Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Hamilton.
Hi Shelby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Augusta, Georgia, where I naturally gravitated toward anything creative. Art class was always my favorite, and drawing was one of the things I truly felt I was good at. My creativity was also shaped by my family—my older sisters were creative, my mom had a knack for decorating and creating beautiful floral arrangements, and my dad was always tinkering with his equipment and building more efficient ways of spreading sunflower seeds on our farm.
Throughout my childhood, we made regular trips to Charleston, South Carolina for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, where I was exposed to a vast range of fine artists. Those experiences left a lasting impression and sparked the dream of one day pursuing a career as an artist.
While attending the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, I fell in love with a wide variety of artistic techniques, and graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design. After graduation, it only felt natural to move to Charleston, the place that had inspired me from the beginning.
I went on to work as a Graphic Designer for an international makeup brand headquartered in Charleston. Although I enjoyed the design work, I found myself constantly thinking about what it would be like to be a full-time artist, especially as I spent nights and weekends working on commission pieces. That idea kept pulling at me, so in 2019, I made the leap and began my career as a full-time artist.
I feel incredibly lucky to have been working full-time as an artist ever since, and I’m grateful to spend every day in my studio in downtown Charleston, which I rent from the amazing Courtney Agosti Interior Design. Being surrounded by other creatives provides constant inspiration, motivation, and a sense of community—I count my blessings every day!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In retrospect, I’ve been blessed. I’ve been a full-time artist for five years, with each year bringing both business and personal growth. However, I would be lying if I said there have been no struggles, most of which have been internal/emotional.
In the beginning, I said yes to every commission that came my way, out of fear I wouldn’t make enough to support myself. That lead to burnout, because I wasn’t doing what I really wanted to do. I found myself stuck in a cycle of craving the freedom to make my own work, fearing it wouldn’t sell, and returning to commissions because they felt safe and reliable. Then I’d feel frustrated with myself for not breaking the cycle. It ended up slowly draining the joy and motivation from my art practice.
Relying on others’ approval of your own personal work was intimidating, and felt risky, but I had to learn to push past my fears and insecurities and just do it. If this was God’s plan for me, he would allow it to work out.
Comparison also weighed heavily on me. It truly is the thief of joy. And I blame social media for a lot of that. It’s so easy to measure yourself against others and come up short in your own mind.
I could say a lot more, but I’ll keep it short and hope this resonates with someone. I had to learn a few things the hard way. No one told me how to run a business. I had to learn how to use belittling comments as fuel. And impostor syndrome is real – even with a degree in art, professional training, and years of experience, the self-doubt somehow always creeps in.
Thankfully, most of my obstacles have been small in the grand scheme of things, and I believe they’ve shaped me into who I am today. Plus, I now have full confidence facing any more in the future.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an artist, I work across a variety of mediums and styles. My inspiration comes from a love of design, color, texture, shadow and light. In terms of subject matter, my work generally falls into a few categories: hunting dogs, game birds and feathers, still life, landscapes, and abstract palms and botanicals.
Of all my work, I’m most proud of my hunting dog pieces. Each one takes a great deal of time and attention to detail, and many are commissioned, which adds an emotional layer to the process. From personal experience, hunting dogs are irreplaceable companions – often tied to cherished memories and a special bond between them and their owners. Being able to capture that for someone through art is priceless.
What sets my work apart is the variety of work I create as a multifaceted artist. I’m able to move fluidly between different styles—whether it’s loose and expressive or realistic and detailed. That versatility gives me the freedom to explore, adapt, and bring something unique to each piece I create.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the historic charm of Charleston. The old houses and buildings, the colors and textures, restaurants, alley ways etc. You get the best of both worlds living in a beautiful historic city, while also being minutes from the beach, and feeling the warmth of the coast. And from an artists perspective, there is so much inspiration around you, and the art community is amazing.
Least favorite part – the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shelby-hamilton.com
- Instagram: @__shelbyhamilton
Image Credits
Natalie Thompson Photography
