#derekdonnelly

Derek Donnelly in St Petersburg, FL.

Being solidly in AARP’s target market, I’m not sure how I feel about being portrayed as a dinosaur, but I guess some days the shoe definitely fits. As part of their campaign to promote opportunities for retired people around the Tampa Bay area AARP worked with the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg to support creation of a series of murals including this one by popular local artist Derek Donnelly who opened Saint Paint Arts four years ago as a gallery near 6th St. and Central Ave. Two years later Donnelly closed the gallery to focus on murals and create collaborative opportunities within St. Pete’s incredible art community, and stpetemuraltour.com calls him one “of the founders of the St. Pete Mural craze.” @saintpaintarts @moreanarts @ilovetheburg @aarpphoto @aarpflorida

Like many artists Derek Donnelly is not inclined to spend too much time over-analyzing his work: “I am an artist because I have to be, I paint because I want to . . . I will leave the important stuff for you to decide. It’s your art!” A Florida native he has become one of the most important activists in the St. Pete art community, creating many new opportunities for his fellow artists and often credited with not only helping found the downtown art scene but spawning several careers along the way. His colorful work often reflects his Florida environment and this 2014 painting is appropriately located at the back of Central Avenue boutique, Strands of Sunshine.  @saintpaintarts

Influential St. Petersburg, Florida, artist, Derek Donnelly, started organizing this project in November, 2012, on the night of the death of his best friend and mentor, Bill “Woo” Corriea. Donnelly painted the likeness of Woo and more than 40 other artists collaborated, commemorating the aquatic subject matter of Woo’s work. Located at 6th St. and the alley North of Central Ave., this mural is on the former site of Donnelly’s Saint Paint Arts gallery—a collective which still promotes a local arts movement and has helped spawn several careers.

"Peek-a-Blue" Public Art Project piece for Pinellas Park's #betterblock event this weekend!!! New pieces by 6 of your favorite local muralists! #pparkarts #publicart #publicartproject #bloomwithyourcity #saintpaintarts #derekdonnelly (at Pinellas Park, Florida)

"365,000,000 Things To Do" Just finished new #AARP mural behind @moreanarts ! #lifereimagined #streetart #mtn94 #stpetersburgfl #trex #raptor #onajetski #saintpaintarts #derekdonnelly (at Morean Arts Center)

New piece for #blacktides art show @greenbenchbrewing tonight! Come out and explore the creations of 30 different artists who have illustrated their favorite folklore of the sea! #stpeteart #stpetersburgfl #saintpaintarts #derekdonnelly

"Cham tries again.." (invasive species 2.0) VERY similar to fins and skins but at a private residence on planters surrounding a pool. #allspraypaint #mtn94 #copperband #butterflyfish #chameleon #adventure #stpeteart #stpetemurals #stpetersburgfl #bloomwithyourcity #coralreef #clownfish #yellowtang #aquariumart #derekdonnelly #saintpaintarts