We were lucky to catch up with Ninah Turner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ninah , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I was fortunate enough to earn a full-time income from my creative work right after completing art school. However, when I returned to the United States after studying at the University of Arts London, I felt a bit lost and unsure how to break into the art world. Wanting to work in Los Angeles, I asked for job leads on my Instagram. A friend connected me with his uncle, a well-known artist needing an assistant. After a quick meeting at their studio, I was hired on the spot and started working right away. Since I didn’t have a car or an apartment in Los Angeles, I spent the first few months crashing on my friends’ couches and taking Ubers to work. Eventually, my post-college life in the city started to come together, and I’ve been working with this artist for over four years now. Being able to focus on art as my career has been crucial for my growth and development as an artist. It has allowed me to concentrate on improving my work without the pressure to commercialize my practice.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in southern California and was raised by a single mom who loved taking me on adventures. As a child, she encouraged me to draw rather than watch tv and it became something that I loved to do. I was always captivated by fairytales and have vivid memories of sketching mermaids with my friends. I carried this passion into my adulthood, knowing in my heart that art would become the focal point of my life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The beautiful thing about being an artist is having freedom in your work. I make art to focus on being authentic and instinctive. I believe the reward is internal, and the feeling of bringing something to life out of an idea is so fulfilling.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Through my practice, I exercise my creativity and incorporate individual style into everything I do. I’m interested in exploring deeper meanings of existence and continuously experimenting. I love to see how my paintings come together, and each addition is like another chapter to a story.

Contact Info:

• Website: ninahturner.com
• Instagram: ninahturner