In this episode, Q talks with textile artist and tai-chi instructor Natalie Durkin. They discuss what it took for Natalie to reclaim her creativity as an adult and make it her occupation. They discuss the benefits of paying attention to our ‘drunken muses’ when they tell us to do random, interesting things. About Natalie: Natalie Durkin is an artist specializing in repurposed and upcycled textiles to create fabric portraits and other functional and decorative textile works.
After decades of being told it was unrealistic and irresponsible to earn a living from her creativity, Durkin decided she owed it to her true self to take back her creative power. The shift began in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, which also coincided with her being diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder that caused joint instability, repeat injuries, and chronic pain. This one-two punch led her to the discovery of her passion for repurposed textiles as her artistic medium, as well as the unplanned but necessary retirement from a 23-year career as a structural and rehabilitative massage therapist in the summer of 2022. Because her condition made it potentially dangerous and unwise to continue being an LMT, she decided that it was time to make living and earning creatively as an artist her priority.
Durkin is currently growing an online audience and working on incoming commissions while continuing to learn how to balance her physical stamina. She’s also a professional martial arts instructor with black belts in Taekwondo, Yang and Chen Styles of Tai Chi, and Hung Gar Kung Fu.
Find Natalie Online:
- Instagram: @ncdurkin
- Facebook: Natalie Durkin Textile Artist
- Featured by Austin Creative Reuse