DEWARD LYNN LAWRENCE shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
DEWARD LYNN, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Obviously, building a reputation and crafting my talents and accomplishing things for myself (that I never thought possible) are but a few things I’m proud of building. It’s important for people to know, I’m not vain, proud and loud with ego like many artists, actors and public figures seem to be. I’m humble, reserved, a private person by nature. An indeed introverted.
However, I embrace the fact that I came up from poverty, had a lack of self-confidence in becoming an adult and a visible absence of purpose for most of my life. Yet, looking back now and given time and dedication, I overcame my learning disorders and proved to myself that I was worthy and had value. Some people may say life it is attitude. I say life in a self-discovering while laying the bricks for the foundation.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m male soon to be sixty-five. I have been writing and producing and acting since 2013 when I returned to the artistic world after a ten-year absence. At one point in my career, I had a line of drawings that I would remanufacture by color pencils, painting, pastels, oils and clay. I had a string of characters of which I told stories with and would have art shows selling my work. No one knows me really nor my story unless you were part of the Deep Ellum Art scene back in the late 80’s and early 1990’s. Now, after 23 years as a public educator, I’m simi retired and look forward in reviving my artwork and continuing to act and produce.
As of lately, I have been working with several upcoming production companies. One is Vid Chronical, a YouTube based production. I have appeared at least in ten episodes. I’ll be seen soon in
at the feature film. The Broken vessel by Enl Urban Wear (Ceo money train). And soon to be seen in, I remember the day I met you by Marcellas Clay. You can find more about me on google. Just type in my full name.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7708411/
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
As I have mentioned before, I was stumbling around life trying to prove myself. Not really having a direction. However, that all changed when I met Terrell Moore in Dallas, Texas. Terrell Moore is one of those chiasmatic kind of people that attracts people to his charm and fascination with his artwork. We became friends and he encouraged me to broaden my mind to seek out possibilities beyond imagination. Today, Terrell is a very successful artist living and working in Ventura California. He taught me the value of presentation and composing an inventory of work. Certainly, his inspiration and friendship assisted me in discovering a creative part of myself that put me on the road I follow today.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
When I think back to about all the opportunities I blew or the fights I lost. When I see other people happy and successful. I also reflect upon all the many times I had nothing; I was sick and felt totally abandoned. Rather than thank God for his blessings, I was cursing him for all my troubles and pain. Yet, faith directs me and I’m forever a student for God’s lessons. My suffering and many feelings of lacking success has placed me in a unique position not of my choosing. Rather, God has shown me the rich and famous. I have met rockstars, movie stars and future presidents. I’m humble and bow myself down to a power far greater than me or any human alive. I’m right where I’m supposed to be, and I’m thankful for that and many other blessings.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’m not too sure what the public version of me is like. I don’t try to stand out and it’s not like I live my life on stage performing at an open mike. If you are asking the public. Their perspective comes from what they see online or read. How could the public know the real me unless they see me and interact with me. Now, if you ever saw me earlier in life when I was active in living history, I’d say that would have been a real version of me in the eyes of the public.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
From the earth we are born. To the earth we shall return. We are all standing in line. When my crystal has turned color. My hair fallen out or turned white. When the canvas is not finished nor the last thought in the dairy completed. When the sun light filters into the room yet here I still lie. Take my body and burn it upon a Pryal fire. Then take my ashes and strewn them into ocean, mountains, fields and forests. I’ll need no tome stone nor a marker to bare witness to life’s end. A grave stone would only be a reminder for the few whom knew me. Perhaps my string of art, song and films left behind will be rediscovered in 100 years. I hope I leave behind truth, insperation and the reoccurring spirit of self-discovery.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7708411/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deward-lawrence-b7911085
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deward.lynn.lawrence
- Youtube: https://www.youtube@dewardlawrence5185
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYVmeRd-Ly94DeJsl3VjO0Q
More of my films can be seen at
https://darkeyefilms.com/cgi-bin/home.cgi
