Life & Work with Jamaal Durr

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

Hi Jamaal, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a full-time Visual Artist, specializing in drawing and painting. It has been my profession for a little over four years now. It is a journey that began in 2016, after reaching one of the lowest points of my life. I spent a few years being focused on honing my craft and building a following while working a full time job and raising my two daughters.Today I am able to focus on making new original pieces, facilitating a couple of art-based teaching programs, and displaying my work in larger markets around the U.S. and beyond.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been far from a smooth road. In fact, I would say pursuing full=time artistry is the most challenging thing I have ever done.

The primary struggle has been generating a consistent flow of income to support myself and my family. It is often hard to predict when payments will come through, which can make budgeting/financial planning a nightmare. I sacrificed my financial stability to go all in on my passion, and it took almost four years to get it back.

Another major struggle is simply being seen in a world where there is so much art to consume. Finding a way to make your work stand out amongst so many other talented people can be intimidating, especially when you factor in the marketing/promotional skills that some artists have and many others lack. Ultimately, you figure out what you strengths are and play to them.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Oil paintings, and drawings rendered in charcoal and graphite. Within the past couple of years I’ve been working on wood panels, which is still in the early stages of becoming a trademark for me. I also do digital art/graphi design, murals, and create merch to sell.

I am most proud of my painting skills, as I am still relatively new to the medium having picked it up in 2020. Painting is the most therapeutic process for me, and is where I often create my most emotionally compelling work.

I believe that what sets me apart from others is my insatiable desire to improve. I strive for every new piece of art to be bette than the last, and often set lofty goals for me to chase after.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The Covid-19 Crisis is actually what led me to quit my day job and go all in with my craft. It gave me just enough time to be still and really think about what I wanted in life. It’s one of the most sound decisions I’ve ever made in my life, and I am unsure of if/when I get to this point without having a moment to slow things down.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jqvisuals.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jamaaldurr_
• Twitter: x.com/jamaaldurr