We’re looking forward to introducing you to Norola Morgan. Check out our conversation below.
Norola, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m definitely walking a path. it’s not a straight line, though. It has curves and hills and dips. It can be hard to make out at times, and I have to clear away debris, or figure out a way around obstacles. Sometimes, I go off path to check out interesting side quests. And I occasionally make massive leaps and end up places I didn’t expect.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Well, Howdy! I am Norola Morgan, multi-passionate, multi-disciplinary maker! That’s a fancy way to say that I’m an artist who enjoys working with a variety of media and art forms. I wear a lot of hats, literally and figuratively. Here’s a list (I love a good list):
Visual artist – My specialty is mixed-media art dolls. I work primarily with fabric and found objects, with paper and paint making an occasional appearance. Not your typical plastic mass-produced plaything, my art dolls are expressive beings with vibrant personalities that tell unique stories. They appeal to folk who are in touch with their inner eccentric. I became a member of the Texas Association of Original Doll Artists this year in my quest to connect with other doll artists and level up my doll making skills.
Teaching artist – I teach independently and through various organizations. When I teach, it’s my intention to create a safe container for learning and creative exploration. By removing the intimidation factor and teaching foundational skills, I empower students to begin or continue their creative journeys.
Performance artist – I’ve performed at the Orange Show and Rec Room Arts. My performances use ritual, movement, and humor to explore and promote healing, empowerment, and transformation. Keep an eye out, I might pop up at a venue near you!
Crafter – I make small, cute, weird things, whatever my busy mind and nimble fingers can crank out
Entrepreneur – I make and sell my handmade merch under the umbrella of MoonYoonits Studios. You can catch me vending my witty, whimsical and weird arts and crafts at various markets in the Houston area. And, if you don’t catch me vending, my work is always available at the awesome Whimsy Artisan Boutique in the Heights, and at charming 2nd Ward coffee shop and eatery Earth to Mars.
In addition to these things, I also have a few part-time jobs/gigs that are also art/creativity based.
It’s a lot of balls to keep in the air, and, as an artist with ADHD, I appreciate how the variety helps keep me motivated, inspired and productive.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The fairly early realization that adults where not always right, didn’t always know what they were doing, and did not have all the answers. That a lot of adults are just winging it, and that rules can be arbitrary. It was a moment that was disappointing, terrifying, and freeing. It let me know that there were more possibilities for living that the adults were letting on.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would say: You CAN make a life and living that centers art, family, and community, and that being a weirdo and feeling awkward and outcast are the very things that will shape you into the resilient, resourceful, compassionate, creative and perceptive soul you will become. You’ll still feel awkward sometimes, but its ok.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. Sometimes a more heightened or polished version but still me. The version will also depend on my mood, energy levels, what’s going on in my life. I’m an organic being.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I I am definitely doing what I was born to do.
I am 50 years old and had spent so many years attempting to follow the work script: go to school, get a degree, get a good job, retire, enjoy a little life, die. I was 45 years old when covid struck, and I realized that if I lived to be 100, that approximately half my life had passed. Living through a pandemic (and losing loved ones to it) cemented for me how precarious life could be, and that I needed to start living more intentionally. I asked myself: What could my life look like if I poured my energy into building the life I dreamed of?
So, On November 1, 2022, I stepped away from my full-time job of 17+ years to focus on family and art. I decided to take a chance on me.
Coming up on three years, I’m proud to say I’m doin’ the thing! My work life is a whirlwind of artmaking, teaching, performing, giving tours, and vending. It’s very gratifying to look at my calendar and see that it’s filled with things I’m excited about. And I get to meet and work with a diverse array of wonderful people. No lie, though, it can be challenging. Income fluctuates, and there’s lots of juggling. Sometimes, I miss the steady paycheck that comes with a full-time job. However, opportunity abounds, and resourcefulness and resilience are constant allies.
I’m grateful for the support of friends and family, and that community resources are (currently) plentiful. It’s a blessing that I can live a life where art plays such a central role. I feel that I am discovering and creating my purpose moment by moment, crafting a life that is stable yet versatile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/moonyoonitsstudios
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio.moonyoonits/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norola-morgan/
Image Credits
Norola Morgan
