Life & Work with Dean Skinner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dean Skinner.

Hi Dean, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ha. There’s a lot to unpack here but I’ll “try” to be brief… Life came crashing down about twelve years ago. Losing a TERRIBLE battle with depression. As a result, I turned to God, cried out to Him actually and call me crazy, audibly heard from Him. Since then, God has rekindled my childhood love of art and refocused my creative, perpetual problem solving mind that He gave me to produce GOOD and produce it with and for HIM! As a result and none of this was on my “dance card” as us old folk say, but… I’ve painted over 100 large format portraits, been in galleries, and have written four (soon to be five) supernatural thrillers that were all best sellers and I cannot wait to discover what God has in plan for me next. “God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us.” – Ephesians 3:20

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It most certainly NOT has been a smooth road. And I believe, the more you are on the path that God wants you on, even intended you to be on from the beginning, who He made you to be, the enemy will come at you HARD to knock you off that path, the right path, and do all he can to create doubt, uncertainty, fear, ultimately robbing you of your joy. I think one of the biggest deterrents of any creator, artist, writer, poet, musician, whatever is fear. Fear of uncertainty, fear of acceptance, fear of “not good enough,” and again, that 100% (in my opinion) comes from the enemy. I still battle it to this day. In fact, EVERY TIME I paint but… I know where it’s coming from now and I know if the enemy is coming at me this hard to knock me off my path, I must be on the right one. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well hopefully what I’m known for or what I want to be known for is being a man of God. What I’d like to be an example of, an inspiration to others if that’s God’s will is… it’s never too late to use the gifts God has given you. I started painting again in my mid 40’s and published my first book at 53 years old. So if a wreck like me can do it, you can too. And (and personally I believe this is VERY important and is something I struggle with sometimes even daily) but… just submit to God and watch EVERYTHING He can and will do for you. Again, SO MUCH more than I can do or ever imagined. It… HE truly is incredible, unimaginable, GREAT! “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Well if you’re talking Cleveland, where my wife and I have lived since the mid 90’s and still live, raising two amazing children here and giant, fluffy Sheepadoodle, I would say the people, food, arts, sports, and just an authentic “midwest mentality” to be good, help people, say hello. We really do love Cleveland and are BIG ambassadors for our city. But… the winters… the six to seven months of gray is… well… yeah. But.. summer and fall (ESPECIALLY fall)… LOVE IT!

Pricing:

My paintings typically go from $2,100 to $5,100 and vary in size from 24″x36″ to 48″x72″.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07VX5Y4R5?ingress=0&visitId=f729d332-62e4-4f62-8f07-ad6ceacda349
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanskinner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dean.skinner.92
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-skinner-7827b11/
• Twitter: https://x.com/deanskinner
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@warrior.artist.author