We were lucky to catch up with D Marcell recently and have shared our conversation below.

D, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve taught myself mostly, which is a gift and curse I feel sometimes. It can feed your ego as you become better for sure, which can make you feel you don’t need to be taught. Which for me, was a huge obstacle for me early on. It probably prevented a few opportunities to collab with other musicians and artists when I was younger. I mean, maybe those things could’ve speed up the process, but I’m learning that you also can’t rush the process without a cost. I don’t think I would be who I am as artist without trusting my process. And what I mean is, you can always look back and wonder about missed opportunities but maybe those opportunities were meant to be missed at the time.

I don’t believe in the fake it until you make it method. I just think you will be exposed at some point, it’s just a matter of time. I’m not going to risk choking biting off more than I can chew, you know? But at the same time you can alway learn from an opportunity.

So I’d say the greatest skills I’ve learned are to trust yourself, and your process. You can put whatever you want in your soil, you’re not make a rose bloom any sooner than its supposed to.

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

I’m a self-taught musician turned artist. I fell out of love with making music mainly because of the business, and the creative restrictions you have to abide by. I found much more freedom in painting, but I can’t not make music. I’ll figure out a cool way to merge the two when the time is right. An empty canvas and an empty logic or Pro Tools session are like formless shapes of clay I can’t help but play with.

Ultimately, I think if you’re a fan of my art journey you know to expect the unexpected. I may drop an album or have an art show, or release a children’s book, who knows. I just love to create… by all means

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Creativity takes energy and time, and every artist has a process. Listen, I have two kids – one three, the other four months. Energy can be scarce in house with a two kids… well adult energy. So finding time to create can become quite the challenge. Non-creatives can sometimes put a pressure on you to create, not knowing who you are as an artist, and what going on in your life.

You can’t go up to every artist asking for portraits because not all artists paint portraits. Then, on top of that expect it in 48 hours. I’ve said had to say “no” a lot, which is hard as an artist because you could be missing out on an opportunity and a bag. But at the same time, you gotta know who you are as an artist, and the non-creative has to know what they’re asking from the artist. Imagine asking Basquiat for a portrait of your granny. You think you that portrait gonna look like granny?

The people in my art are figments of my imagination. I paint figures, but no one in particular. I thumb thru the internet looking for pictures that inspire me and go from there. I’m drawn to the emotion or feel of the picture or pose. If I can’t connect to it, I can’t paint it.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Yeah, my choice to put music on ice. It sucked because I felt like know one knew what to do with me, and I just wanted to make dope, weird music. But when you’re creating for the masses you almost have to become what’s popular because that’s what the business is looking for. Especially 10-12 years ago when the internet wasn’t as much of an asset for musicians. You’re kind of all funneled through the same narrow ass tunnel. It made me feel like I lost my voice or couldn’t use it in the way I wanted to, which led to kind of a depression. Well not a depression… It led me to soul search a little, or pivot.

One thing I’ve learned over time is that if you have the will, you can find a way. It may just not be the pathway you expected. So you got to push on, by all means.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dmarcellart.com
• Instagram: @dmarcellart