We were lucky to catch up with Duskin Wayne recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Duskin, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I wish that I had previousky become as self-aware and motivated as I am now, however, I feel great about my current state as being a successful artist.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am [mostly] a self-taught fine artist from Minnesota. I create extraordinary visual art, most notably of bold paintings that include hyperbolic, nonsensical linework. I create a wide variety of representational subject matter and people oftentimes compare my artwork to Picasso. As of 2024, I have also begun a series of abstract, non-representational paintings which, if all goes well, will be exclusively available in an upscale interior design resources showroom in located within Minneapolis. My mission in life is to always be transforming and expressing myself in order to inspire others. Bringing joy to others and helping other artists achieve their own successes are my main core values. I am also an experienced business professional with 20 years of experience in corporate environments. I’ve brought many of those skills into my art business in order to achieve my success. I define success as doing the things I dreamed about as a child as well as continuously improving, enjoying the journey, and building resources to eventually add value to society by becoming well-established art mentor (aka Art Business Consultant). In 2020, while out of work, I disciplined myself to the technique of speed painting and only allowed myself up to 2.5 hours to complete each painting, no matter the size. As of today, I’ve completed nearly 1,100 paintings since then. I sell the majority of my artwork via Facebook and at the gallery I’m in at the Northrup King Building in NE Minneapolis. The thing I’m most proud of is the joy I intentionally spread throughout the community. It’s not uncommon, while I’m out and about, to gift a stranger artwork just to see a smile on their face. You never know where someone is at internally and emotionally, and I’d like to think I’ve helped someone get through a rough moment in their life by gifting them a joy they’ll remember everytime they see the art on their wall.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
The last few years, while living north of the twin cities in Art Region 7E, I was able to take advantage of the wonderful grant resources available through the region’s art council ECRAC. I wish every art in Minnesota knew, depending on where they live, they belong to an art region that offers so many free resources to promote their success. The relatively easy application and review process for a project that promotes self-growth for a [loosely defined] artist, can provide them so much exposure and supplies. I’m forever grateful for that assistance as I was able to explore and discover more techniques.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Growing up, I experienced a chapter of being bullied. I’ve spent the rest of my life trying tk piece back together the self-worth they took from me. The ability to express ourselves and create art is our super power. It’s the one thing nobody can take from us once we decide not to let them. I’m stubborn, and I refused to let them take me down. I’ve used that as my motivator to turn negatives into positives by creating endless amounts of visuals that bring lots people joy. Because experience joy is the biggest win we can attain. The more we experience it, the more qualitative our lives are.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dustinwayne101.com
- Instagram: @duskinwayne
- Facebook: @duskinwayne
- Linkedin: @duskinwayne