SOULBASE Talk:
Daren Todd -
Portland based Educator /Creative and Mural Artist
Embarking on a career in the creative industry often feels like navigating a labyrinth of possibilities, each turn presenting new opportunities for growth and exploration. For Daren Todd, this journey is not a mere coincidence but a deliberate choice shaped by various influences and experiences. Initially drawn to Portland for a pursuit in music, Daren's path evolved organically as a venture into professional painting emerged. Over the past four years, Art Larger Than Me has served as a platform for Daren's diverse creative endeavors, from mural painting to facilitating workshops. Together, let us explore the transformative potential of art and its ability to transcend boundaries, embarking on a journey through the realm of creativity.
As a multidisciplinary artist with various projects, do these projects complement each other, or do you find value in prioritizing one art medium at a time?
Each of my projects do seem to compliment the other – I revel in the chance to use a few different skills at once and often find myself juggling multiple projects that utilize different art mediums or creative voices. I like the challenge it presents, and I have always been drawn to projects where an artist decides to use many voices and media to create a final project that can be consumed in many different forms. Mural making is one of my main practices, which I love because of all the different skills it requires. I get to move from dreaming up big ideas to designing things on paper and my iPad, and then tracing projections or creating patterns, painting for days and documenting the process to share with my followers. Each project is so much fun, and I really enjoy all the steps and challenges along the way. When I started making murals in 2020, I painted a mural for a friend on her family’s fence. While I was painting, a wonderful couple came and asked me to paint a mural for them in their fence, and one project has always seemed to lead to another. I think that’s another great part of mural work: the strong community I’ve gotten to build from each project with the people who are affected by the mural in their community. Why did you choose to work in the creative industry? Was it an intentional career path or a coincidental one?
I am definitely one of those people that doesn’t believe in coincidences. However, my wandering path into this career is definitely an interesting one. I moved to Portland from the central coast of California in 2017 to pursue a career as a musician; I play a handful of instruments and love to write and produce songs and perform live. In 2020, when the pandemic forced so many businesses in the service industry to lay off workers in the face of all the uncertainty, I found myself without an income source and got the inspiration to pivot creatively. I began painting professionally in June 2020, beginning with small commissions and moving into mural work. In the last four years since launching Art Larger Than Me, the umbrella business for all of my creative projects and endeavors, I have felt so fortunate to experience so many different kinds of collaborations, be a part of some truly awesome and impactful public-facing art projects and continue to hone and grow my skillset as a creative professional. 
You teach in schools and conduct mural and design workshops. When did you realize you had a passion for sharing knowledge, and what is your vision for teaching?
I have always had an interest in teaching and a desire to become a teacher, but I never sought it out as a career goal, focusing instead on the arts. As I’ve furthered my creative career, I’ve been offered opportunities to work as a teaching artist. I now teach art at Pacific Crest Community School in Portland, OR, to 6th-12th grade students. I also teach private workshops to emerging and professional artists looking to expand their skills and learn to paint murals. The experience of teaching is such a joy and brings so much complexity and curiosity to my creative world and life in general. I find that sharing what I have learned leads to the deepening of my knowledge as I get to watch and learn from other people’s emerging practices and also solidify what I have learned as I translate it to them. My teaching philosophy is to just act as a conduit for creativity. Anyone can be an artist; I’m just there to help facilitate that, through processes, materials and lots of encouragement. 
Your website title is “Art Larger Than Me.” Can you share the philosophy behind it?
Art Larger Than Me has a double meaning that came to me when I first launched the business, with the goal of painting murals central in my mind. I’m a smaller person and want to always be painting and creating artworks that are literally larger than me–murals are perfect for this! But on a more metaphorical note, I believe in creating artwork about my experiences and outlook on life in the hopes that my work can speak to an audience and reach out further than the sphere of personal influence I am fortunate to have. It’s about creating something that stands on its own, larger than I am, and helps to build and support a community based on love, understanding and fearless creativity on all fronts.
Can you instantly determine if a project or client is a good fit? Are you someone who jumps in right away, or do you prefer evaluating the parameters first?
Some projects do immediately stand out as great fits, or the relationship with the client starts off in an easy place that just flows naturally. I have learned to always take the time to evaluate parameters before signing on to anything, to allow myself the time to process and understand any scope of work and to only take on projects that make me excited or align with my values as an artist and a human being.What challenges do you perceive in society regarding the creative industry, and how can art and design serve as tools to address these challenges?
I believe that the creative industry is always at the forefront of change. Whether we find ourselves engaged in social justice, in beautifying our space, in sparking debate or in advocating for marginalized or silenced communities, art has always been a vehicle for social change. I believe now more than ever artists are being supported and uplifted, but it is always a challenge to spread the support to as many artists as need it. We as creatives hold the power, and art can be one of the greatest tools in the effort to create more supportive structures for traditionally under-supported creatives to thrive.
