We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalie Moussa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalie below.
Natalie, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I came up with the name of my art business, ‘Ad Astra Art KC’, by using my home state as inspiration. The Kansas motto is “Ad Astra Per Aspera.” This translates to, “To the stars through difficulties.” This motto has been a key element when naming my art business. This translation holds significance to the journey taken in crafting my creations. With each painting, I have faced obstacles throughout the painting process. Whether it is mixing colors, ruining my paint brushes or my vision turning into a complete flop, the Kansas motto has helped me persevere. This not only holds true for obstacles faced during the creative process but also with obstacles one might face through their everyday lives. Thus, naming my business ‘Ad Astra Art KC’, seemed to make the most meaningful decision for me.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I started my first semester of college being a nursing major; however, by the end of the first semester, I found myself becoming a studio art minor as well. My style of art varies but the content of my art is continuous, healthcare and portraying my life in the medical field. Having two polar opposite interests allow me to bridge the gap between both professions. Thus, enlightening both parties of the beauty that the other one holds. I believe that this is what sets me apart from others. One of the things that I am most proud of is the fact that I was the first person to ever minor in a subject while majoring in nursing. They have never allowed it before due to the fact that the nursing school was located on a different campus in a different city. At the time, the school had the understanding that an individual would not be able to complete the necessary courses to obtain a minor prior to beginning nursing school; however, that was soon proven wrong by myself. I think that individuals should know that everything I do in my nursing career and art career is done with integrity and mindfulness. As someone who likes to challenge myself to prove others wrong, it became clear that I bounce back from obstacles in order to achieve a bigger goal.
My mission is to change the way individuals perceive art as a whole. I want to alter what is generally considered art and make it even more inclusive. I hope to show others that you can be an artist while having another career while finding the balance to partake in both.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One important element that has impacted my journey the most is my mindset. One of the major concepts that everyone, especially those trying something new, is that you will not be great at anything on the first attempt. Your first workout will be bad. Your first speech will be bad. Your first painting will be bad. Your first anything will be bad. You cannot make it to your 200th without your first of anything. People should not let the fear of failure keep them from trying.
Another thought process that has allowed me to further my career is the idea that you might have to become the role model you wish you had. One of my pieces captures the profile of a surgical nurse. I wanted to make the complexion of the nurse similar to mine. I am half Egyptian and wanted to create a role model for other middle eastern women to look up to. Egyptian women are rarely portrayed taking on powerful roles such as a scrub nurses. Thus, I wanted to create my vision of middle eastern women for who they really are: powerful, intelligent, independent, and unstoppable. Never back down from being true to yourself. This alone will ensure that no one can ever take qualities from you that hold significance in your life.
My last piece of advice for others is to never be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is seeing things through another person’s perspective or simply asking for tips on how to overcome a hurdle; use the help from others to make improvements.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I would love to collaborate with anyone who holds similar values to mine, other artists, or even companies who feel that I could provide something beneficial in whatever form that may take. Readers who are interested in collaborating with me can contact me via email: nataliemoussa2776@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Instagram: ad_astra_art_kc
- Other: Email: nataliemoussa2776@gmail.com
