We recently connected with Darrell Somers and have shared our conversation below.

Darrell, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In my life I have taken many risks, some I am amazed that I am still alive after taking them. I think the two risk that I am happy that I took was showing my art at several different venues. I didn’t start painting until around 10 years ago. The second risk is publishing my writings. Ever since I can remember there were times sentences would start playing in my head. when I was in my twenties and thirties the sentences would play over and over in my head and not knowing why or where they came from, I would ignore them for several days until it would stop. One day while driving to work two sentences started play on repeat in my head, so when I got to work, I decided to write the sentences down. I wrote the first sentence, then the second sentence, and then a third sentence came then a fourth, fifth, sixth next thing I know I had written around eighth sentences. Luckly, I put my name on it and the date then put it into a file on my computer. But after I was finished writing down the sentences the repeat in my head stopped. So, every time sentences started in my head, I would write them down then save in a file. I never showed them to anybody. Around 2019 I looked in the file and I had over 150 writings, I took the risk and printed several to take home to let my wife read them. With me barely passing English and not much of a reader this was a big step for me. She read them look at me and ask who wrote these? I said I did are they that bad? She said these are good who wrote them. After that day I worked up enough courage to let others read them. Then they started asking when I was going to publish them. Publish them!!! Another huge step for me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My art was by chance, I have a good friend who is an editorial cartoonist, and a great artist. Because of his art it inspired me to start painting. My writings I feel are put in my head by my Savior True. There are times I write something and later go back and read it and I am amazed of what I am reading.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I wished more people would support local artists, I have many people come to me and tell me they love my art, then they do not buy any of my paintings.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I just hope that people after reading my writings can relate to them and enjoy what they have read.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: somers_art

Image Credits

Darrell Somers