Enjoy the words of wisdom and story of this artist.
Meet Donnell Morgan
An artist with a message to share.
Hello, Donnell. Well, let me say that I have been trying to secure this interview for a couple of months, now. So, I am thrilled that we are finally able to hear your insights. And, it also seems appropriate that this blog is posted on Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to you and all the dads around the world! Many of our fathers are known and appreciated for sharing their wisdom with us. So, without any further delays, let us just dive into listening to your voice. As an artist with a message to share, in a few words can you share with us your wisdom as to how you arrived at where you are today?
Donnell: I started out as a kid after seeing my mother drawing with a pencil. I was very primitive and shy in the 60’s with my art. I used to love reading Marvel and DC comics books, So, I started drawing Incredible Hulk, Captain America, on my notebook. Those notebooks had texture and they got noticed in school. Art teachers took me under their wings. From there I continued to love the art from art magazines as well as the work of other artists such as Charles White (https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.3394.html), Elizabeth Catlett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Catlett), Romare Bearden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romare_Bearden), Stan Lee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lee), Jacob Lawrence (https://americanart.si.edu/artist/jacob-lawrence-2828), plus many more. I have never been biased on art.
TA: Fantastic. I love your willingness to diversify your body of artwork as well as the voices that create and deliver art to the world. Diversity is certainly a testament of an open and creative mind.
TA: So, as an artist who has studied and learned from many different types of artists and genres, what are 3 ways that you create and nurture a dedicated following on social media?
Donnell: I focus and get inspired by different artists that have positive attitudes all the time. Like you😀.
TA: Thank you.
Donnell: Keeping a sense of humor, sharing, and showing my artwork through networking and social media platforms, staying motivated to create, and then getting organized and making things click together to make it happen. Focusing, creating, and motivation are three top choices; however, there’s more to art than this if it’s a business.
TA: So, focus, creativity, and motivation are important ingredients to nurture a dedicated following on social media; however, these ingredients are only part of an overall picture for a professional artist. Wow. I am sure that we can probably spend a lot of time unpacking what it means to be a full-time professional artist. Certainly, we need to revisit this topic in the near future.
My next question for you is, what are 5 exciting things that you have noticed about the online art community?
Donnell: The 5 exciting things to me about the online art community are finding interesting artists who have similar ideas on or about art, trusting the process (its success or not, but its consistency), creativity, healthy relationships with art by creating a balance space. Sharing beliefs, experiences, optimism.
TA: I totally agree with you. Connecting with interesting artists, consistently trusting the artistic process (which has its ups and downs), creativity, establishing a healthy relationship with the art itself, and sharing our beliefs, experiences, and optimism with other artists are all exciting aspects of an online art community.
My final question for you is, how do readers follow your work and contact you? What is your social media handle(s)? Email address? Whatever you feel comfortable in sharing.
Donnell: I’m on the social media platforms, and I also have an art business through my studio. Here is my contact information:
Email: morgandonnell@iCloud.com
Instagram: @djmorgan_art
Name and Location of Studio:
Morgan Art Studio and Workshop
1210 Washington Street
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
TA: Thank you, Donnell for sharing your time and your words of wisdom with us. We wish you great success in all your endeavors as an artist with a message to share with the world.
And thank you all for taking time to read this blog.
In case you missed it…
In case you missed it, be sure to check out Jeffrey Martinez’s interview in the archives or click on this link: https://tamekaart.com/jeffrey-martinez/.
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