Meet Dre Hill | Artist, Writer, Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dre Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dre, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
For me, it’s always been about the art. Making art. Creating. I don’t know if I could ever give that up. Along the way, as I’ve written, painted, photographed, or whatever the medium, I’ve also realized that the ways art connects us is equally important. So, while I create for me, I’m also creating for the hundreds, thousands, or even millions of other people out there who think, feel, and experience like I do. Sometimes we feel voiceless, and I realize that my work brings voice and representation to those people. I think the minute that changes, the minute art is no longer enjoyable and freeing, that might be the time that I give it up. At least for the time being. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The funny thing is, I’ve always been an artist. Or aspired to be one anyway. You can ask my parents. I was drawing on their walls at a very young age. It’s funny to think about, but to keep me from trying to further provide the house with some artistic flair, they put me in art courses and other aligned extra curricular activities. I was always drawing and writing growing up though. So, the progression from that to then studying animation and writing in college wasn’t all that surprising. I was just following what felt like my destined path and learning a lot about storytelling, and more importantly myself, along the way. I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it, even with all of the challenges. I mean, at the time of completing this interview, I don’t have a full-time job, steady or sustainable income, and right now I’m really leaning into content creation and the promotion of my already available and published works. All of this in the hopes of expanding my readership, driving traffic, and building my sales. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world though, if it would keep me from doing what I’m passionate about. I love art. I love the different mediums that I get to explore and ‘play’ with. I love the way it makes me feel. I love the way my experience is captured in my work and how it resonates with others. I love everything about that alignment. I know in my heart of hearts this is what I’m meant to do. So, ultimately, I know somehow it’ll all work out too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a toughie. I think there are so, so many great places to check out and try across the metroplex. More even, than the places I’m already familiar with. Still, I think we’d have a really, really good time. I’m going to list out my itinerary in a bulleted list fashion. Something about that just feels more official, more right. But as a person with multifaceted interests, my friend(s) would have a variety of opportunities available to us as we explored the city and the metroplex. While this itinerary is in no ways exhaustive, I think it’s a good indication of some of the things we’d definitely get into.

Bookstores – Pantego Books, Patchouli Joe’s Books, The Dock Bookshop
Museums – Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, African American Museum
Theater/Productions – Jubilee Theater, Dallas Theater Center
Skating – Arlington Skatium, Forum Roller World, ICE at the Parks
Food – Seven Mile Cafe, Social House, Piranha Killer Ramen, Ella B’s Restaurant
Arcade – Alley Cats, FreePlay, Cidercade, Dave & Busters

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My goodness. There are so many people that I owe my current level of growth and success to. My publishers are a big one, without Atmosphere Press, Alien Buddha Press, and GutSlut Press respectively, I wouldn’t be a published author. They are the reason I have physical books out in the world. I’d also like to thank BUIC and Drury University, they hosted their first ever Cafe Soul last year and hired me as their featured performer. It was my first time ever being hired to perform, much less feature/headline. That’s something that will always be incredibly special to me. Firsts are really big and important. There are so many other people to acknowledge and thank, perhaps too many to do here, so I also want to shout out the bookstores that carry my books and host me for events, the readers themselves, and my family and friends for all their unwavering support.

Website: https://drehillart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drehillart/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-andre-hill/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/drehillart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drehillart/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnWZ0BU-ufFUX2LBl0TONw

Image Credits
Image Credits: Eliyon Brackeen, Dre Hill