Today we’d like to introduce you to Edmund Ervin.
Hi Edmund, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began creating paintings, sculptures, and music in my hometown of Dallas, TX a little over ten years ago while working and going to school and had some success playing in bands and exhibiting and selling my work in several art shows and galleries. In 2015, I moved to New Orleans, where I worked as a sculptor making large props for the Mardi Gras float and prop fabricator Kern Studios. After a year of sculpting with the studio, I decided to return to school for my B.A. in film, and I began creating and selling original art in New Orleans. Once the pandemic upended everything, I relocated to Atlanta to transfer to Georgia State University and eventually look for work in the film and animation industry. Now that I’ve graduated, I’ve just completed my first animated short and have been gaining writing and production experience working on independent film projects.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a first-generation college graduate has been tough. I’ve had to remain persistent over several years without an example from a mentor as to how to navigate the experience. As life happened, I would have to adjust my studies and take breaks in order to make ends meet, so it hasn’t been a traditional journey. Keeping faith that the path I was following was the right one is what helped me achieve my goal of receiving my B.A. in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University in 2022. Now, I’m focused on my next goal of working in animation and film production.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m most proud that I’m not limited to a single medium. Whether it’s creating music, painting, sculpting, animating, or producing a film, I see different mediums as different voices within the same creative language. Over the years, I have exhibited works across various mediums to hone my voice. I choose a career in film because it is the culmination of several creative mediums, and it provides multiple modes to express oneself. For example, my latest project is an animated short titled “From Cairo with Love” that I produced, wrote, animated, and voiced. I enjoy working on projects that allow me to be creative across multiple mediums.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I would say most art involves a great degree of risk taking, though I think of it as calculated risk-taking. Creative media is highly subjective and it’s not guaranteed that a work will be received or interpreted as the artist intends, which can make it difficult for an artist to release their art into the world. Relinquishing control allows the viewer to arrive at their own interpretation of the work. Although it can be vulnerable to take a risk in releasing a creative piece that is a reflection of ourselves, stepping out of our comfort zone as artists can yield greater results than can be fathomed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/edmundlawrence.84?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edmund.lawrence84
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@edmundervin6288
