Darrell Black shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Darrell, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with physical fitness at home or in the gym, afterwards a large cup of coffee and something lite to eat, then I go over my things to do list and tackle what can be accomplished that day. Sometimes the unexpected happens which needs my immediate attention but if the day is uneventful I’m able to get all my tasks for that day completed.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Darrell Black, an American visual artist based in Germany and the United States I have been creating my brand of art style called “Definism” for over 30 years. My artworks are modern in imagery that reflect the times of our society, from the triumphs to its tribulations. My images tell a story that helps the viewer understand the message without any guesswork. My artwork can be viewed at: https://darrell-black.pixels.com
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My sister Lisa’s ex-husband Tyrone, he seen the potential in my very early drawings and works on paper that were only starting to develop into an art form. Tyrone, saw the enormous potential in me and my craft and felt early on that my artwork was very significant and could have a much larger and positive impact on the general public.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes! after joining the US Army National Guard and completing my active duty part of training, I returned home to Brentwood Long Island in New York, only to find out all of my hundreds of drawings and sketches were mistakenly thrown away, this was a devastating moment in my artistic journey which resulted in me giving up on creating artwork for many years..
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?
I would say what the general public sees is a more reserved aspect of my persona this version of me is a safer and guarded option when meeting people for the first time, definitely a part of my character but it’s not the whole picture. But once I feel comfortable in my surroundings I come across as very positive and outgoing with an all encumbering extroverted personality, hoping to encourage others to live up to their full potential. But in private, I can harbor my own self doubts and insecurities about the future of the artworld and my place within it. Lastly, I like to sit alone in my studio contemplating the future and direction of creativity, I’m not a loner but sometimes it really helps to be alone with your thoughts and hear yourself think.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think the biggest misunderstanding about my legacy as a visual artist probably would be why I never really focused on financial gain by selling more or all of my artworks. My response, I really love art and I’m very attached to my creations being very particular on who can own my artwork, never finding myself in any desperate financial situation that forces me to sell my creations to anyone for profit in order to maintain my lifestyle. This freedom, allows me to be very selective about who can own or display my artwork in a manner that is conducive to me and honors the hard work and personal sacrifice in bringing my creations to fruition.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://darrell-black.pixels.com/
- Instagram: Definism
- Linkedin: Darrell black
- Twitter: https://x.com/definismart?lang=en
Image Credits
All images provided by DEFINISM STUDIOS INC
