Meet Derek Zimmerman

We recently connected with Derek Zimmerman and have shared our conversation below.

Derek, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose? I think I’m still working on that one, but its been fun drawing pictures in the meantime

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a graphic artist/illustrator, I have 20+ years in the industry creating artwork for clothing, movies, cartoons, comic books, albums, music promotion and everything in between.

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?
Well, I’d say 1, don’t be discouraged, you are most defiantly going to mess up. Its a never ending inevitability, you’ll make crappy art, Hell, I still do. but you gotta keep on keepin’ on. Endeavor to persevere.
2, Be able to take constructive criticism. They say opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink, but every once in a while you’ll find a nugget of insight in there.

3, Never stop learning. Learn all you can about your craft, It is true that knowledge is power and art can be a very powerful tool to wield, done properly art can reinforce ideologies, mold the collective consciousness, it can sway public opinion, and it can even topple governments. Art transcends languages and has the ability to infiltrate our subconscious and is quite a useful instrument in both social control an liberation. So, never stop learning about it.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Tough to name just one, Hmm, Well, I suppose a more recent influential book I read was Man and his symbols by Carl G. Jung. I guess one of the more poignant aspects I took away from it was helping me to better understand and reinforcing the importance of properly conveying the specific proportions, symbolism’s and various archetypes that are buried deep within the collective unconscious through art in order to better present whatever message or emotion you are attempting to deliver to the viewer.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
AI-LEN_saturNELIA_UN: saturNELIA: Commissioned artwork for the UN AMP_30X30show_D_Wrex_Derek_Zimmerman_Total_Recall: Total Recall Alternative Movie Poster for AMP 30×30 gallery show 2020 AS_AM SW TOUR P: All Souls southwest tour poster BH MAIN: Logo design for the Belief Hole podcast BURNING AT BOTH ENDS ROUGH CONCEPT layout B: Burning at both ends rough key art concept layout BURNING_AT_BOTH_ENDS_Klaus_Sebastian Roché_0: Burning at both ends character illustration of Klaus played by actor Sebastian Roche G west COMIC: Comic page form a Gothic Western comic Out West Vinyl: Album artwork for composer Silas Hite’s Out West album

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