Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Terry Durham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Terry, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

My name is Terry Durham Jr and I’m from Goldsboro, NC. I currently reside in Fayetteville, NC. My interest in art began in middle school and became a hobby in high school. In 2009, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, with concentrations in Painting and Drawing, from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Personally, I have found my work to be therapeutic and hopefully for my viewers and patron’s as well.
In 2006 I was in a head-on accident with an 18 wheeler, which almost took my life. In addition to breaking my collar bone, I also broke my jaw in five places, a rib, a toe, a femur, shattered my knee, and dislocated my hip. It was no coincidence that my hands were the only body parts uninjured. I found painting in occupational therapy to be both healing and beneficial.
Not only is art a hobby, but I have professional training that has allowed me to move forward with my business, Applied Rare Talent LLC. It is Applied because I use it daily, Rare because you won’t find such variety in one place, Talent because it’s my God-given gift – my ART.
I love encouraging others to use what they have access to in order to express themselves artistically. Some of my mediums include painting, drawing, wood burning, photography and digital work. I also try making things with whatever I can get my hands on, I love to explore and see how mediums mix.
From 2012- 2019 I helped kids discover their artistic talents by teaching in the public school system. I substituted all grade levels the first few years before teaching high school full-time. I still have the opportunity to teach in more intimate environments when I instruct paint classes. My ultimate goal before the year ends is to start private lessons.

It wasn’t as smooth a road as I had hoped it be. I’m grateful for the obstacles and being able to overcome the challenges. Dentistry was my original path, not art. As I was working on my bachelor’s degree is when the 18 wheeler accident occurred.

That was one of the main obstacles and it really steered me to follow my heart. I was not accepted into dental school and that confirmed what I had been feeling. I started my business upon graduation, overcoming challenges along the way such as funds to stay afloat, trademark and lawyer fees, buying supplies to expand. Figuring out for myself how to market, learning to vend, and exploring different mediums are also challenges I’ve faced. Creating came easy but learning the business side of doing art was a huge obstacle.

I do it all when it comes to art because I strive to be a one stop shop. Airbrushing and sculpting are the two areas I don’t specialize in. But I’ve incorporated them in some way to works in the past. Besides that, I do murals, paint and draw portraits, wood burn, face paint, engrave mirrors, teach classes, paint on shoes and clothes and digital designs.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In 2006 I was in a head-on accident with an 18 wheeler, which almost took my life. In addition to breaking my collar bone, I also broke my jaw in five places, a rib, a toe, a femur, shattered my knee, and dislocated my hip. It was no coincidence that my hands were the only body parts uninjured. I found painting in occupational therapy to be both healing and beneficial. Not only is art a hobby, but I have professional training that has allowed me to move forward with my business, Applied Rare Talent LLC. It is Applied because I use it daily, Rare because you won’t find such variety in one place, Talent because it’s my God-given gift – my ART.
I love encouraging others to use what they have access to in order to express themselves artistically. Some of my mediums include painting, drawing, wood burning, photography and digital work. I also try making things with whatever I can get my hands on, I love to explore and see how mediums mix.
From 2012- 2019 I helped kids discover their artistic talents by teaching in the public school system. I substituted all grade levels the first few years before teaching high school full-time. I still have the opportunity to teach in more intimate environments when I instruct paint classes. My ultimate goal before the year ends is to start private lessons.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Originally and for the longest, my career of interest was dentistry; from 5th grade thru my 3rd year in college. A pivot in my career choice came due to a change in my life. Along with speech and physical therapy I had occupational therapy following a car accident. A head-on collision with an 18 wheeler caused me to take my art more serious. Even though I was already an artist, while in therapy, we painted and that really revived my passion. This in return transformed my hobby into a business, and that business into a career. When I returned to school I decided to double major in Biology and Art and upon graduation I created “Applied Rare Talent”.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.appliedraretalent.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/applied_rare_talent
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Applied.Rare.Talent