Meet Donny Spencer | Artist

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

Hi Donny, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work life balance is monumental in overall happiness for my family and I. The little things like collecting eggs from our chicken coop alongside my wife and son, are just far too important to miss out on. When I was starting out, my inclination was to plan on huge chunks of working hours without stopping, causing me to miss more of these moments. Now I know it’s far better to plan out smaller, more consistent, blocks of time for work, and intentionally sacrifice habits that are less important. This is a work in progress (art pun intended here) for me and I am always striving to make the most of my time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
There’s a story to be told in the small details of life. I work mostly with pencil, occasionally oils, creating artwork that focuses on capturing the small details of people and nature. I spend large amounts of time studying the subjects and getting to know the details that are a part of their unique self. I try to communicate this through the artwork and capturing these details through the specific media I use. This emphasis on the small details results in a more intimate and personal experience for the viewer. My goal is to help my audience see the world, and people around them in a more intimate and intentional way. Noticing the small details that can get easily overlooked. It has been a challenging and rewarding journey to get here. Art has always been a part of my life but when I found out I would have a son, my motivation and drive changed. I began to see it as my way of impacting the world around me and since then it’s been a great deal of trial and error, research, and practice. Learning to manage time, set goals, and sacrifice unnecessary hobbies all have helped to push for a better future for my family and my contribution to the world.

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?
Let’s see, I would probably start with trip to the Fort Worth Zoo, check out the new Safari Zone. Then maybe a night out at the stockyards. One day we would go to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, maybe even do a little Plein Air painting there. Then go grab a drink and food at the Woodshed Smokehouse. A day trip to the Dallas Aquarium would be a must, and grab some pad thai at Thailicious we we returned to Fort Worth. We would have to go the Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. I could easily spend a few days there. I would take a day to stroll around Weatherford, also visit Chandor Gardens. Then go to the Forth Worth Museum of Science and History and after downtown Fort Worth for the evening. Possibly catch a show on the square. There is so much to choose from in this are, you can’t really go wrong.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout to my family, which has been incredibly supportive. Always going to shows, motivating and encouraging me, and buying art! I am very grateful for all they do and have done. Also, I couldn’t do it without the support of my incredible wife, Sarahi Spencer. She has been there every step of the way, she pushes me, helps with the business, and constantly focuses on the aspects that I miss. She goes through the highs and lows of the artist life with me, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner. So a huge shoutout to you, babe! I must give a shout out to my motivation, my best buddy, and son Benjamin. He makes me push to be better in every way. Another shoutout I want to give is to a local artist who has been a mentor to me. Doug Clark is a great artist, friend, and has taught me a lot about the business side of art and getting out into the community. His experience in the art field and willingness to share it has been instrumental to my growth. Above all, I am thankful to God for putting these individuals in my life and for the ability to pursue this endeavor.

Website: www.donnyspencerart.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/donnyspencerart

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donnyspencerart