We were lucky to catch up with Derek Donnelly recently and have shared our conversation below.
Derek, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I think I found my purpose at a very young age, but may have denied it for many years. I always excelled at creative things growing up and ended up attending a magnet program for arts and high school. The starving artist stigma was still a very real thing in 2001 when I graduated, so there really didn’t seem to be too many options to make a living. Either become a teacher or get lucky enough to be part of the small percentage that would “make it” as a traditional fine artist. As much as I love teaching, neither one of these options seemed obtainable to me. After working, crummy jobs, and pretty much accepting lifelong poverty, I decided to try and make my own lane in my sunny hometown Paradise of St. Pete Fl. I opened a small, art shop/studio in downtown St. Petersburg, and quickly realized That I was not the only one with some of these issues. It immediately became an obsessive goal for me to elevate other Creatives and try to change that starving artist stigma on a local level. The one hand washes other approach that I had with other artists, businesses, nonprofits, local government entities, made me realize that it might just be my duty and “purpose”, to help change the dynamic of how we are viewed and supported as creative professionals.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I opened my small gallery in downtown Saint Pete in early 2012, after about a year and a half of just painting live on the sidewalk in front of restaurants and bars. I started doing large scale, public murals in November 2012, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with some really amazing residents, local government entities, nonprofits, other Creatives, etc.
I think the most exciting thing about doing a Murals and custom art full-time is the residual love that I receive from the community as a whole. That, mixed with the camaraderie of other creative professionals has made my wildest dreams of being a full-time artist come true.
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?
Working hard, the willingness to learn, and not being afraid to be myself are three things that have been very impactful for me and my growth as an artist. I would recommend that anybody who is early in their journey not worry about what other folks are doing, and focus on them selves and their craft. As they say, comparison is the thief of joy, so develop your craft, develop it more, learn what to do, and what not to do from those around you, and be unapologetically yourself with, and without your art. Don’t follow the roadways others have paved, try to make your own and try to honestly influence others to drive on that road with you..
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I am very lucky and blessed to have amazing parents that always supported me. From providing encouragement at a young age, to still believing in me in my darkest adult days, they never stop believing and reminding me that I could be great if I tried. I owe everything to them!
Contact Info:
- Website: Saintpaintarts.com
- Instagram: @saintpaintarts
- Facebook: @saintpaintarts
- Linkedin: @saintpaintarts
- Twitter: @saintpaintarts
Image Credits
ME!
