Life & Work with Nuri Durr of Atlanta,GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nuri Durr.

Hi Nuri, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I got my start working as a caricature artist at Six Flags around 2012-2013. I did this for a season while attending Georgia State University. I’ve been sharing my art on forums and websites like DeviantArt since middle school so by the time Instagram rolled out I was able to gradually build a following there. As I built momentum people started sending emails and DMs looking for a way to purchase my art. I made a bigcartel storefront in response and the people showed up to support in a way that I didn’t anticipate. My logic at the time was if I put all of my energy into this full-time I should be able to easily support myself. That along with the support of my wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) gave me the extra reassurance to go all in. I quit my job at Office Depot and dropped out of college to focus exclusively on my art by following the example of some of my peers. By 2021 I landed my first full-time gig working as a character artist at Warner Bros. Since then i’ve balanced working in the industry along with selling my own art and merch.

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 the beginning it was rough, but only because I was stepping into unfamiliar territory and had to learn how to do everything mostly through trial and error. There’s making art and then there’s selling art as part of a business which is an entirely different ballgame. Simple things like managing a storefront and doing your taxes can be a little intimidating when you’re just getting started. That being said, one of the benefits of the internet and social media is being able to ask questions or just watch and learn from others. Seeing others striving towards similar goals as mine kept me motivated when I felt uncertain about the way forward. In general social media was extremely helpful. It’s funny because in a weird way I think it’s harder today. We’re more connected than ever now and yet it was much easier to reach and connect with others back then. The internet was a little less consolidated and you didn’t have to worry about algorithms or chasing trends for engagement. You could just simply post. Building an audience mostly came down to just putting out work that people resonated with.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d have to say i’m most known for working traditionally with Copic Marker. I’m certain it’s the one thing that anyone who’s familiar with me would immediately think of. I grew up loving the look and feel of the traditional artwork i’d see in early video game promotional artwork and manga. I’d say that along with animation influenced my approach to working with alcohol markers and this is still the case today. It was around 2010-2011 that I first got into the medium. I learned by observing and mimicking techniques from some of my favorite artists at the time. I’ve been told that my marker work could be mistaken for digital art or animation cels which is like the highest form of flattery to me. Looking back at my old art I don’t think most of it was particularly good, but I was attempting to use the medium in a way that I didn’t see many people doing at the time. It’s probably the one thing that has always set me apart from others I think.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I built my relationships by simply sharing my artwork and engaging with others. It’s not enough to just post your art and expect people to notice and acknowledge you. You have to be an active participant in the community which means acknowledging others, being appreciative and helping others where you can. Take a genuine interest in what others are doing and support them directly if you’re able. I’ve never had a formal mentorship, but I have been fortunate enough to become friends with many of the artists that I was a fan of as a kid and I think it only happened in that way because I’ve been active in artistic communities for as long as I have while also working to improve my own craft. So my advice is to make time for others in addition to making time for your own art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theartofnuridurr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actionhankbeard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actionhankbeard
• Twitter: https://x.com/actionhankbeard