We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dex Morton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dex, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Well, I get my work ethic from a few people. My mom, mainly and she gets it from her dad (grandfather) and mostly my close family members. We come from the country so we were never afraid to get our hands dirty. Learning that and watching some of them have their own business, they set up the blueprint for me to follow along.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Dexter Morton, or Dex and I create art! Been working on my craft since I was younger and started to take it serious when I was in my mid 20’s. Born in Alabama, raised in Tennessee. My creative background comes from my mom and a few other relatives that I heard about that also had some art skills as well. But my drive or my “WHY” comes from my family. They are the fuel to keep me motivated or even people I can count on to help push me.
With my art I create different art from my childhood and put my own spin on it. I usually make my art with a abstract style with messy lines and details. Depending on how I feel, I can also work my art in an cartoon-style as well. My inspiration can come from many things like, watching cartoons, maybe hanging out with some friends, park, art museum or just a conversation I could be having. Showing off my visions, I also show off the love for the 90’s, games, people that motivate me, portraits of people or even just drawing some flowers to get warmed up.
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?
Some areas of knowledge that was most impactful for me was never stop learning. No matter how old you get. Knowledge holds alot of weight. Another one I would say is for me and my journey, never stop being a kid inside. Some of my most creative work comes from child-like inspirations. Reading books like Steal Like An Artist to Chop Wood and Carry Water or Atomic Habits has played a major role in what I do today. Sometimes a comic book every now and then don’t hurt either. Practice is key as well to build up that skill. So always keep up the work even if others don’t like it, long as YOU like it and color outside the lines! Nothing is perfect other wise we wouldn’t have to practice and enjoy the journey of failing ahead!
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
With this question, I think it is best to put your all into one core strength. Master that skill then move to the next one when its time to grow. I heard a saying that it is best to put your all into something that your good at and be one of the greatest to do it. Otherwise your putting in half effort into something that your going to be just subpar in. I feel like your cutting your lessons short when you skip steps. Not saying we can’t be good at a lot of things but we should focus on that specific skill then move forward afterwards.
Contact Info:
- Website: DexArtLab.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dex.art.lab
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dexter.morton.7
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dex_Art_Lab
- Other: https://linktr.ee/dexartlab
