Thank you for this opportunity to share my Bob Marley expressionistic painting with your viewers.
I am a 27 year old artist living my dream. I am expressing my voice from within. As Bob Marley put it, “Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?” For most of my life I was questioning my path until I made the shift into becoming a professional artist. Back in high school, after taking all the art courses offered, I was told I could get into any art school I wanted. At that time though, my mind told me, you are good in math and science, get a degree in engineering, work for a few years to pay off your debts, and then pursue your art as you can always fall back on the degree at a later time.
So that is exactly what I did much to the dismay of my art teachers. With my will power to succeed, I plowed through a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of New Hampshire graduating valedictorian of my engineering class.
Throughout this experience, I knew it was only short term and that I was doing it so I could really follow my true passion: ART. Landing a job right out of college as a construction management superintendent, I oversaw the construction of multi-million dollar projects including hospitals and elementary schools. I learned the foundations of how things are actually built from the artists (the tradesmen) who performed the work. I know I incorporate this understanding into my art. I saw my superintendent position as a temporary means to an end. It was not a matter of whether or not I could do it as much as the job did not give me the satisfaction I wanted. I felt compelled to go after my dreams. After 4 ½ years with the same company, I was laid off this past November.
While most in my shoes would have been upset or frustrated, I was grateful. I went back to Bob Marley for more inspiration, “When one door is closed, don’t you know that many more are open.” I saw this as my ticket – my dreams of becoming an artist lay before me. And I went after them with full force and excitement. And boy has my art taken off since then. I’ve already been commissioned by celebrity musician Brian Evans and will soon be performing on stage with him, as an artistic duo. Visions just come to me. My art is an explosion of life.
I want to do a project that will speak to many audiences. I want to reach millions with my art. I want to inspire others to follow their dreams – to dream big and not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. My art is full of energy. A higher energy is channeled through me when I paint. The idea of creating 50 famous faces in art form came to me one day, and I was lucky that I was listening. I wrote it down because I learned a while back that 9 times out of 10 a good idea comes to you but that when you fail to write it down, you end up forgetting about it. By writing it down, I activated an enormous energy shift to make that goal come true. Life has a funny way of working out when you follow your intuition and live with passion.
It felt right to start my 50 famous faces series with a Bob Marley painting. I have grown into who I am through his music. “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” ? Bob Marley.
When I paint, I paint – pure creativity with no barriers. I imagine the possibilities and dream big. Life is here in the now and I have come to relax in it. I enjoy life. I savor every moment. I do what I love. I painted Bob Marley while being taken away by his words. His music in the background kept me in the flow. The rhythm, the beat and the lyrics all come naturally and in a down to earth manner. This is exactly how I express myself. I do what I feel compelled to do. Painting is my voice – it is the way I sing to the world. This is when magic happens. It was an amazing sensation! With confidence the painting came to life. And when I completed it, I knew I was done. It was not a matter of every space having to be filled
or every color to be flat and square. No, it was my way to portray his personality.
His life is personified. It is magical. He is magical almost mystical. The colors and shapes of the brushstrokes create joy and happiness. This is the absoluteness of his image, his life. From civil engineering valedictorian to artist, there are no accidents in life. AND I am so grateful for this
opportunity!
Thank you for spreading the word
Derek Russell
Artist
www.InspireVibrance.com
PS. The original painting is up for sale through my website. In addition, prints, canvases and greeting cards can be purchased at an extremely low cost for such an amazing image at
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/bob-marley-derek-russell.html.
One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain - Derek Artist,All rights reserved BobMarleyMagazine.Com
