Today we’d like to introduce you to Blair Duran.
Hi Blair, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been artistic at heart. Proactive and inventive like my father, and enduringly focused on my work like my mother. When I was still dreaming up who I might become, I felt very torn between a visually artistic and musical future. The imposed notion that I would have to choose one path always loomed. So, for the longest time, I stuck with a hyper fixation to the classical guitar.
That path has brought about many wonderful opportunities. Now I am proud to say I’m on my ninth year teaching and performing classical guitar, and third year running my own private music studio under the name Studio Duran. Given the time this career has granted me to pursue everything I love, I was able to physically establish Studio Duran within the hidden gem of Goldmark Cultural Center in August of 2024. With my own space to teach and create music, in addition to more visually artistic pursuits, I am happy to say I don’t have to choose one path. It has been such a blessing to serve the community everything I have to offer as an artist, performer, and educator. In the name of building enriching friendships and a strong community, I am endlessly grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Phases of my journey have been quite a learning experience, and anyone who knows it well would agree I’ve taken some rocky roads. Whether they were struggles of my own creation, or typical rites of the human experience, I still try to find gratitude in lessons learned and where those outcomes have taken me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Studio Duran is a music and art studio where I am able to create, paint, perform and teach to my hearts content. Specializing in the learning experience, I find the best teachers remain avid students themselves. My strengths begin with classical guitar and painting the sky. I am in love with setting a tone within a space and providing ample room for others to explore their own abilities. As an educator, I pride myself on providing an education rich in the traditions bestowed upon me by my greatest life mentors. As an artist, my work aims to celebrate the geometry of nature and the nature of geometry. Within each new commissioned work or self pursued project I take on, I am delighted again and again to discover that I do have my own voice in art, and more often than not, I take great joy in discovering what my brain and hands have to offer.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Talk to everyone you can in the places you would like to see yourself working. I know I need to follow this advice more often, but when a free hour arises, and I actively choose to go out and do something a little outside my comfort zone, I’ve met a new client, friend, or mentor. It has done wonders to take myself out to the places where people who are inspiring like to exist.
Pricing:
- Studio Duran offers a variety of services including, -private one-on-one music lessons -public and private guitar performances -multimedia artist workshops -originally made artworks and wares -client commissioned designs, artworks, and wares by appointment only, standard rates discussed upon inquiry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blairstevieduran.com
- Instagram: @blairstevieduran
Image Credits
Tiffany Ann Storey
