Conversations with Haley Slamon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Slamon.

Hi Haley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m the owner and creative behind Slamon Creations. I’m a multimedia artist who primarily focused on music and performing before the pandemic, but as someone with high-risk factors, I’ve had to shift away from working in public spaces for the time being. Growing up in theater taught me lots of artistic skills, and I’ve spent the past few years beginning to sell the physical items I make more seriously. My products currently include crochet plush, press-on nail sets, and resin jewelry, as well as other custom pieces that I’ve been asked to create. I love the challenge of custom orders and anything that people want to commission from me I can usually make a reality.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
In my personal opinion, starting a business is never going to be easy. Most small business laws are intentionally set up to be confusing to the average individual, and the penalties for getting something wrong can be incredibly steep. Lots of people think making things to sell is an easy job because you get to do what you love. In reality, being an independent artist also means being an accountant, lawyer, marketing expert, social media influencer, writer, photographer, editor, and your own personal cheerleader, on top of making whatever you have to sell. So much of the time that I’d like to spend creating is actually spent on product listings, or invoices, or interviews. Those are the things that ensure your work is being seen, and that you and your work are protected. I’m grateful that I’ve had the support to learn those foundations now, rather than have to pay fines for my mistakes in the future.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a creative, the thing that I really take pride in is the diverse set of skills that I’ve developed. The composer Richard Wagner when working on his operas was always attempting to achieve his ideal of Gesamtkunstwerk, or “total work of art”. He believed when all the artistic elements in a show come together, they make something greater than the sum of their parts. That’s how I like to see myself as an artist. Every new skill or craft that I learn is another tool in my toolbelt, and I love being able to combine those skills to make something unique. The reason that I use Multimedia Artist or Performer as titles for myself is because if I have to put myself in a few boxes, I want them to be the largest ones possible. My goal is to develop an audience that likes what I make but that also supports me as a whole person who’s still learning and growing. I’m thankful for the people who want to follow along with my journey because they see me as more than just a product.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always artistically driven. My family did their best to support whatever I was interested in, from carpentry to piano, so when I wasn’t in school, I was often in some other rehearsal or club. Singing quickly became one of my favorite activities that I was constantly practicing. I would even sometimes get yelled at by teachers for humming in class. For high school, I was accepted into Oakland School for the Arts, where I was a founding member of our a cappella group Vocal Rush, as well as the lead in several of our school musicals. This gave me incredible opportunities to perform on huge stages with groups like CAKE, Pentatonix, and Delta Rae. Our gig schedule did mean that I was working for a lot of my childhood, but I think it was worth the experience and professionalism I gained along the way. My time as a student really did prepare me for the work it takes to make art for a living.

Pricing:

• Resin: $3+
• Crochet: $5+
• Press-on Nails: $25+

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SlamonCreations
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slamoncreations/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069215587863
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SlamonCreations
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/haleyslamonmusic/featured
• Other: https://www.haleyslamon.com/ 

Image Credits
All photos taken and edited by Haley Slamon