00:00.62

Natalie Featherston

And all, right? Awesome! Thank you you.

00:01.32

charukaarora

Let me do that. You’ve you know this is something I always tell myself give me a high I have I Always forget always always not so bad at it.

00:11.30

Natalie Featherston

Um.

00:13.28

Natalie Featherston

And I never I taught an entire workshop I mean and a week-long workshop in Scottsdale last a few months ago. 15 students was this huge thing and everybody was like oh did you take pictures I’m like no I didn’t take a single because I was teaching the entire time. So.

00:27.43

charukaarora

Oats. Better at this? Okay I’ll tell you how it started how you came onto this podcast so every morning the first thing so this has been me for the past few months I wake up first thing in the morning and.

00:31.80

Natalie Featherston

Trying to get better at that.

00:50.00

charukaarora

I go I mean how insane that sounds now. But that’s really that’s what I do I wake up in the morning. It’s um, and as soon as Eight o’clock strikes I know I need to post a reel on Instagram and that’s probably some work that you know catches my attention or like you know. I enjoy and I’m like so I was scrolling through the feed and I saw one of this work and I shed and I shared like you know, um I think it said like to ah tomatoes in a box or a painting something and I loved it. Sorry pomegranate’s in a box of painting or something and I remember I put off my phone. Ah. Somewhere and I came back a few yeah a few hours later and it was blown I people were like I my mind is blue like they were crazy. People were good crazy like you know, ah, how has this night is this true I mean.

01:34.87

Natalie Featherston

Is.

01:45.70

charukaarora

Is this a painting. It’s a box I can’t believe it and it was the the the work I remember the work was called pomegranates and um, everybody was so in love with it and I was like you know what we need to get Natalia on the podcast this needs to happen. So here you are. We we brought you.

02:05.71

Natalie Featherston

Here I am yeah pomegranates who knew? Ah, yeah, no, that is that has been a super fun series I started that I don’t know maybe eight years ago I actually moved.

02:11.23

charukaarora

Um, so you tell me.

02:21.53

Natalie Featherston

Yeah I moved Studios and like people are like how did you come up with that idea and like I have all these still life props I mean moving moving studio for me is really a horrible experience. So I moved and I was implaple and I had all these props in a box and I was like oh wo you know what.

02:30.81

charukaarora

Home. Ah.

02:38.36

Natalie Featherston

That might be really interesting and I had had been working on cradle panels with the really deep sides and so I started that series and it’s been super fun like I Love you know I Love composing everything in the boxes. But I also love doing little stamps around the sides which when I started well.

02:51.85

charukaarora

Yes, I’ve seen your obsession about them.

02:57.37

Natalie Featherston

Well, that’s my favorite part I mean like ah I mean I have made paintings just so I could use some really silly stamp things on the sides. Um, yeah, they’ve they’ve been really fun and and they’re they’ve been nice I’ve done quite a few commissions with those. So getting to collaborate with other people and sort of like their vision and what what is meaningful for them. That’s been a real treat I’ve I’ve gotten to do some really nice work with people collaborating.

03:21.12

charukaarora

I Love that Okay, tell me something So I I I practiced this word for couple of times before we started a record shampoline am I right.

03:31.50

Natalie Featherston

Oh that’s perfect. It’s it’s It’s so much better than my pronunciation. Yes, that is perfect. But.

03:35.95

charukaarora

Ah I was like let me practice this before I actually go and say it on the mic. So True tramline for anybody who doesn’t know is hyper realalistic that give you a perception of um, real versus like you know. How the how your painting was can you define it better I think I’m I’m not doing a good job.

03:58.64

Natalie Featherston

And yeah, no, the um Trump Lloyd Lake is a little different than hyperrealism classic trumploy is is something that usually has a very narrow depth plane so you see a lot of things like hung on a wall.

04:04.36

charukaarora

Okay. Okay.

04:12.30

Natalie Featherston

Where it’s very flat and it’s supposed to look like you can almost touch them and peel them off sort of thing like things hanging from a ribbon that that sort of thing. Um this a broader definition of trumploy obviously just means full to eye in french um, where it looks like things that are 2 dimensional are actually.

04:16.69

charukaarora

Yes.

04:31.24

Natalie Featherston

Or things that appear 3 dimensional are painted so it’s a twodi dimensional surface that is actually my faith. Yeah so it’s it’s it is meant to sort of trick the viewer and that is actually the reason I used to be a so paint a lot more still life and I got interested in trumploy because there is sort of this moment.

04:33.72

charukaarora

Yes, and look like three dimensional.

04:50.64

Natalie Featherston

With the viewer where they have a shift to perception like and for me, that’s that’s the whole point like they they’re looking at it. They think it’s they think it’s real and then all of a sudden they realize it’s painted and that’s sort of moment for me where you’re able to change someone’s visual perception and their experience of the art. That’s that is my money shot that is what I’m all about.

05:08.75

charukaarora

I love that yeah and like it’s like it’s like that 1 reaction fence you get out of the audience like the reaction that I saw in the comments I was like oh my god it wasn’t just me because sometimes what happens is like you share a work and you know I resonate with it. But.

05:09.91

Natalie Featherston

Is my favorite part.

05:28.12

charukaarora

Not often like everybody would feel the same way about something. We All have very different perceptions but I remember there are quite a few works that you share that really blows everybody’s mind and I think yours was of course one of them and I want to ask you? How did you land on this Idea. Um. Like you know, did you set like I’m sure there would have been a lot of your own um evolution on how you’ve been doing this now. Um, can you can we go back a little in time and see how your work evolved and you’ve landed here.

06:02.95

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, that you you know it’s so funny when we were talking but before you started recording. We have a very similar story in that I had a whole nother career before I started being a painter. Yeah I was a classical cellist. Yeah.

06:11.19

charukaarora

Really yes I Saw that? Yes, yes, yes, and you know what’s even more interesting is I had to guess I had to ask this so when I was reading on your website. It said you so you’ve written that you wanted a. You know a more creative outlet than music for you and I’m really interested in learning what you have to say about that.

06:36.23

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, absolutely yeah, you know I I had started playing the cello when I was a very small child like 13 years old and like by the time I was fifteen I had left home I’d gone to performing arts high school I never moved but I never lived at home again. Was always touring or that so that is a whole otherther podcast. We don’t even we don’t even need to get into that but I had moved to New York and I was working in New York and you know just kind of had a moment where I was in my early 20 s and I had been. I was very burned out I had been doing this at a very high level for a very long time and was very bored I I was I mean and and I think sometimes you know you can you can have success at something but not enjoy it and like you kind of get trapped trapped. There. Yeah you when you were telling me about the whole fashion thing I’m like oh I get this? um.

07:09.62

charukaarora

And you were very successful.

07:18.60

charukaarora

Yes, absolutely Yes, yes.

07:27.33

Natalie Featherston

But I think you know it’s like I just realized that I was probably going to spend the rest of my life sitting in an orchestra playing Mahler’s symphonies and it just terrified me I’m like oh my god I don’t even want to do that now you know and you know I think a lot of people think I mean with classical music. Yes, it is creative but you’re you know you’re following the notes on a page they are telling you what to do? It’s not like jazz or improv or something where which I consider to be very creative. So I drop I just dropped out I’m like I I got to I have to rethink my life like this is not going the way I want it to go.

07:44.73

charukaarora

Yes.

07:51.26

charukaarora

Yeah, yeah.

07:57.15

charukaarora

And how old were you by then just setting context so you were pretty successful in something.

08:01.75

Natalie Featherston

I was like 21 22 yeah early 20 s yeah and like everyone everyone my family my friends everyone thought like my life path was set like that’s what I was gonna do and I was like yep I was that I was that kid and um.

08:10.40

charukaarora

I was set. Yes, you were that child who would like be like look at her.

08:21.60

Natalie Featherston

I just dropped it I’m like I’m done I got to reevaluate this and I started taking classes at an art school in New York City just like nighttime you know for for adults I’ve never been to an art school I’ve just studied with different teachers in different places I have no art degree I’m not I have no like. Degree that says I’m an artist. So yeah, um I just started taking classes I really loved it because for me that was a creative outlet like that to me was so much more creative than like following along in the orchestra and playing the notes on the page.

08:53.66

charukaarora

But you know what there’s something that comes to my mind about this I felt pretty much similar when it came to fashion and I feel very different about things today. So I studied fashion academically after I studied history actually. Both of them that I never thought I’ll again have anything to do with haha today playing one of the most like instrumental part of my own practice as an artist and when I started my own business when I was also working in the fashion field I had just the same thing like. I felt that this was a creative outlet for me, but it was only till the point where I was in you know in in a class learning something having the permission to experiment having like you know things like that. But the moment I went into the real world. It was about um it was about getting things done. It was about um. You know orders and deliveries and like stuff like that and I felt like I I wanted to do this because I wanted to be a creative and this doesn’t feel like that for me and I want to have a better creative outlet and you know. It. It was very hard for me and I was um and I wasn’t even remotely successful as you were um, but it was a major setback for me to realize like you know anything that I thought like you know we all have these visions and ideas a lot of time that okay when I grow up or you know.

10:25.40

charukaarora

I want to beat this and specifically so when I did fashion I really fought with my family like my father because ah for them. It never made sense and I was like now it’s it’s like a prestige issue also because I took this big leap and now I’m saying I don’t want to do this after 3 4 years I think 4 years and it really shook my own trust on myself and it took me a long time to build that back. Did you have anything like that because you were doing pretty well and you know people would tell you okay, you know you’re doing so good or you know did you have any moments of self-doubt. When you were regrouping yourself and thinking what you want to do further.

11:07.25

Natalie Featherston

I Am sure I did I mean it. It has been a long time ago now like I am I am in my fifty s so like we were talking like elgin history. Um I am certain that I did because like I do remember that being a really tough part of of this whole art thing.

11:12.53

charukaarora

Ah, yes.

11:22.38

Natalie Featherston

You know is like trying to go to school and trying to learn and trying to work a full time job and trying to put art you know and still try to find time to like be creative. Um I was pretty single-minded I’m very stubborn. So I I don’t remember anybody I’m sure a lot of people tried to talk me out of it but I was was pretty. Bent on it at that point you know? Yeah I really was very loved what I was doing and very passionate about it. But I’m I’m sure there were I think my moments of self-doubt came a little later when I um I did I studied in New York for 10 years with a bunch of different people but the.

11:50.90

charukaarora

Okay, when was that.

11:56.57

charukaarora

Yes, yes, yes.

11:59.80

Natalie Featherston

Bulk of my education I spent 6 years with a painter named Michael Leviano who really taught everything I know I’m incredibly grateful to him I mean it was a very intense hardcore. Yeah I mean six years like it was. It was a long time but I remember when I graduated from his program and it was very informal.

12:06.27

charukaarora

Um, six years that’s a long time.

12:18.00

Natalie Featherston

Like we sat in his living room kind of thing. You only took a few students if it’s a that would actually be another podcast but anyway would I but I finished but’t finished with Michael and and I see this today because I do talk to a lot of young artists. You know I I love like talking and.

12:23.60

charukaarora

Yes, I We we’ll have several podcasts that means.

12:32.17

charukaarora

Yes.

12:37.60

Natalie Featherston

Having art friends in our community is so important but in speaking with them like that was the hard part for me was getting out of school because now like you don’t have that community every day and you’re not working towards goals all of a sudden you’re just on your own and it’s like here you go go be an artist and like that was hard.

12:49.34

charukaarora

Oh and.

12:56.20

Natalie Featherston

That to me was very difficult because you know you’re still working. You’re trying to put together portfolio you’re trying to start a career where maybe you’re going to sell work or you’re going to meet collectors or galleries. You know you’re you’re trying to get it going. You know you have a skill set. You know that you’ve just spent years learning and it’s it’s hard. I Mean it is that that to me that’s probably my that was the most difficult part.

13:21.60

charukaarora

Did you at that point. Um I mean you were already a musician. So I think the fear of being a creative independent creative I’m sure it wasn’t I mean it wouldn’t be so high was it like did you the idea of financial stability how you would make a career out of this. Like did you have any of those.

13:42.25

Natalie Featherston

Um I I was very fortunate in in 1 aspect I wasn’t that worried because like you said when I was a musician like I gotten used to hustling like I mean I got a lot of hustle I had three orchestra contracts I had a string quartet I would show up and play weddings bar mitzvahs.

13:49.23

charukaarora

Yes.

13:58.32

charukaarora

Um, you so you were like you were um, you were used to getting uncomfortable. Truly.

13:58.58

Natalie Featherston

Furniture openings like oh whatever. Ah I yeah and I was used to like hustling so that didn’t that didn’t that I was kind of okay with that. But you know I think with the art thing. It was hard to even get the hustle started. You know was like but I ended up getting.

14:12.66

charukaarora

Yeah.

14:16.51

Natalie Featherston

You know I was always had a job like waiting tables or or you know doing things like that always and I was very lucky in that I got a job working as a decorative painter and the reason yeah you know doing like faux finishes and stencling and you know glazing walls and like ah.

14:18.40

charukaarora

Yeah.

14:26.13

charukaarora

Wow.

14:35.68

Natalie Featherston

All that stuff. Um, but what was nice about that is it had some flexibility like I could take a job and work. You know I could go do like you know the lobby of some fancy New York city building for three weeks and then I could take off a week or 2 and paint so that.

14:40.95

charukaarora

Okay.

14:49.86

charukaarora

Oh.

14:53.30

Natalie Featherston

Me became very important because it kind of enabled me to transition into having a portfolio into being able to approach galleries into like building a career that way and I still had somewhat a stable income that I could kind of pick and choose when I would work so like I always give that advice I’m like you know if you have a 9 to 5 job.

15:12.41

charukaarora

Yes, yes.

15:12.90

Natalie Featherston

That can be tough that is really tough. You know to try to having something with a little more flexibility if you can find a good fit for me that was that was ah that was a big deal. But.

15:22.70

charukaarora

Right? right? No honestly, you’ve you’re very, you’ve said this very rightly. So even when I was in the beginning beginning of my career so I did a lot of design and branding. That’s also one of my media skill sets and I used to work with the company which is um of my friends and which is very. Ah, is doing amazing now and I I always knew that I couldn’t do a 9 to 5 and um I really literally I knew that I could make a lot more money if I would take a job like that. But that also mean giving up the choice of what I don’t want to do with my own time. Was very important to me and in the long run today I think I was able to find my footing in both the places and actually work for both like for better because it on one end. It never put the pressure off making money from my art instantly taking a lot more risk. Um, investing in myself and honestly I think um, when you work in something different from what you’re doing There’s so much of a learning curve and so many skills that you learn that you actually can apply in your own practice I think that is that’s something I truly like I feel like I wouldn’t have. Been ah more practical in the sense of an artist holistically who has knowledge about a lot of things other than just my own work if I would at hand you know wouldn’t have put myself out there like getting that discomfort like knowing learning about business even if I didn’t had to and you know marketing and like.

16:57.83

charukaarora

Um, building a business or like you know all of those things that come very handy today.

17:01.30

Natalie Featherston

And oh my God That’s such an amazing skill Set. You have I mean like I know so many people that don’t have that and like to start with that as a foundation and then be able to build a creative practice around that like you are so like ahead of everybody else with that like I mean. I’ve had so many conversations people about branding and like no, that’s Incredible. You know to be able to build off that? yeah.

17:24.80

charukaarora

And okay, you tell me something um you’ve had quite a few years of like you know of doing this. It’s you’ve been doing this for quite some time. What do you think was your biggest fear of like if you look back today. What do you think was something that.

17:32.84

Natalie Featherston

I have yes.

17:41.99

charukaarora

Held you back the most and like won something that’s.

17:47.87

Natalie Featherston

So I guess I think I think something that I and this is something I still try to balance in my own work and i’t I don’t want to say held me back because what I’m fat because this will sound really bad in that we that context, um something I struggle with that’s good I like that. Um I think.

18:01.79

charukaarora

Ah, let’s say you struggle with or however, you want to reframe it. It’s your answer.

18:06.91

Natalie Featherston

Something that I struggle with is probably because I make my living selling art I mean 95% of my income comes from gallery sales right? like that’s that is my path other people. You know there’s a lot of ways you can make money as an artist but that’s that’s where I’m at which is I’m very lucky and very fortunate. Don’t get me wrong.

18:09.62

charukaarora

Um, yes, okay.

18:18.75

charukaarora

Yes.

18:25.78

Natalie Featherston

But I do have to find a balance between making work that is quote unquote Commercial you know is work that I feel very fulfilling. You know when I first started out I did a lot more still life which is very popular and I was doing a whole series of like floral paintings. Let’s say.

18:29.72

charukaarora

Yes.

18:44.93

Natalie Featherston

And people love them. The galleries love them. They’re like oh you should make a bunch of these and I’m like okay I’m like but I would also like to do this sort of strange thing over here and they’re like yeah that’s not going to sell as well. We we really just want the flower paintings so that I mean that’s an example, but but I think you know.

19:00.83

charukaarora

Yes, yes.

19:04.58

Natalie Featherston

Commercially, that’s something everybody struggles with you want to make work that’s fulfilling to you work that is communicating and speaking to your viewers that isn’t just decorative. You know so but you also want to make you know you want to pay your rent. You know there’s where’s it.

19:17.27

charukaarora

Yes, and also I think even if you’re making how okay I’m sure out of like all these years you may have had I’m sure you would I looked at your work of course um, different transitions like you know, like 1 there’s a phase like I think we all artists as artists have like these these different phases like sometimes like you are in this place of life where you’re really interested in 1 particular subject and then you move from one and another and those transitioning phases are I think one of the hardest because there that is 1 thing to tell the world. What you are doing but to not knowing yourself where you want to go how how do you deal with that time being of you know where you’ve been selling via galleries for so many years. How do you deal with those transitions.

20:07.70

Natalie Featherston

I have sort of um I had a really ah a big one a few years ago where I was doing a lot of trumploy crayon drawings and like the recession hit and all of a sudden nobody was selling anything so I got to actually really hit the reset button on that and really think about what I was gonna do differently? um.

20:23.83

charukaarora

And then what did you do.

20:25.36

Natalie Featherston

But I think you know I just made a whole new body of work I’m like I’m done like I’ll I’ll still make a few of those but like I’ve I’ve got to like change like I’ve got a change course here I mean with me I guess in in 1 way, it’s like I’m always making work that’s Trump lloy like.

20:33.36

charukaarora

Shift things up.

20:40.10

charukaarora

Yes.

20:42.13

Natalie Featherston

So it’s not like all of a sudden I’m making something that’s radically different I think I think my themes change like I I paint a lot in series like I have like comic things I like and then there’s like crayon things and there’s box paintings and there’s collages you know I have in back of the canvas paintings which I freaking love I would make I would just make those.

20:45.43

charukaarora

Yes, yes.

20:55.54

charukaarora

Um, yes, the back? Yes yes I think that would be a pretty great idea honestly.

21:01.24

Natalie Featherston

I Want to do ah I want to do a solo show So badly where it’s just paintings turn the wall be hilarious. Yeah, um, but I think no no one wants to do this show with me though. Um, but but they should right? It be weird. But I think.

21:14.80

charukaarora

You should do the show. You should do this show.

21:19.33

Natalie Featherston

Painting in series has been good for me that way. So it’s not like um you know and but I do see some really amazing like you know art realist artists that are doing 1 thing and then all of a sudden they’re like you know one eighty you know now they’re doing something totally different. So I I tend to kind of keep doing my little. Thing. It’s recognizable as my work ed trumploy but I do switch up themes a lot like and I think that that kind of that helps me stay kind of fresh too so that I’m not making the same thing over and over and over again like if I made nothing but box paintings I’d probably go a little crazy I think I’d get a little tear but that.

21:37.92

charukaarora

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

21:51.70

charukaarora

Yeah, yes, absolutely okay, tell me something Honestly, how long have you been making the trampoline paintings.

22:01.21

Natalie Featherston

Ah I I started I was probably working full time as an artist. The late 90 s so and I’ve I probably switched over to Trump pretty much tromoy full time somewhere in the early maybe around 9006 so like.

22:18.75

charukaarora

Goodness 20 years let’s say 20

22:19.26

Natalie Featherston

I would say maybe 10 years in because you know what for me like I loved still life and I would still paint still life. This is not me getting down on still life I think still life is awesome, but it doesn’t have the humor and the whimsy and that’s what I really love like for me like the the yeah that’s it for me like that’s why like.

22:29.20

charukaarora

Yes, yeah.

22:36.98

charukaarora

You know what you when you’re saying this when I actually saw your work I think actually it makes sense what you’re saying you do love a lot of still life and I was looking at your process like when you make these paintings you actually break the glass and then like you said in the interview that you do. You’re not making this.

22:37.98

Natalie Featherston

Be careful.

22:55.30

Natalie Featherston

No.

22:55.75

charukaarora

Up in your head like you’re literally staging the setup so that you can actually spin it off.

23:01.11

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, and and I don’t work from photographs like and I think this is this is and I’m not anti-photo like people that work from photographs. This is awesome. Good for you I Just happen to be a really bad photographer so you know I was trained to paint from life. So that’s just.

23:15.63

charukaarora

Life. Yes.

23:18.99

Natalie Featherston

That’s what I do you know I I enjoy having it in the studio and being able to observe it. You know firsthand instead of having like you know the the photograph is observed firsthand but there’s there’s almost a little barrier between you and this you know you’ve got a version of the subject. You’re not sort of in the moment with it. But that’s just me. That’s how I like it.

23:22.93

charukaarora

Yeah, yeah.

23:32.21

charukaarora

Yeah.

23:38.71

Natalie Featherston

So you know being able to set it up and work from life I Just I love like building collages building the little boxes. That’s my older art I love hearing them as hard.

23:42.20

charukaarora

Yes I saw that you know what as I speak to you as I speak to you and as I’ve seen your work and you know trying to put these pieces together. You know how I can imagine it right now I feel like your champoline paintings are like. Your spinoff own still life with an addition of your personality because I’ve seen like you are this very humorous like um, very energetic, fun person even though this interview may not be like I think I’m pretty opposite to that. Because I love serious conversations and questions like that. But in general you have this amazing amazing energy which is um, very energetic and still life is a little slow. It’s more serious. It’s like going into you know and like when you when I look at your work if you know if there’s no edges. When I look at it. It’s like a still life painting for me. Let’s say as a viewer. Um and I’m talking in a very literal sense because I think a lot of people like us who have within the arts understand Okay, this is a trampoline know this is like this. But when you’re viewing art as art people feel like oh my God This is so real and. The moment you shift on the edge like you see the twist or you try to touch it and you try to see that Oh This isn’t like and that is I think your twist to your love adding a bit of who you are.

25:08.56

Natalie Featherston

It is absolutely like but because you know what? like I mean the other thing too. It’s like a little kind of what we’ve been talking about like there are some amazing still life painters out there but like you know I painted up a piece over the summer that had a shark with a laser beam strapped to its head and I mean that’s hilarious like who’s going to make that. Ah, painting like somebody has to make that painting. It should be me you know like we don’t we don’t need like another beautiful painting of moms for me. We don’t need to do that like you know, not not when I can paint the shark with the laser beam. So yeah I think that’s part of it. Ah.

25:28.90

charukaarora

Ah, yes.

25:34.50

charukaarora

Yeah.

25:41.00

charukaarora

Okay, next question tell me something did you do you ever feel like you now let’s say you’re you’ve been painting for 30 years okay I and know this.

25:53.39

Natalie Featherston

Basically.

25:56.23

charukaarora

You you this very confident person that I see like you know, um you have a very positive analogy and you know what you’re doing right? So I’m going to ask you this question? Yeah a we criteria This is exactly what I want to talk about which is something.

26:07.83

Natalie Featherston

Um, in Syria.

26:14.84

charukaarora

Ah, lot of artists I think most of us struggle with I was recording in the morning with another beautiful artist. Um, and we we were speaking about how so she said you know so she said even though she has a beautiful career. She’s very successful, very popular. She said she didn’t have a proper job. And we hold that moment I was like you know this is this is an interesting topic. This is something I want to talk about like how we as artists like the impostor syndrome like the fear and the doubt is so high within us. You’ve been doing this for a very long time. Okay. Do you feel that fear even today.

26:52.51

Natalie Featherston

Oh I think everybody does everybody has imposter syndrome I mean like I I don’t think that that ever ever really goes away. Yeah I mean like.

27:02.11

charukaarora

How is that fear revolved for you. Let’s let’s look at it.

27:09.32

Natalie Featherston

Gosh Oh that. That’s that’s a hard one. Um, you know I I think for me when I start feeling that way when when I do feel that way is usually when I’m making work. That is not satisfying to me. It’s when I’m when my fear is that people are gonna think I’m a hack which may be a little nuanced over imposster that drop you know like I mean it’s It’s nomenclature words choice a hack. That’s probably my fear. Um, you know that that I’m making.

27:38.41

charukaarora

Ah, you’ve matured. Ah.

27:46.19

Natalie Featherston

Schlocky work. You know I’m making cheap work I’m making just work That’s commercial that I’m just churning it out for a buck like that is my fear. Um and usually when when that happens I just I kind of re readjust where what I’m going to work On. You know it’s like that that to me. Pushes me towards like you know the paintings that maybe are a little more difficult or are going to be a little stranger or a little more out there. You know for me that that’s my anecdote to that you know that that.

28:15.88

charukaarora

Okay, tell me something you’ve said something interesting and this is the second time like why we as artists are um, you know let so let me give you like an example from let’s say fashion. So Mars Fashion is let’s say. A lot more commercial fashion than let’s say designer segment or like luxury or rocoutio but you’d never see. Um, let’s say a mass fashion designer say that. Okay, they’re doing it for commercial or they’re making money out of it and but when we as artist a I think. When we are successful and we’re selling fast a lot of us have this idea of being a sellout or you know we being a commercial artist. This fear isn’t within all of us no matter what kind of work we’re doing and I think I’m I’m just interested in this talking about this because. Like looking at you you have like an incredible incredible like you’ve done some amazing things you’ve shown your work. You’ve have had these awards and like in spite of like if I were to read your bio and like your acolis. It’ll take me quite a few minutes. Isn’t it. Let’s be honest.

29:35.19

Natalie Featherston

Ah I’ve been doing it a long time as you said I am old it is really it’s just ah, a testimonyial to how old I am But yeah.

29:36.76

charukaarora

Um, yes, ah.

29:42.59

charukaarora

No I don’t I wouldn’t I wouldn’t comply by that I think you we all as artists I think we struggle with the idea. Um I think these notions and I think that’s why I started this podcast and I’m like you know, no I I truly believe. Truly when I I’m looking at your work and you know, Ah, you’re energy and I’m sure the work that you do I’m sure oh my God The amount of hours and the amount of work and the technical skill it takes to go that far is like we know how hard it is I think anyone who’s. Anywhere remotely associated with being a creative. We All understand how challenging it is and in spite of all of that when we’re doing Well We’re so afraid because being being an artist comes with this baggage that we have to think about like Am I. Do you like what are your thoughts on that.

30:35.63

Natalie Featherston

So I think it’s um I mean I I don’t feel badly about being able to pay my mortgage like that is not like I don’t feel bad like I mean I have not had to go get a job like mixing paint at like home Depot like mixing house paint. Yeah, which is my fallback.

30:45.28

charukaarora

Badly. Ah.

30:55.50

Natalie Featherston

And like you know if this doesn’t work out. That’s what I’m going to do I mean because I have no skills I can’t even fold sweaters at the gap like no I mean I I got to go mixed paint at the hardware store.

31:03.79

charukaarora

Ah I think you would be a very good comedian Honestly have you ever tried stand stand Ups you should I’m telling you another creative outlet.

31:08.50

Natalie Featherston

Ah, yeah, ah oh my God No oh my God No ah like oh I don’t know I don’t But yeah I don’t I don’t know you know it’s like I’ve been thinking a lot about lately external validation like.

31:25.48

charukaarora

Yes.

31:27.96

Natalie Featherston

Like I think that so many are like we want our work to be seen. We want We want to be seen. We want to communicate you know and but it’s also you know how are we validated does is that does that validate us should we be more self valididating you know, ah like should we just feel good about what we’ve made you know what I mean I.

31:31.23

charukaarora

Scene. Absolute.

31:44.36

charukaarora

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

31:47.56

Natalie Featherston

I Don’t have’t that is not that’s more of a just a topic for discussion than like something I have an answer to I don’t have an answer. There’s no answer for me. Yeah I’ve been thinking a lot about that because like I do think I I probably I get maybe I’m I’m relying too much on external validation.

31:50.72

charukaarora

Yeah, right? Absolutely we’re not looking for an answer.

32:05.61

Natalie Featherston

You You know what? I mean to kind of like yeah like that that’s something I kind of I need feel like I need more balance there. Yeah.

32:05.90

charukaarora

Um, yeah, yeah, we’re all low and and yeah and I think the oil I think um, being an artist is also um. It’s I think the validate it’s not even just the validation I think um while we I think how do I put it like we’ve made it or people around us have made it. So like you if you have to be an artist you have to be this like pious like this you know.

32:39.91

charukaarora

This this person someone on that. Okay, a good or a creative person isn’t like you do not have to be too commercial and honestly I feel this is one of the things that holds a lot of art specifically in the beginning of the career back I think it held me back for a very long time because I felt like so. People because I didn’t come from an art school and I was a designer I still remember so this is like a huge framer. Um, from where I am and very successful. You know frame some of the most outstanding works made in India and you know all of that and I was this new artist. Um. Coming out of fashion design making like these amazing details like I really love my work even when I looked that back I really did good work and I so I went to that framer and I told them ah you know I want to get this frame and. So at that point I was so obsessed with colors. My work was very very colorful. It’s not as colorful today. Um, and I was very obsessed with those colors and I told him that I wanted to have a green lamination with it like and he was like you know what? um. That seems like a lot more crafty and I’m sure you do do you do not want to um you know do like that. Um, you know a white wall a white padding like you know frame is what you know is ah a quality perception of art.

34:12.36

charukaarora

And instantly I felt discarded I felt and I was still um I was still very conscious of my own identity of not coming from an art school being like you know a designer and like still all of those things and I held myself back and I was so ashamed like you know that I’m this.

34:13.92

Natalie Featherston

Be.

34:30.22

charukaarora

Commercial artist like this crafty person who’s just trying to be like this artist and today I’m exactly where even further and I mean in the way of how I would want to frame my work in the way I would want to you know all of even further and. This is something I think how how we’re captured like we’re suppressing our own creativity. Do. Do you have? What is the worst advice you’ve heard so far like something like this that really like you have you ever had an experience like that.

35:03.30

Natalie Featherston

Um, ah like somebody mansplaining how to frame my work. Yeah sure. Absolutely I mean I mean oh here. Um, well you know I mean I.

35:04.28

charukaarora

Yes, no, you know, really is that is that so common.

35:16.10

Natalie Featherston

I definitely had that experience with a f frare New York City who like I went in and I had these very colorful little still life paintings that I I needed a frame for right away. He was the only guy that would make a frame right away like I could have an a week and he was really rude and I was like oh I want these sort of crazy frames over here and he’s like no.

35:25.44

charukaarora

Okay.

35:34.54

Natalie Featherston

You just want gold and like you don’t know what you’re doing and like and at this point I was like I got really intimidated and the thing was the paintings were on stretcher stretcher bars they were canvas stretch canvas. And then he took it and he put the thing together and he took a nail and he started hammering into the back of the thing and I was so freaked out and this guy had been so rude to me I I Just I was like stop just stop like I let go of that painting I’m leaving like I’m out the door but it just. Ah, yeah, I’ve had I’ve had weird things like that happen I mean but oh oh, my good the worst. Oh My God I don’t I’d have to think about that for a second I mean because I’ve had a lot of really bad Advice. Um.

36:05.29

charukaarora

What was the worst experience. You can you recall 1 Let’s look at it the most insane advice in yes, let’s hear it.

36:19.35

charukaarora

Oh my goodness.

36:23.55

Natalie Featherston

Oh geez. Oh I don’t you know I’m because there’s like career advice. There was teaching advice. There’s like well I I will share one I’m sure what? um but this was when I was studying in New York and I don’t know if this is exactly the story that you want.

36:29.10

charukaarora

Any kind of anything that you want to share I think why I’m asking. You’ve got it. Let’s go Okay, now that’s okay.

36:42.39

Natalie Featherston

Um, but it always kind of yeah I just I’m still kind of flabbergasted by this but I was um, studying at the art students league in New York City which is like a ah big art school and and it’s sort of anyone can go and study there. They had some very famous teachers and this was when I was first learning to draw on paint and like I knew nothing I mean you? Yeah i. I was like ground 0 I didn’t I did not come from an artistic background I had never drawn and painted anything. My parents were not like 0 so I’m in the school I’m taking a life drawing class and I I know I want to paint realistically like I do know that much I figured that out like I want it to look like the thing.

37:14.79

charukaarora

Okay.

37:20.82

Natalie Featherston

And I’m studied with this very famous anatomy teacher and so the class is life drawing. We’re drawing from a model and there are anatomy lessons but it’s very frustrating because it’s this huge class and there’s light everywhere. You know the model’s moving around like it’s very.

37:35.20

charukaarora

Yes.

37:36.64

Natalie Featherston

We didn’t have a 1 directional light source. We didn’t have like ah ah the model was not really it. It was a it was a hot mess and I remember going up to him after class and I was like this is kind of a hot mess like I am struggling the model’s all over the place. The lighting is all over the place I’m trying to learn that and he’s like dear you know.

37:47.84

charukaarora

Um, yeah, find a way.

37:55.70

Natalie Featherston

Go home take an egg put it on the table put your light on it that you want and shade it and then you’ll know how to you know draw the human form and I thought this guy’s an idiot like this is the guy teaching the anatomy class like I don’t think so I don’t think that’s how it works like if it was that simple like.

38:09.17

charukaarora

I pray.

38:15.64

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, so I remember that one that 1 kind of blew my mind. Um I’ve got I’m sure I’ve gotten tons of advice but like now that I’m on the spot I’m having a hard time thinking of really horrible ones. Yeah.

38:28.13

charukaarora

No problem whenever you do room do remember let us know send me a voice note but that’s also good thing I think that also shows like how um like how you let go of things.

38:42.30

Natalie Featherston

I Try oh I don’t let go much. Yeah I I kind of wear that stuff like a birthmark. Yeah, you know I don’t know a lot of replaying like what I should have done later I’m like oh I wish I’d said that oh I wish I did that? Yeah, a lot of that. Well yeah, but you know it’s like you I’m alone.

38:44.92

charukaarora

Oh really.

39:00.39

Natalie Featherston

All day long painting So I have a lot of time to like ruminate? Yeah um.

39:01.83

charukaarora

yes of thoughts yes yes I get that I get that. Okay, let’s talk a little bit about your work with you because a lot of people would want to hear that and I’ve we’ve taken quite a few. Ah ah, actually quite a few long time to reach here but okay. Tell me something I’m very interested in knowing a how long does it take for you to make these paintings. Um, what your process looks like I know that you set up these but like I saw that yes you also have like what is what is with the words you apart from those pomegranate paintings I saw there was like. You know the puzzle pieces together and you had those pearls and for that moment i’ ah I was like you know what? Oh wow I’m very excited when I see someone else using pearls and you know I’m Dr and then I realize oh my god it’s not the pearl. It’s actually a painting so and the collage ones. My absolute favorite. Um.

39:58.72

charukaarora

The mask 1 the spider. Ah what was that? Um, you spoke about in one of your interview and I saw that who call what was it? Ah, the one with the hand drawn um look feel like the crush paper withreyon look. And I was like yes.

40:18.47

Natalie Featherston

Oh I’ve done that I’ve done a lot of the crayon ones. Um is it a collage painting I’m trying to think which which a lot of them have masks.

40:26.23

charukaarora

No, it was spider it. It had like a quote written on. Yes yes spider from yes spider from Mars yes yes yes yes and yeah, go ahead.

40:32.52

Natalie Featherston

Um, oh the spider for Mars the David Bowden

40:37.21

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, no, no um I’m the question. The question was how do I set them up how to get started. How long do they take like the nuts and bolts of making one. Yeah I mean.

40:46.74

charukaarora

Ah yes, just take us through your pro just take us through your like making these outstanding paintings.

40:56.00

Natalie Featherston

Well, you’re very sweet. Thank you? Um I think you know it it kind of depends on the the pain like kind of which series it is um, some pieces like the crayon ones I actually do pretty quickly only because I’ve made so many of them. Um, you know with with something like that I’m.

41:11.59

charukaarora

And how but what is quick for you. Ah.

41:14.45

Natalie Featherston

Quick for me quick for me would be a week quick for me would be about a week most of my paintings take around 2 to three weeks to it kind of depends. Um, but you know also when I say week I should be clear I paint a lot I’m like 1 of those like very obsessive people that I have no problem painting for 10 hours a day.

41:15.89

charukaarora

Yeah.

41:32.42

charukaarora

Wow Do yeah yeah.

41:34.40

Natalie Featherston

And and if I have a tight deadline which unfortunately I usually do have a tight tight deadline which I do like like I set those up. They’re very motivating for me I thrive on pressure. It’s not for everybody I terribly get that. Um, but yeah, if I have to paint 12 hours I’ll do that you know I I was having target.

41:47.59

charukaarora

No, no problem.

41:51.67

Natalie Featherston

Right? Like I know when things have to be dried to be varnished to be framed to be shipped. You know I’ve I’ve got I’m playing a long game like a long way. So um, so when I say something takes a week we’re talking 70 hours we’re not talking like 40 hours um but yeah, no I love.

41:56.40

charukaarora

Yeah.

42:05.49

charukaarora

Um, yeah, yeah.

42:09.44

Natalie Featherston

Like to build everything and set it up whether that is like a crayon drawing I actually draw it all in Crayon I crumple it up I tape to the wall like everything is sitting in the studio. Um, so that is always my process I do tend to make very simple. Oh yeah.

42:14.65

charukaarora

Wow.

42:21.67

charukaarora

Then you also break the class.

42:27.00

Natalie Featherston

I have like this is I’m looking at it right now I have probably 20 different glass panes that I’ve broken and then sort of taped and then I carefully store them so like depending on the size of the frame that it’s sitting like I have all these different little broken glass models that I can just switch in and out of frames I know it’s so silly, but it’s. You know I just I kind of I like to have it set up. But um, yeah I have a lot of way too much junk in my studio but um, but you know I have everything set up I too. A very simple line drawing I I mean it’s accurate. But I don’t get crazy with like shady I don’t need it.

42:46.64

charukaarora

Yeah, oh Wow. Never drunk.

43:04.22

Natalie Featherston

Just need a really simple line drawing I use an oil transfer which I’m actually gonna put a reel on Instagram today about oil transfers because I’m doing that later I have a new painting ready to go. But yeah, that’s fun I mean I like oil transfer and if you watch the real you will find out why because they’re awesome, but um, there’s.

43:11.12

charukaarora

Um, yes I can’t wait to see.

43:17.19

charukaarora

I Will I will.

43:21.50

Natalie Featherston

There’s a lot of ways to transfer on to panel. But I do paint on panel. Um I figure out the drawing like yeah I there is not paint it on a Carton a lot of people think it’s cardboard I actually did somebody ask I glued the cardboard to the sides and I’m like no like no.

43:23.23

charukaarora

Yes, actually the world thing you keeping on cottons I know yes I also thought that me too when I first saw that.

43:40.27

Natalie Featherston

I didn’t.

43:43.10

charukaarora

I felt like you’d put I had like an idea because you know with Instagram now you know like there will be a twist that would come and I was like I think I was expecting that this would like it. They seem surre but I had this like intuitively like you know this wouldn’t be like this would be a painting but it came to me as. Surprise when the edges came out and I was like maybe the painting is in like inner cotton and then it was like it took me quite a few videos to figure out that actually that was a panel.

44:15.25

Natalie Featherston

Um, I’ve I’ve started to in ones an hour I hold them. Ah, do you know turn them. So like it’s it’s a thing. Um, yeah, no, but like I just make a simple drawing and transfer it and then paint like I don’t my process is really simple I don’t there’s not.

44:19.55

charukaarora

Yeah.

44:31.39

Natalie Featherston

Really much going on besides that um, what was I gonna say I do um 1 thing that I’ve noticed I think is kind of funny I tend to build these things not knowing what size they’re gonna be like I have a new collage that I’m starting today and like I just glue everything down I get very inspired I do not worry about How am I gonna paint this thing like ah I will figure that out later like I’m gonna just put everything that I want in there and I’m not gonna think about how big it is or how I’m gonna paint it I’m just gonna make the thing that I love and then deal with it. So you know last night I was working in my drawing for this new one I’m like holy crap this thing’s huge. It’s huge. It’s like.

44:51.96

charukaarora

Later.

45:01.13

charukaarora

Okay.

45:08.64

Natalie Featherston

22 by 18 which for me is like giant and I’m sure anybody listening this podcast is now laughing hysterically because that is not giant by anybody’s standards except mine. But you know but I’m like oh my god this is but this is gonna be big. This is gonna be really good so you know but I do size I make everything fit my composition.

45:09.18

charukaarora

Yeah.

45:22.30

charukaarora

Ah I.

45:25.84

Natalie Featherston

Like I don’t I don’t start and go well I need something that fits an 8 by 10 panel everything and then I cut all my own panels. It’s all custom made so like sometimes I end up with these really weird panels by framers like you know it’s 16 and three quarters by 22 and and 8 and I’m like yeah and you’re a custom framer so this shouldn’t be an issue. Should be able to make that frame. No problem. Um, so I do work backwards a little bit that way that like everything fits the composition. Not the other way. But.

45:48.93

charukaarora

Yeah, yeah, and often we think think like the flow is linear was is a lot of times. It’s so much of back and forth and twisting and shaping and like you know, um, questioning yourself. How do you.

46:04.32

Natalie Featherston

Oh my God Yeah, no like this this piece. Oh yeah I don’t know if you can see the can you see this in the background this board back here. It’s um.

46:07.97

charukaarora

Find new ideas. Sorry go ahead this piece I can see like a transfer I can see a transfer.

46:18.70

Natalie Featherston

There’s a board back behind there anyway. I have the big inspiration board in my studio and I’m like super old school where it’s like there are little scraps of paper or things I found on the ground and like so it’s like that’s that’s where I keep everything and I like to have it out like.

46:23.85

charukaarora

Um, oh Wow cut.

46:34.54

Natalie Featherston

I Know a lot of people keep computer files but like I need like the scrap of paper. So I mean I have stuff that’s been up there for years years and you know eventually I kind of get to it Sometimes it’s song lyrics or a piece of poetry or like a leaf.

46:37.79

charukaarora

Printing? yes.

46:49.15

Natalie Featherston

I mean like I have like these this little man I made out of branches three years ago to do like a forest scene and he’s just hanging out. He’s waiting. Um, so I tend to just catalog everything up there when I’m organizing like a solo show I have a big show coming up in the fall in Santa Fe New Mexico and so you know already I’m starting to make lists. Of what that show’s going to be and coming up with a title and coming up with like what I’m going to make so so I’m kind of ready to go once. That’s all kind of worked out. But yeah I love that like that if my house burned down I’d probably grab that that would be like 1 of the things I would be running up the front which is why I should probably have it digitized like that would be smarter.

47:27.62

charukaarora

Ah, you can take a photo of that just in case that happens.

47:28.00

Natalie Featherston

But yeah, no, a big size. No. Well I had a teacher tell me and I don’t think this is accurate exactly but a teacher early on who told and he was Old. He was probably my age now he’s like you know we should get older I’m like all that poor guy. It’s ancient look 50 Like as you get older, you’re gonna run out of ideas. So make sure you write them down which I don’t think I’ve run out of ideas but writing them down really good Idea. You know like you have this well spring.

47:47.14

charukaarora

Oh my god really and really make them happen I think something that I feel like I would so I would really like if something comes to my mind I would write it somewhere I do not have like 1 place. Always. Like it’s my notes app. It’s it’s my journal and then it’s my daily planner and stuff like that and and I love collecting like I love collecting books but I also love filling and then looking back at those pages and just just looking at what I was thinking at that point and so many times that has happened to me when I you know. When I look back at an old notebook and I see the back papers and I have these like checklists like I have to do this and I remember this just happening like a couple of months back I remember when I started out 2 hearts and I had these like you know I would host you know exhibits and you know make books and like you know we’ll have something like this and I had these like. Tickers and everything was pending by then and when I look I had checked off all of that and I feel like the moment I start writing no matter how that timeline is but it just it I do feel that it does make a lot of difference in the reality that you’re creating.

49:00.13

Natalie Featherston

Absolutely I mean I Just ah for me That’s yeah and because you know the other thing it’s like I used to think I was gonna remember like oh Ill remember no I don’t remember like I I mean I forget things by lunch time and it might have been a great ideas. So yeah, that to me that’s.

49:09.65

charukaarora

Yes, no.

49:19.46

charukaarora

Yes, yes, okay, okay, last before we go into the rapid fire. Okay, how do you find new ideas you’ve been painting for a very long time. Okay.

49:19.79

Natalie Featherston

Is invaluable. Not everything on there’s gonna be painting but like things change things move things thingsate. So yeah, it’s That’s a big thing for me.

49:34.16

Natalie Featherston

Oh.

49:38.42

charukaarora

You’ve been doing this again for a long time. So I’m ah asking you questions that are like you know 30 years your painting and you’re making these paintings for such a long time I’m sure at some point you like what do I do now do you come with that moment or how do you keep inspired.

49:45.41

Natalie Featherston

Yeah.

49:55.30

Natalie Featherston

Um I think just being open to ideas like just you know what? I mean like I like I mean this is ridiculous to say but like I’m really visual. You know it’s like just seeing things and being just kind of staying open to it.

50:10.21

Natalie Featherston

I don’t know because like I’ll see something that just kind of like like I was reading a poem like years ago called and and somewhere in it was the line the transparent heart and I was I mean this is just an example because that’s what I’m working on and I thought I have no idea what that means. But I Love that idea and so I wrote it down you know and it’s like. And now it’s a painting So It’s like I think just continually being open to things you know, just kind of letting letting ideas kind of come to you and like just being open you know because I think it’s easy to kind of like shut that down a little bit and just being like well I’m going to make this thing I’m I’m doing this thing you know because like so.

50:32.91

charukaarora

Yeah.

50:44.67

charukaarora

Um, yeah, yeah.

50:49.16

Natalie Featherston

Get the craziest ideas like if I’m out for a walk or like you know, just if you just I think kind of like let your mind be open. You just get all this kind of sensory input and I think that stuff that you connect with that’s just kind of like coming in. That’s that’s I try to stay in tune and I don’t want to sound too woo woo because I’m really a woo person but like.

51:05.33

charukaarora

No.

51:08.67

Natalie Featherston

But like being in tune with that stuff I think is really really helpful.

51:11.52

charukaarora

Love that I am so so excited that we were able to do this I had it’s like we’ve spoken for almost an hour like it’s 50 minutes and it’s just flown by and I say this for every podcast episode I’m like how quick.

51:17.24

Natalie Featherston

I Know thank you so much.

51:30.32

charukaarora

Time goes when you’re speaking to people and you’re really enjoying. So thank you so much I am I’m very grateful for your honesty.

51:32.80

Natalie Featherston

Oh thank you? Oh yeah, oh yeah, no I’m I’m yeah sometimes I don’t have a good answer. But yeah I yeah.

51:43.47

charukaarora

Oh you had great answers. Okay, but let’s have a little bit fun. Okay I have a quick rapid fire for you. Are you ready.

51:51.80

Natalie Featherston

Um, okay I I don’t know what a rapid fire is I guess I’ll I get. We’re going to find out but.

51:56.34

charukaarora

Yes, you have a rapid rise where you have to be quick and you’re already that okay you give me an answer and this question is actually I would staff and I want to hear from you Okay, give me this or that okay choose creativity or perfectionism.

52:00.68

Natalie Featherston

Okay, well.

52:13.85

charukaarora

Which is more important to you in your work. Ah that so you okay so you’re one first person. First honestly you the first person and I really wanted to ask you this because you can’t live without without both of these books. Your work is like.

52:14.66

Natalie Featherston

But perfectionism.

52:31.86

charukaarora

Perfect to the t.

52:32.39

Natalie Featherston

It has to look like the thing you you know what? I mean like like it could be very creative but if it’s sloppily painted I have missed the boat like for it to really work as a troloy. It could be a sort of lousy idea but boy better be painted? Well so I don’t like to have to pick.

52:34.86

charukaarora

Yeah, yes. Yes.

52:50.10

charukaarora

Ah, yes, but you’ve done a great job. No you You did your why it truly truly signifies your work like it’s literally perfect like even the crees of the cardboard on the side. It’s like it’s.

52:50.11

Natalie Featherston

That’s hard. That’s like Soe’s choice there and should pick but um, you said I had to and it was rapidly.

53:07.10

charukaarora

Even when you know it’s tricking your mind I feel like I still feel like it’s a cardboard. What do I do about it.

53:11.15

Natalie Featherston

I Love that like that makes me that makes me very happy like it really insanely happy. Yes.

53:17.80

charukaarora

Okay, next questions early morning or late night what is your creative zone.

53:24.40

Natalie Featherston

Early early morning I go to bed early I’m old. Yeah I’m in bed by like nine o’clock I’m done I’m just I’m done. Yeah I get up early now I didn’t used to though that has changed when I was younger I would stay up until four or five o’clock in the morning. So yeah, that’s that’s changed.

53:35.42

charukaarora

Ah, oh yeah, that’s changed music or silence your go to oh so what kind of music. Do you hear.

53:45.76

Natalie Featherston

Music music. Absolutely um I will listen to just about anything I used to listen to like news and I can’t do that anymore because it makes it makes my skin hurt. Um, so now only music and I discovered lofi.

54:02.25

charukaarora

Oh.

54:03.49

Natalie Featherston

Like a couple of years ago when love loaf like I had never heard of that I found it on Spotify I’m like what is this? It’s incredible. Um, yeah, so like anything like that any kind of electronica indie I love da punk I’ve listened to daafpunk pretty much nonstop since may I don’t know why I don’t know how that happened but um, yeah.

54:07.47

charukaarora

This.

54:22.99

Natalie Featherston

Just I like so and I will listen to the same thing over and over and over and over and over again. Yeah to to the point that I don’t even hear it. Ah.

54:24.32

charukaarora

Over and over again I like that yes I This is something that I Also do so I’m like I have very few songs or things and and I really love that moment and I know when the day this is happening I’ve had a fantastic day. Because anything that’s happening in the background I know it’s happening but I Also don’t know what’s happening like I have no clue what’s happening. Okay, next question what is ah the best piece of Advice. You’ve heard from another artist.

54:49.75

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, yeah.

55:04.20

Natalie Featherston

Um, it’s one I’ve heard from other people. But it’s also one that I give out all the time and that is to find art friends like finding your little tribe and your community and that with the one good thing that came out of the pandemic is Zoom like I have joined Zoom groups.

55:10.40

charukaarora

I Love that advice.

55:17.23

charukaarora

Yeah.

55:20.35

Natalie Featherston

Have met all these amazing artists like through Instagram like all these play all these places that I’ve made really good friends and sometimes they’re only through screens sometimes we actually get to meet up in life but like being an artist is hard and having people that understand what you do and what you struggle with.

55:31.97

charukaarora

Yes.

55:38.45

Natalie Featherston

My own friends and family do not get things on the same level that that people I know over the internet understand so finding those friends is so important I mean they can help you with your career. They can help you like you know the nuts and bolts of gallery business like everything This is so valuable like that.

55:39.24

charukaarora

yes yes I I relate to this a hundred percent

55:54.33

charukaarora

Um, yeah, yes, okay what is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your own creative career 1 lesson that you would like to share.

55:57.50

Natalie Featherston

Make some art friends.

56:08.36

Natalie Featherston

I think don’t be afraid to make stuff that you think no one’s gonna like and no one’s gonna buy like those those paintings to me have been the most rewarding that I’ve made and don’t ever be afraid to make those because there are sometimes I make stuff and I’m like. No one is going to like this I’m going to spend a month on it. No one’s going to buy it I’m going to have that like it’s I’m wasting my time here but you know what you have to make those pieces once in a while you really have to make those pieces and and stand by that.

56:33.28

charukaarora

Yes, you have to? yes Yes, lovely Okay has technology helped you or hindered your creative process.

56:47.10

Natalie Featherston

I would say it’s helped a lot. Um I mean like Instagram has been huge like I love instagram because like I don’t sell anything I don’t I’m not I don’t sell like what I like about Instagram is meeting people and like seeing art like for me, that’s that’s what I love so that’s been amazing.

56:59.39

charukaarora

Um, yeah, yeah, blowing everybody’s mind yes happened no.

57:04.96

Natalie Featherston

Right? Like I’m getting to talk with you today. How would how would that have happened without that would not have happened. You know so like how cool is that you know so I love seeing art I Love connecting with people talking with people. Um I am not a tech like obviously I could not download the browser to talk to you today. So I’m not a techie person like I did it I did it but you’re probably like.

57:20.83

charukaarora

Ah, but you did it. You did it.

57:24.61

Natalie Featherston

Person is a luddite. But anyway, um, like I this just this year I took this really amazing photoshop class and learned some photoshop skills that I’ve been able to use now that’s been and they’re they’re just kind of photoshop for artists. But it’s like that’s new I’m like okay technology here we go. But yeah.

57:31.80

charukaarora

Wow.

57:39.37

charukaarora

This is it.

57:43.13

Natalie Featherston

I mean I’m I’m down with it like if it helps me if it makes things easier if it facilitates getting a painting done faster. Well for it.

57:51.18

charukaarora

Yes, yes, love that last question. What do you think is the most important thing for anyone who is aspiring to be um, leader creative career specifically but it what is your advice for them to focus on today.

58:07.74

charukaarora

If they’re listening to this episode anyone who’s listening to this episode.

58:09.82

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, the most important thing for them to focus on to build a build a career or build a creative career as an artist.

58:14.16

charukaarora

Yes, creative career your piece of advice if you were let’s say if I am born to make a successful career. What should I focus on what is that 1 thing you would say don’t compromise do that.

58:30.78

Natalie Featherston

Well have art friends art friends. Definitely I’m I’m always always going to go back to have art friends. Um, and I think knowing that you’re probably Goingnna have to make some sacrifices and deciding on what you’re what you’re gonna be comfortable with.

58:32.51

charukaarora

And makeo break. Yes, yes.

58:46.74

charukaarora

Ah, yeah.

58:49.89

charukaarora

Yeah.

58:49.89

Natalie Featherston

That’s different things for different people I think being true to your vision within practicality. You know you? you may also have to make some concessions there. You know it’s like if you want to pay your rent. You may have to make those still life paintings. There’s a balance I think probably finding balance would be like.

59:09.24

charukaarora

Um, ah, that’s a great one? Yeah um.

59:09.44

Natalie Featherston

Had to have a big broad answer would be balanced because it can’t I’m a very practical girl and do like paying my rent so you know I think it’s both I think you can have both I think you just have to decide where your line’s going to be like this is acceptable. This is not here’s the path I’m going to walk. So I think.

59:23.83

charukaarora

This is not X yes.

59:28.43

Natalie Featherston

Being aware of that consciously thinking about it making a plan you know like making a plan for that I think that would be my okay.

59:35.80

charukaarora

I love that what a wonderful advice. Yes balance I love that I’ve I’ve been speaking about this for quite some like in the recent ah videos like balance. How like how like as a artists we’re impulsive people. And how balance is so much important for us. Also so it’s like two pos. Oh my god thank you so much Natalia I’m so so happy before I let you go? What are you working on next I know you have a lot of things happening.

59:59.24

Natalie Featherston

Um, it is it really is.

01:00:12.17

charukaarora

Ah, where can people find you support you anything that you want to share for people who are listening to you right now this is your moment.

01:00:17.77

Natalie Featherston

Yeah, no I’m on Instagram like come and say hi like I love chatting and like connecting with people on Instagram that is like I tend to post I try to post every day so like new things I’m working on are always up there. But I really love the connection with other artists so like leave me a comment I will always comment back. Always always. Always um yeah I’ve got 2 big shows coming up in October I have a solo show at Myer Gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico and a group show at gallery 1261 that I’m very excited about because that’s gonna be a bunch of big big name artists. Um I’m teaching a couple of workshops teaching.

01:00:50.62

charukaarora

Oh God I’m so so happy for you Hey, which ones.

01:00:56.42

Natalie Featherston

And um um I’m definitely doing a Scottsdale workshop in the fall and I may be teaching in Boston and Los Angeles this summer I’m still trying to nail it now that still but that obviously anything that I’m doing would be on Instagram or my website. So yeah.

01:00:59.15

charukaarora

Oh god. Amazing. Yes, so anyone who’s listening to this episode I will make sure that we take all the information from Natali. Yeah, and whenever your workshops are also live. Make sure you let us know that we can spread the word for you. But for now all the links.

01:01:24.50

Natalie Featherston

Awesome.

01:01:28.84

charukaarora

All the crazy paintings and her process and her images and the videos her Instagram and the website all of this with the q and a a small concise format of this episode for you to just go through and then the link to listen to this podcast everything on the website. We want to make this easier for you we and do not only want you to you know, listen or watch this episode but also like see the craziness that goes behind so I’m going to ask mentaly to share us like you know some crazy pitch or something that you know that will add a little more edge to our resource about you. And make sure you check that out and if you like this episode I think it has some incredible advises and I think specifically when it comes to you know we all keep ask keep I think there’s a certain kind of difference of perspective in someone who’s been doing something for the past thirty years and I think I really truly value that because um I think it’s just so relieving when someone who’s been doing this for 30 years and they say like you said like oh I there’s so many times I feel afraid and I’m like okay so but where I am I’m okay like I’ll be fine I’ll be fine if if. You can do this being afraid I can still manage. So I think this is an incredible resource this could help so many other young artists and people who have creative aspirations so make sure you like and let me if you like this episode me and Natali know that you did make sure you support nataie’s work leave a comment like she said.

01:03:00.46

charukaarora

And we’ll see you in the next episode. Thank you I will just stop to pause.

01:03:01.42

Natalie Featherston

Thank you so much.