thing that people are so engaging with me through this window, because I'm the lady who sits in the window and paints and you know social media, you know social media, you need to do a painting of the lady on the window.

Tamara 4:30

And that's my little self portrait on the window. But it's so funny because people find me after on social media. They're like, hey, I saw you and you were painting.

Paula 4:40

Oh, social media.

Tamara 4:42

Yeah, so you know it's that Achilles heel. You know, you just never know. So you just take it for what it is and, you know, keep posting and hoping that one day the right way to work.

Paula 4:57

Embrace the good outfit and fuck the rest, because I feel like there's so much good out of social media, but, if you allow it to, to get into you, because when I didn't have my podcast, when I had my personal account, it would affect me and my mental health because I used to compare a lot Like, oh my God, I'm this age, how come I don't have this and this and somebody my age is doing that. So I used to always disappear, I would deactivate my accounts. But right now I have a podcast. It needs social media in order to reach people. I can't disconnect or whatever, but I do allow myself to get breaks from posting.

Paula 5:36

But I also learned that I am follow any page that makes me feel any other way, and I learned that listen, comparison is the death. When you start comparing because you don't know how they started, you don't know the journey. Everybody's journey is different. They might have started as well with nothing and they work so hard until they go where they are. And then there are those people who are trust funds, there are those people who are savings, there are those people who are. But just because I'm going paycheck to paycheck doesn't mean there's nobody else who's also went to paycheck to paycheck and ended up making it. So I just want to see. So what it made me realize is follow accounts that represent you in your positive image. The rest and follow, don't engage your negative like. I don't even delete the negative comments. You want to leave a negative comment, by all means, I'm not going to delete it. I'm not going to make you feel like you're wrong. You're allowed to, whatever the fuck you want to say, but I'm also not. I have the right to not give you the energy that you're looking for. And I think once you get into that mindset, it becomes because social media Because I set in my podcast being covered.

Paula 6:44

I don't think without social media I would have gone so far and I would have made the connections I've made, because I've made a lot of amazing connections through podcasting, but also because it happened through social media. I have so many people I know in Canada who have even been invited to weddings and shit and I haven't met them in real life because of the connection we made. And I know so many people in the world. When I'm ready to travel around there, I know I don't have to worry because the power social media is done.

International Art

Paula 7:17

I did one show and somebody left a review that they don't even know me. I don't know how they came across my podcast and they're in Australia and they're like, oh my God, I was just talking about this with my partner and I'm glad you say this and I was like, and you left a review and you don't even know me and you're thousands of miles and you found me because of social media. Well, my own family and friends right here ain't leaving me a review. So shit, motherfucker. So your work spans across international boundaries Because you are internationally non miscommon. So how do you, how do you culture, influences from different parts of the world find their way into your designs?

Tamara 8:07

Well, like this itself, the Masai people, I think. I don't know. I need to trace my heritage in that sense.

Paula 8:17

But you know my side. People come from Kenya and Tanzania and I'm from Tanzania, so those are my people.

Tamara 8:23

This, for me, is one of my most important pieces, so my work is influenced by African diaspora, cuban, haitian, of course, jamaican art. So when I think about that, I think about color, I think about imagery of people and the struggle that we've been through, but also the simplicity of who we are and resilience that we use and we exhibit and exude. So, for me, all these influences of colors as I talked about you know Masai, with the red that they wear and these very intricate details of their dormants and things like that, I translate that into the earrings and bring all that together. But there are most of my clients are actually in Canada or in the UK Canada.

Paula 9:17

Canada, Canada, they're killing it. I feel like Canada people are so nice.

Tamara 9:22

I don't know why but the support is different. The Caribbean diaspora in Canada. They understand work and they appreciate art. I think sometimes here in the US it's a cultural thing. Is this? I'm not gonna pay money for that much art? I think we appreciate art differently, yeah.

Paula 9:43

People in America like bargaining even for the smallest sheet. But if it was a celebrity they would pay a lot of money for a celebrity's Henkachi for sheet on eBay and Amazon. But once it's small businesses, they're constantly looking for a bargain. Like even at home goes you'll find something is already mucked down and they're still like it's crouched here and here and here and I'm like no, I used to be, I used to literally be saying no. I'm like don't call me, cause I'm gonna say no, let them do it with somebody else cause, come on, man, it's already discounted, they still want more of a discount and they don't understand that art is something that's appreciated.

Tamara 10:25

It doesn't depreciate. Art work always appreciates. So when you do that, it's an investment. It's an investment and it's something that creates generational wealth. A lot of the wealthy people that you see they pass down artwork because, just like gold, it appreciates. It stands still and the older it gets with artwork, or the more known this artist becomes, or the older this canvas is or whatever it is, the more it's appreciated. But they don't understand that. And having real artwork so from one of my things that I do is try and have different price points with my artwork. So I have people who just want a small piece very many school, whatever it is and I create. So I create different budgets. But what happens is that even when I create, as you said, on a lower end, they're always like why is it so expensive? And I'm like do you know how much paint costs? Do you know how much iron cost?

Paula 11:18

They feel like you know and I understand talent because I do most of my shit by myself, right, and I see how much work I put in. I have an illustrator. Well, anytime he works on my shit and I ask him the price in the beginning he used to get giving me a whole description of why it's this. I'm like you don't have to do that. Just tell me your price. If I can afford it, I'll tell you. Yes, if I can't, I'll be like next time. Or how much can I get for this? He's like oh, paula, the thing is in Tanzania, people don't appreciate that.

Paula 11:57

I feel like I'm so used to having to explain why it's that much. I'm like well, I understand art and your talent because it's your time, it's your the pencils, the color, like all the electronics, the electricity, all that comes into play. People feel like it just oh, but you did it for five minutes, but that's five minutes out of my fucking time, which I could have been doing something else. So I was like I don't ask for discount. If I can afford it, I'll buy it. If I can't afford it now, I'll come back later. And if you give me discount, that's so new but I'm not gonna, and I feel like that's what friends and family are always like. Give me a discount. No, you should be the person buying extra and giving me a tip on that, because you know the struggle I'm going through creating this thing.

Tamara 12:49

Yes, absolutely, absolutely. That don't get it. And that's the thing for the family thing. But I know you, I know where you're coming from, like we grew up together. I remember I was in class with you or whatever it is, and it's like, yes, but I don't come out of your job at Colgate or whatever, and say, well, are you just going to give me the box of Colgate? No, because no, you are a line manager. Whatever you are, that's not your job to do that. And did you?

Paula 13:19

stay up with me. Did you stay up with me all night Just because you know me and we went to school? But have you stayed up with me Because I would grant you give you a discount. If you have been staying up with me at night, if you have been sharing my sheet, if you have been inputting all my ideas, I do not have a problem giving you a discount. But if you even share my post, you don't share, but you're constantly sharing, beyond selling at them too. If you come on now, bitch, buy full price. Actually, I have to double the price for you.

Tamara 13:47

Definitely. But yeah, people don't understand that what you said the electricity, the tools that we use, the time, because remember that one painting needs to probably share about 20 times before it's sold. With a share on social media that means that we have to have our accounts up with our website going. We have to think about all of the different factors that play into that cost.

Paula 14:10

And in all these places, some places where you have to pay the monthly fee, like the internet, the website you know you have to pay for your domain, you have to pay for your hosting, you have to pay. I have a podcast. I pay for my podcasting. I pay for the places where I use for creating, like the cover, you have to pay for premium if you want all the good, all these monthly fees. End of the month you end up being like I'm spending 500 on all these applications of 30, 10, 15 per month Exactly, and people don't factor those things.

Tamara 14:45

And for me as a business owner for processing payments, you know I have to think about. It's like oh well, so-and-so, I have to pay taxes, I have to process the chart, all these different things that go into it, and they're just like, oh well, that seems like a lot. Then I appreciate your feedback. Thank you so much, you know, and all the best. And that's where I've kind of had to, as you said, not take it personally with with a business and concern.

Tamara 15:11

Or somebody orders something and I say 10 to 15 business days before it ships out, because it takes 10 to 15 business days to do it and people don't understand.

Tamara 15:20

It's like well, why can't you do it now? Because it's a process to wrap a painting, to get everything together, to put corners on it and all these different things depending on the size of it. You have to get a box that goes along with it and all these different things, and people don't think, or even artists don't think about those things and in fact it goes costs into the overall cost. Somebody purchasing something online costs more than somebody purchasing in person because the preparation is a longer time. So they have to think about that too, but it's not something that is the artist, or sometimes the consumer thinks about, and that's why I mentor other artists, I mentor other entrepreneurs for them to think about those additional costs that come along with operating a business right A cell phone cost, because you have to call people, to text people, you have to go back and forth, and those are the things that you have to do.

Tamara 16:11

The internet, the gas to go to go get the supplies, because some things you can buy online, yes, but there's certain things that you want to go and touch and feel to make sure it's the right thing. So when we think about that, we think about the operating cost.

Paula 16:25

If you're buying online, not everything you can get on Amazon, and if you have Amazon, unless you're paying Prime, which you also have to pay for it, to get it in two days. Otherwise, some places you still have to pay delivery fee.

Tamara 16:40

So it's those things that go along with it. So, going back to international, the importance of international is understanding what works in certain countries, what doesn't work, what sells, and understand your market and I think that has been one of my greatest achievements is managing and maintaining my clients that I do have, who are international and I'm shipping to different countries and being able to provide something different each time. Right, there's some people I tell them you don't need another painting right now for your home, as much as I need the business. No, because I have to think about my consumers and my clients, that they can respect me to say, hey, I'm not trying to sell you something at all times.

Paula 17:26

Yeah, I'm like okay, now you need some pillows, now you need some pillows, but enough with the painting.

Tamara 17:33

I would love to sell you another painting. Where are you going to put it? Where's the space? Because you don't want them to overwhelm themself or put themself in a financial situation where it becomes a strain, where they regret a purchase.

Paula 17:45

Yeah, and also for them just to buy it and just pile it on storage or anything, because I don't want my shit to just go sit in the storage collecting dust. I don't have it with me, you know, might as well. Just so would you say, all those fucked up into how you do your pricing for your pieces, because that was going to be a question.

Tamara 18:05

Yes, it does. It does that because, depending on the size of the canvas, the quality of the canvas, that I'm using, the paint I'm using, the seasonal things that are things that affect those costs and depending on where I'm going, because when I'm in a gallery, a gallery can charge me 30% to 50% just to list my items in that gallery, so then of course, the gallery cost is going to be different.

Appreciating Art and Buying Supplies

Paula 18:32

And that's not true, because I had a guest called Ryan Steffi and he has a. He paints and he also does boroughs in Kentucky, so he's going to actually make a borrow with my logo. He does amazing work and I found him through Instagram somehow and then I sent him a message because I love this work and how he does it, because he sometimes records himself on how he does it, and he came on my podcast. I had watched him create this amazing painting from when the canvas was open, throughout the process. This was all the way in January and I was like I want that painting. I was like Paula, I don't even know if I'm going to sell it or how much I'm going to sell it. I'm like I don't care. I'm going to sell it because when I saw the finish part, it was so beautiful and the fact that I felt like I was already connected to it because I saw it from the canvas being open to when he was struggling to figure out how he was going through, because he documented the entire shit and I was watching. And when we came on my podcast, we talked about it and I was like I want it and he told me. I was like okay, it's going to be 250. I was like, cool, he's like you, sure. I'm like I saw you how you went through it. I was like, well, shipping is also going to be on you. I'm like, bring it on. So I ended up paying almost 300 and something for it. And when it came, it came like a really big ass box and I did that all video for unboxing it. And my roommate looked at it and said, paula, this is such a nice painting. So that's two paintings. It's literally still in this box over there. I did the unwrapping and then I put it back on his box. I'm like I can't wait for my new place to have all these paintings.

Paula 20:11

And when I showed it and she asked me how much it was and I told her and she was like you know what I would pay for that and I was like why? You know, because out of curiosity, I like being curious she was like it looks like that's so much like you, the texture. I think you used oil because the texture and I was like and I've seen much other paintings being more expensive. I feel like that's even what she was like. But I was like I'm glad you understand how painting and because she shops at home goes and I've been at home goes.

Paula 20:48

I've seen paintings how the prices vary, sometimes as small this says can be bigger than the one. That's because of the differences of what's on the Underconvert. So sometimes people think, oh, because it's bigger, it should be more expensive. It's worse on the detail on the canvas and until today was surprised that I paid.

Paula 21:09

That I'm like reason I, if you appreciate art, you won't pay for it. If you can't afford it, you're gonna say it's not my time right now. But if you're gonna negotiate on art, then you really don't. Cause I've watched you struggle with this piece. I've seen you create it so I know it's worth that because of how much sweat you went through it.

Paula 21:33

I'm not saying and I can draw. So I'm not saying I, whatever, but it's how you created it and it's such a beautiful piece and I can't wait to like. I have two of the most amazing pieces that I. I can't wait for one. But that ought to say that People need to appreciate artists just cause they just oh, this is the talent, oh, they're good, they can do it for these hours, it doesn't fucking matter, you don't know what goes into their head and people need to learn to do that With that say. Actually also speaking of that, I'm gonna need to buy you a A stand cause, I feel like for your new season. Right, you do need to start documenting the behind the scenes for your social media.

Tamara 22:20

I do, I do, I do. It's so fun.

Collaboration and Overcoming Creative Blocks

Paula 22:22

So what? So what I'm gonna do? Let me show you this. You see, I have this bigger stand over here and actually my I have an Amazon wish list and one of my friend bought it for me for my birthday. Shout out to gimbal and it's so amazing because it goes as high, it goes as low, and then you can also remove it and it becomes a selfie stick and it has the connector for your phone. So I'm gonna get you that. That way, you just put it at the back of wherever you're painting and then Sometimes you also, you know, fast forward the first four, don't it go? It makes the video so nice. If you just put your phone there, you know nobody needs to hold it or anything and you just place where you're. You just make sure you put your phone on airplane mode at that time for a few hours and just because that's content. So that's gonna be my present for you. I'm gonna go on Amazon, send me address. After this, I'm gonna go on Amazon and order this shit for you, because you need that and I want to see.

Paula 23:25

I feel like for social media, especially when you're a brand, especially an artist. People knew love seeing that behind the scene. They want to feel like I saw. I don't. I don't know if I would have bought that painting of Ryan If I hadn't seen the behind the scenes or anything. Maybe I would have seen, or maybe when, if you would have told me the price after I finished. It's like I can't afford it, but because I saw it from the beginning, it feel like, oh my god, I'm so connected, I feel at home with this, so at West One and joke is I sell wet paintings because people will watch me paint these paintings in store and they will purchase them.

Tamara 24:03

So I've not finished them Anything. Oh, you met the girl who came in? Yes, so I wasn't even finished the painting and she bought it. It was wet.

Paula 24:14

This I'm saying because people do love Seeing it like oh my god, I feel like I was right there when this was created. That already adds to the story they're gonna share. So that personal touch, that's very well, even if you end up selling it before you put it. But once you put it, when you put that video, people will be like Next time I want, or maybe they want there those people who haven't been to see you paint in your shop. We'll be like oh my god, I need to go see that. Because, especially when they see also the movements of you waving at people, people, not all that it all creates the, the excitement. Sometimes people need the excitement, even though the painting is already excitement. They need that something else to kind of push them into that direction.

Tamara 25:03

I agree and I said that you know, keeps in September. I made it before, especially with bring it fast. I'm gonna paint in live at regular first. That's another thing I'm doing. So I'll be on site so I'll test it out to and see how it is. When people come over and see I'll paint someone. I'm there this weekend now record I'll get.

Paula 25:26

Yeah, I'm sometimes even going live. It doesn't matter if people watching or not, because it already ends up being a video on your Well. So, yeah, that does work. Let's talk about collaborations cause with anything artistic, podcasting. If you in this, in this world of creating collaborations, are a big part of that world, some collaborations can spark incredible creativity. You know, when you put two different pieces together to different people, sometimes you might even not feel like, why are you all trying to make me collaborate with this? There won't be magic. And then you get me like that's magic I didn't expect from this collaboration. So what would you say if you ever done any collaborations with other artists and designers from different fields and, if so, how did those collaborations influence your work?

Tamara 26:22

I did one collaboration. It was not what I expected. I had a positive Look on it and it didn't end up being that way. The person who was distorting the work after it already created it and it didn't go how I thought it would go. I've collaborated with other brands being stores and Sometimes people's vision is just not the same and, it's worth, ethics are not the same. My biggest and best collaboration have been with West Elm with again, I keep saying it, with some avalanche and West Elm Chelsea.

Tamara 27:01

Being able to paint live in store with my artwork hanging in the actual stores and being sold in the actual store. It makes a big difference for me. So now I might take away from that was. You just never know what can happen. You have to be ready for certain things. Two and a half years ago when I walked into the first West Elm, I was featured oh sorry, my thing here as I was featured in the Ponson market. The whole thing went away here, ponson market store, you know the expectation wasn't that I would be in all these different West Elms or be able to travel to different West Elms and Debut my work and show my things in Houston, in Miami and Orlando. You know going all over the place. You know, hopefully heading to Austin this year, going into new spaces and and creating things that People didn't think about.

Tamara 27:59

So what? I'm in West Elm. I create blood design brief for clients. I can, based on the rug that they pick up, I can paint a painting right in there and in three hours they can come back and pick this painting up. Nobody else does that. So how do you Create your own niche? How do you have a turnkey solution for clients? How do you present to organizations?

Tamara 28:22

I think that collaboration itself was great. Collaborating with the wedding, with Davis bridal, with men's warehouse, together to do the brides expo Was amazing. I would love to do that again. Where I did the resort wear line, double-d collaborative Jamaica tourist board to showcase the resort wear line again, being able to Diversify, if you will, my portfolio in the sense of what I can offer, and again going back to being the artist and designer and the creative Force behind a lot of things. It's easier for me to make decisions and to be able to say what we can do, what we can't do. Yes, eventually I'm going to need an entire staff to do that, but in the meantime it just means I get up to three hours earlier to play different roles to be able to collaborate.

Tamara 29:15

Another collaboration was with the village Realty group where I staged a million dollar home with them. Preenie would put my artwork and Put it into a home. People can actually see real artwork in a home and not just prints and nothing against prints, but the appreciation, if you will, and people coming to an art show versus the traditional open house. So it gives a different stage of clientele's as well. I'm the partnership and collaboration with art messo to have my show in Times Square last year, as well as for two and a half years being artists in the residence at the a left hotel in downtown Atlanta. So I read an entire hotel lobby with my pillows, my paintings, everything else. For two and a half years I was the arts and residence there.

Paula 30:08

So Done a few so that you have you go in the bad you always have to come along with that and and being able to pivot when things don't work and Pay the tuition and keep it moving and I'm glad that the bad collaboration was successful and I'm glad that the bad collaborations did make you stop from still Into collaborations, because look at what the other corporations are and it's so important one thing you mentioned to know your values, because when you're Collaborating with somebody, make sure your values and your beliefs time, because you don't want to collaborate with somebody was different values With you, and when you're working together, it's like, but you don't believe in what that company is actually promoting by each of collaborating with them.

Paula 30:54

That's how you end up losing your people. So collaborations are important and very important in the growth of your, because you you can get far by yourself, but you can get further With collaborations, with the right collaboration. So be mindful and I'm glad that you you took, because look at all these amazing shit, like all these amazing collaborations, like damn girl. So I want to say that many artists and designers do face creative blocks, including even podcasters, content creators. How do you overcome such challenges and keep your inspiration flowing when the creative look happens? Do you get creative look? I?

Tamara 31:44

Was just thinking. That's like do I have time to get creative block so I create 102 different products.

Paula 31:52

So Most of them are.

Tamara 32:04

Literally, that is that happened today. Like I'm packing things and painting hats at the same time, so like this is one of the hats to I was working on today and so you know, do my camera all the way, oh.

Paula 32:19

My god, yes, oh yes, I can see my dad well, because I like how it's. It's brown and blue. I mean, is it gray, blue and the feather? A guy can rub their hats.

Tamara 32:32

Yeah, and that's the, it's masculine, enough it's. And it's feminine, it's unisex. Oh, you know All that. And then I was doing earrings and then I was like, oh, I have to paint my Snowman and and think from not crackers, just to have it ready for the nutcrackers. So you know we have a neutral color here. So it's put all those together and having those ready, because fall is coming. You know we're in August. Right now I am the summer is over the holidays are here.

Paula 33:05

I told people, as soon as you guys over next thing, you know it's Halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, bye, bye. 2023.

Tamara 33:12

I painted this one today too, where you can see. You know, for people who want a little color will fast still, because these bright colors are in, you know, 70s. It's back and the look is back.

Paula 33:24

Oh yeah, I need a podcast to have, like I need you to paint a hat for podcasts.

Tamara 33:33

But yeah, so when I don't feel like painting or you know, it's been five days to be painting and then start to design Because I have to design for next year and bring new swimsuits out and new leggings out, you know fall is coming I have to pivot to pullovers now and and putting all that out but still maintaining my resort work, because I still have people who are in Jamaica who order things from me, or people who are going on vacation and they're honeymoons that are going on. So it's what's the next product? And I talk about collaboration. I'm collaborating with a designer who designs cards and we're debuting that this weekend. And so how do we Continuity evolve? You know it's all about evolution and it's all about being resilient and Understanding that without tenacity, without being open, then there's no growth.

Paula 34:26

So Very true and I and I love that I mean when I try not to go to your website because I want everything and I like Paula Finish paying off this debts and getting yourself back into track, and then we can go, we go, we go, we go and get into all this. But you are incredible pieces, like when I look at your swimsuits, when I look at your leggings, when I look at you Like, thank God, can you have some ugly ass pieces over there so that it can be like you know?

Tamara 34:59

Pieces to. I have different two pieces that I wear and I create and I Put all these things. Say yes it's amazing.

Paula 35:08

You're gonna go check out our website. She has incredible things and she has something for everybody. Like you cannot tell me you are not gonna find something for you in there. Like, oh my god, don't get him. Don't even get me started on the handbags, cuz, when I tell you, if she was gonna give us free out on that, we would have been fighting at the ambulance, would have been called firemashes, would have been called Octavia, would have called the police on us because it would have been Hectic in that building cuz all the hats was crazy. I Don't know.

Paula 35:40

But let's talk about this. Joy is, in particular. You know, jays often carry sentimental value for people Like I know. When I'm a ring person, most of my rings, when I buy them or anything like, I'm very particular on the rings. I choose these on that. I'm not a very Jerry person, but I'm a very ring person and I know people are K like they're very more Sentimental with their jury's right. So could you share a story of a piece you designed that had a special significance to someone, highlighting the emotional connection of the walkie-created?

Tamara 36:20

Well, the thing, and where on my neck is my Pandora charm that I created?

Paula 36:26

You even create and I just think no, I feel like I'm paying all my debt for you to just take all my coins like Damn god, can you slow down?

Concepts and Plans for Future Projects

Tamara 36:37

I won't take it, I won't, I won't. I think for me is important. Again, representation is important. When I went to Pandora To celebrate after my solo show Last year, I went to the Times Square Pandora and they had nothing that represented women and women of color, women with curly hair, or even that dancer because I'm again my sliver than my dancers is what I've known most for, and so I Didn't see it, so I decided to create it and then I Decided to then partner with them and with the Lenox store to create these pieces that we wear and every now and then, so we'll re-release them coming up in September Gold and silver and a rose gold as well, and they have dancers has my name On the back of it.

Paula 37:28

What the freaking fuck. You collaborated with Pandora and the release is coming in September. That's what you're telling me.

Tamara 37:35

I'm with re-release them, not what. I will go ahead and parse them on my own and then I will sell them, yeah.

Paula 37:45

I like that. I like that, amen, oh, my god. And it's funny because this episode is coming out in September. So listen, show each other again. Let people see what I can get in September.

Tamara 38:04

September we will have our Pandora charms, that this one is a double-sided one because this is mine, so this is very special, where I have two different dancers on this one. And then, of course, I have the Pandora dream. So my business is called three dream designs. So I want to make sure that I had the dream, as well as the Pandora charm and being able to showcase again women, women of color. They're different ones, they're one little girls. On my bracelet here. This one has a polo polo here you can't see it, but on the back of it says dreamer. So I do have a whole bunch of Pandora charms and all of my various symbolic to who I am and why I do what I do.

Paula 38:47

You better hit me on pointscom with them. Souping date or not, I went in on that Okay.

Tamara 38:53

Yes, ma'am.

Paula 38:55

Now, as we are talking about that, right From concept to completion, because you know you start with the concept, you paint it and it completes what's the most rewarding part of the creative process for you.

Tamara 39:10

Painting.

Paula 39:11

Is it the painting she's like? I want it to be done, but, oh my god, now it's done. Now I gotta think about something else, something new.

Tamara 39:21

I paint, and when I'm painting I'm already thinking about a hundred and two different products. So I say how does this painting translate into fabric? How does this painting translate into a mug? Can I put this figure on a mug? Can I put it on An ornament, which I'm working on ornaments right now. You know how do I create that time? It's the time you know. I have to have these again by September. Everything ready by September. So we're in crunch. So again, we're max for a corporate standpoint. It's time for us to put out Christmas things from a corporate standpoint and fall, winter things. So we wouldn't that same cycle that at home falls, or all these different big organizations, the same cycle I follow. So we're going into fall colors and fall paintings for the core holiday, christmas things as well. But when I do a painting even though I plan a painting, once it's done I think about what does it look like? What would it look like on an actual Thing? So it's how do I create? I'm gonna move the camera here.

Paula 40:36

Move it this way, yeah, yeah, and then again this side, okay, this side. There we go right there, perfect, right in the middle, yeah put it on a mug.

Tamara 40:46

Right, and you put it. How do I translate color onto a mug and have it move? It yeah, I know I'm turning the wrong, so you can see it. So how do?

Paula 40:58

I, oh my god, she's messed yes.

Tamara 41:01

I just she believed, which is the biggest mantra that I have with it with the butterfly.

Paula 41:08

Is that a butterfly in?

Tamara 41:09

her hair. Yeah, then the leggings. It's, you know the quality of the fabric. Is a color going to be bright enough when we have the dresses?

Paula 41:19

and I've touched the material. It's so comfy. So you remember that bug where you feel those are close, and you made this yeah, think about that's the bugger one. That bug could feel a thousand, and I love how it was indifferent, like, oh my god, that's why I haven't visited you anywhere, because I'm like I would want everything the color and the scar.

Tamara 41:44

I was making sure that that we are. You know things that are colorful and we have it. And then we have A dry fit shirt for men. How does that painting?

Paula 41:56

Look at that. Oh my god. That's such a beautiful tribal shirt and it looks like I'm not touching it, but it feels so soft. You know those. Yes, I love those types of shirt.

Tamara 42:12

So it's doing that and then saying my swimsuits are reversible, the bikinis are, so it's on one side and the next day you can work on the other side and nobody.

Paula 42:24

Oh fuck, you get two in one, yes.

Tamara 42:28

So it's talking about concept and and thinking about who is going to produce my work the best, who is going to Give me the best quality, because I want to stand long term. This is for Up front.

Paula 42:46

Yes, oh yes, it's so beautiful, oh my god.

Tamara 42:49

Thank you. So it's also representation of life. You know what are we going through on a daily basis. It's using art to communicate or wait.

Paula 42:59

Why is your face now a little bit lower?

Tamara 43:01

I think I move back. I was going through my bag of tricks here.

Paula 43:07

Oh, that's bad.

Tamara 43:10

I was like a bag of tricks, but yes, so. And then we have to make sure that Talking about the bag is that everything just came out of this bag. You know it's a different bag, but also getting a bag that can hold a weekend supply of clothes. Why is that important? Because we're traveling so much more and don't want to pay a baggage fee, something, and if you just run away for the weekend or something, it's something that is multi purpose and being able to use all of that. But again, from concept is when I'm painting it, I said, okay, will this look good on a mug? Will this look good On a shirt? Can I translate into a blanket? You know these different things and and when I'm painting, I always think about color and position and things like that.

Paula 43:59

So and I love that. And this is to anybody who says, oh my god, you're expensive or shit. I mean, if you're buying a 2p swimsuit and it comes two in one, where you probably spend more buying two different ones compared to this. So I feel like this, charge with the fucking you want to charge, because I mean I could, I could literally tell the the texture of Not only the shirt but also, um, the wrapper you had he was showing it feels so soft and that's just from looking at it you can tell, oh my god, I just want to Cut myself like that. I test everything. It feels like, you know. I know cashmere is a little bit more, but it feels like the mini cashmere of me, you know. So, absolutely so, charge whatever the fuck you want. So, as we're coming to an end to this, I have three last questions. Looking to the future, what exciting projects or new mediums are you eager to explore? Well, definitely the oil.

Tamara 45:08

And also doing some sculptures, if I can. So I'm looking just to delve into other things, to to figure some other things out and Stretch myself. You know I'm having some stretch goals.

Paula 45:24

We're evolving bitches and it's so sad that you're starting using the oils on the weekend of 25th, because that's when you're going to be back to worse. I told you I've been, I've been looking at your upcoming event, but I will be traveling to Detroit for a night because Talks you with P has been nominated for an awards and I wasn't going to go because of financial difficulties. And then my mom was like, girl, figure away, because whether you win or not, this is your first award, your first nomination. If you win, trust me, you yeah you would wish you were there to Receive it. And even if you didn't win, you would want to remember the feeling of your first nomination. So, figure it, make it up and be there. And I was like what can we use your credit card? So we buy my ticket, cuz right now it's cheap, and then I pay you and I get paid. So we bought my ticket, I booked my hotel and I'm going for a night. And then here's another thing about connections and social media. I'm going to Detroit.

Paula 46:32

I don't know anybody in Detroit, but what? I attend an empowered podcasting clubhouse room every Monday to Friday 7 to 8 am, and one of the girls she lives in Detroit. So when I share this news, she's like Paula, I'm in Detroit, I want to fucking see you. And I had to and I had two plus one ticket. So I told her where I was gonna be and everything. She was like yeah, I can't wait to see. I was like you know, I have two plus one tape. Do you want to come? She's like hell yeah, cuz I'm mad. I was like who's gonna record me? Who's gonna shock? I'm gonna be in a table by myself. But I was still like I don't care if I'm going alone or not, I'm still showing up cuz something tells me I need to be in that room Because you don't know what the connections you make in that room will also bring. We know, lose the connections I'm making, that room might turn into something greater than that a while that I was gonna win or lose. So it's all about showing up and making those kind of issues like I'll be there with you.

Paula 47:33

Then this other guy, actually just today he thought my weekend was this weekend and wasn't on me they said Paula, how was your time in Detroit? I'm so sorry I wasn't. I wasn't here. I'm like Brad, it's on the 25th, no way chicken eons. And I was like so I shared with him, was like I still have one more plus one if you want to come. So I'm gonna have. Took this one from people in Detroit to have been Hanging out with the club since January and I never met who are gonna be there with me. We know lose, I get to meet them, I get to enjoy this beautiful night today and who knows what's gonna bring out of whatever happens in that room. So but I'm definitely when I come back, because I've never been to us, I told you I have your upcoming events, which we are gonna talk about, which we're gonna talk about. But before we get to that, how do you envision and the evolution of your creative journey as you continue to push artistic boundaries? Because you're definitely pushing artistic boundaries like you go?

Tamara 48:39

I Don't know. I'm coming up with some new ideas, some new things I want to delve into.

Paula 48:52

Which I love it because I feel like in this world, like I tell people I'm rich, I know the person was a week ago. So if you're gonna call me on my bullshit from a week ago, I've evolved, bitch. I've learned, I've grown. I might still say yes to my shit or my. Don't be like, oh, we're still on that. I've changed my mind because I've learned. I've met people in the way well, either Took me something or made me realize something, or shit.

Adapting and Breaking Boundaries in Life

Tamara 49:17

We are constantly evolving, so yeah yeah, I agree, I said I made a post that I am not the girl I was a month ago and it's so important because so many life changes have happened in last month. Life is changing, we are changing. Our Ability to adapt, ability to create has changed and I am changing. Time for ever changing. So for me, I want to push some boundaries, seriously push some boundaries, so, but that's what you fucking be doing.

Paula 49:51

Push them, them boundaries push it right out.

Tamara 49:55

So I'm going to work on some stuff. Hopefully I won't be kicked out of the house.

Paula 50:02

Girl, you know I'm always here to support and you always welcome back here anytime. So when you're pushing boundaries and you feel like you need a place to constantly talk about that shit, talk shit with me, got you Okay? And also to speak on that, I want to say something. Like Somebody made a post and was like why are we constantly asking each other on what box would belong? Some of us do not belong in a box because we are curious beings when people are okay with belonging in a box, and there are those people like we are constantly I Want to be here, I want to be here, I want to be here. So there's no one box that fits me and that is okay to not fit in our box.

Paula 50:44

I was just telling somebody my last interview and I was like it's funny when people ask me what do you like to do for fun? Because I'm on dating apps and I get that question a lot and it pisses me off every time somebody else. So what do you like to do for fun? I'm like why do people always seem to ask this question? Because one, I don't have one thing that I like to do for fun. My, the things I like to do for fun, depend on the weather, depend on my mood, depend on Season, like I love swimming and being in the pool, but if it's so fucking hot, when there's a in the house and I love to be, and lately like this.

Paula 51:26

This is the first summer. We have only been to the pool twice last summer because I had a different workflow. I had days off during the week and I like going to the pool in the morning before the sun comes out, when it's still nice, before the kids come in, because it's summer and shit. But now I work from home eight to five. I don't have the privilege of that, but the time I go it's so fucking hot. I said I'm not as much as I love the pool and I wonder what I'd rather put bubble Put, fill up my tub and sit in the tub.

Paula 52:03

There's no specific and I hate hiking. But if you tell me if I hike up this there's a beautiful waterfall that I get to jump off or a beautiful sunset, I will do that for that, depending with who I am and what time it is. But I don't like hiking. So there's no box of what I want. There's some days I want to be Choreokiba. There's some days I want to dress up nice and go out for classic dinner. There's some days I want to be busy.

Tamara 52:33

There's some days I just want to be homeless.

Paula 52:36

There's some days.

Tamara 52:40

Understand, trust me, half number four. I came on the call. I look like I was homeless. I was in jeans and shirt I mean jeans, shorts and a t-shirt with my flip flops on on the road being mom and Delivery going to FedEx and everything else. A lot of FedEx people looked at me today like you own a business. But that's life. I don't fit into a box that. There's no rhyme or reason to who I am One day I'm the corporate Tammy, the next day I am the artist, you know, free flowing and whatever it is. But every day I'm mom, you know I. Those are things that are constant in my life. But even mothering, there's not a box for it because it changes every day for me.

Paula 53:23

I wonder your kids need you one day. They don't need you, you need them. I'm like I hate you. I love you so much, mommy, but I tell people and good no, I mean and and that's it.

Tamara 53:40

You have to be able to pivot, you have to be able to be the head cook on the bottle washer, you have to be able to be the caregiver and the disciplinarian. You have to be able to be it. All you know. But it's okay to not be strong. On those other days though, like tomorrow, I'm taking the day because I need to recover. My body, my mind, my soul needs recover from everything.

Paula 54:06

And on top of that, it's okay To be outside the box. You don't have to fit in the box. I feel like Most of the time people struggle so much into fitting in, but it's okay to to blossom out. I mean, look at Snoop Dogg. I love Snoop Dogg. That's an issue like this man I sang rap, has done weed. He has a Gossip album. Yes, they're movies. Yes, it's branching out into everything. What doesn't Snoop do? And when you look at him, if we, if he wasn't famous and just rich, we wouldn't know, even if he was rich, because he's always in his truck suits. Look at for real, this shirt might cost so much money, but look at how he dresses just a t-shirt and some shirts. Look at, oh my god, who is Adam Sandler? He looks like the most homeless, motherfucking person in Hollywood. Adam Sandler does not give a fuck. Adam Sandler does not, and I love him so much and that man's net worth, but look at him.

Tamara 55:20

Yeah.

Paula 55:22

Just cause we look homeless or somebody, yeah, or somebody you find him out of does not mean Because you, you had that somebody look bitching like, oh and you have a business because of the way you they don't underestimate people without. They look on that one day because everybody's allowed to have a fucking birthday.

Tamara 55:42

Yeah, it was, and I'm be up since three o'clock so I've been going, going, going. I'm like I went to doctor's office and had pink on my hand still, my fingers between my. You know you came get nails done anymore, because there's no time to get anything, because you're just going and, you know, creating and revamping the business after being out for so long. You know I have to be able to Do as much as I can do when I can. I'll put myself as so and that's all.

Paula 56:12

Just do what you can, pray, and leave it to God, because that's all you can. I feel like sometimes we the pressure from the outwards that doesn't even matter, because they're not there, they don't see, but we get pressurized for shit that doesn't even matter. With that saying you as a mother who juggles so much, as a mother, as a partner, and then as a business owner who Not only has one business to concentrate about because your business is a multimedia businesses in one, literally multimedia businesses in one. How do you keep your mental health sane, juggling all these mediums, creatives, responsibilities?

Tamara 56:57

I Keep saying, by using Google Calendar.

Paula 57:04

The guy I just interviewed before you was. He said the same thing. I was like I live with my Google Calendar because he's also multimedia, he has like four podcasts and he writes for like six publications and he also does PR and Like I live through my Google Calendar. I even have days where I put Enjoy yourself. I was like my dad even asked me what does enjoy yourself? You know, it's like whatever I need to do that day to enjoy myself is what I'm gonna do.

Tamara 57:42

Exactly. I have a block off day, which is tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day off, so I think for me it's planned in preparation and and being, but still being flexible enough. No, it's, something happens tomorrow and you know the day off is Canceled. My author thing is is water as well. I need to see water in order for me to feel alive. I need to get a pool in beach.

Paula 58:08

I haven't been to be a whole summer, you know because I know stand there's been posting a beach pictures and I'm like, bitch, get the fuck out of my face with you. Damn, as pictures and bitches. I don't know. I mean, it is a birthday month and episode is turning one hundred 100 episodes. So Sunday you deserve it. But damn bitch, you could have invited us, so drag us with you. Come on, bitch. Love you, love you, we love you and we are so proud of you.

Tamara 58:46

I need water and and I need, I need my boys, you know, to keep mental health. For me, mental health it's very important and that's why it says check on your strong friends. It's very hard. Again on Sunday my friend came in and he brought me flowers and he didn't know how much I Love flowers number one but needed flowers. So those things that that keep me balanced. To do people ask what you do for fun. I'm like I paint and like that's what you do for a living.

Paula 59:16

But when it's your passion, is both a hobby and yes, so that is it.

Tamara 59:22

And I love to cook, so that's also part of my Mental health and my stability, or my grounding. I love to cook and bake, but think, I think for me it's just sometimes just watching something mindless, you know, like last, I want to watch gone with the wind, something just to take my mind off of Life in itself, and sometimes I do disconnect from social media. Do this connect from people?

Tamara 59:47

it's important to do and and sometimes I shut off the phone and shut everything off and you know my kids. Once my kids are here with me and I know where they are, I love my family. But I don't need to talk to my family like that. I want my kids are safe and I know that they're here with me or if they're not with me, they're somewhere I can track them, my everything else. Then I'm good. So I am. I will disconnect and and pivot and do what I need to do Once it is done and that's the true, me too.

Paula 1:00:18

On weekends sometimes if I feel like you know, I, I just put my phone on AirPod, I'll put it on silent and just hide it and what shows that and everything on my phone without? On normal days my phone is always on silent because of school. Right when I was in college I was already used to In the beginning. I used to go to class put it on silent, come out, put it on loud, but in the morning when you're rushing to go to class, you forget and the next thing you know your phone is ringing in class. So ended up. Since then my phone is always on silent. Mm-hmm.

Paula 1:00:52

I did my WhatsApp. My text messages all went on mute. Mm-hmm. If I don't know a number, it went, it goes straight to voicemail. Now way I don't even get notifications because they can be distracting. So unless I open the messagings, I don't see any message. Unless I open the WhatsApp app, I don't see any. Unless I go to my call logs, I don't see any miss calls. And if your number is not saved on me, then I'm really very sorry because as soon as you call it's taking you straight to voicemail.

Paula 1:01:21

But those were necessary for me and anytime. I would go home, right, and I would have my phone right here with me. My dad would leave the house and maybe forgot something and you'd start calling me and I'm not answering. And then you have to call the maid and be like where's Paula, can you put on the phone? And then as soon as I touch it, it's like what's the point of the phone? I'm like not to be disturbed, but for a message. And then he goes what if I was dying? I'm like well, dad, I'm not a doctor. If you're dying, you're dying Right, I'm fine.

Paula 1:01:56

It's like what if I'm supposed to leave your goodbye message? I'm like that's what voicemails are for, because if you're calling me to tell me goodbye while you're dying, that's not healthy for me. You don't know what I'll do, where I am, who I'm with, what I'll do. I'd rather listen to the voicemail when I'll have it for keepsake for 10, 20 years until I decide to delete it or leave the company or whatever. But if you're dying, I best believe you should call your doctor or fire or emergency, but not me. And sometimes even I'm thousands of months away. I'm like what do you want me to do if you're dying? When I'm in Malaysia and you're all the way into the near, like, come on, man.

Paula 1:02:38

Eventually my dad was like you know what I give up. Clearly I'm like dad. This is why anytime I speak to you, I make sure I let you know I love you, I miss you, because you might die without even having the opportunity to call me. So stop lying that this you calling me is because what if I'm dying? Sometimes you're dying and you don't even have the energy to call somebody. I am that person who I put my phone on airplane mode on weekends when I don't want to be disturbed. I can be like dead all day. I'm not going on social media and that's very healthy for you, for your peace of mind, for your energy, for anything. And now that I know you like water as well, I'm extending an invitation before the summer ends. If you ever want to hang out with me by the pool because nobody really likes hanging out with me by the pool You're constantly welcome to Sunday Springs to come and chill with me by the pool before the summer ends.

Promoting Toxitre Pills on Social Media

Paula 1:03:34

This is your forever invitation from until we stop being buddies, which is probably when one of us dies or one of us moves out of the country. But even with moving out of the country, we can always visit each other, you know. That's the whole point. But, tamar, thank you so much for hanging out with me. I had a blast. And while you're there, feel free to shop away. Toxitre Pills, available on all social media platforms with their handle Toxitre P. Follow us and engage with us. Better yet, if you're feeling generous, give us a review on our podcast and all raters on Spotify. You can also share a beer with me, where my beer lovers are. I mean, what better way to support the movement than sharing a beer with me by buying me a beer at BuyMeCoffeecom? Thank you for listening, sharing, engaging and supporting in any way that you do. Remember, new episodes are out every Wednesday and for part 2, if any, on Fridays. Let's talk and all listen to some shit, happy, shit talking.