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

Hi Devan, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve known since I was 5 years old that I was an artist. The minute I could hold a writing utensil I was coloring, sketching, drawing, anything to get that creativity out. Once I realized this was a career choice I went for it with every fiber of my being. At first I started just because people said I couldn’t, everyone warns you being an artist is not a good career choice if you are trying to afford things like food and a place to live. For a long time I used this negativity to fuel me. Then the more I accomplished and the more I was able to do with my art I started to create and pursue this dream for myself. I realized that this is where my puzzle piece fits into the universe and being an artist is in my soul.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a self taught artist with a love for animals and weird things. I use my passion for color to create abstract art pieces that take the mind on an adventure. My medium of choice is markers, mainly Sharpies, with a spcialty in creating textures through a process of layering. My style is a unique mash of Dr. Suess’s style, Peter Max’s colors, and Van Gogh’s textures, it truly is one of a kind.

I have built a name doing children’s art, self publishing my first book at the age of 27, I wrote and illustrated the book myself. I then went on to illustrate a book for Sara Sommer a year later. I also self published a few coloring books along the way. My focuses have changed over the ast year and I am moving towards making more cartoons filled with raunchy and dark humor.

It’s been a challenge making a name for myself doing marker art but I learned the best lesson along the way: being weird is the best thing you can ever do. The weirder you feel, the weirder you are to others, the more true you are to yourself. The more I grew into my talent and really let myself open up the more I really felt at home with who I am. The more I felt like myself the more the opportunities arrived. I am now at 3 self published books, 2 ongoing web comics, 2 books illustrated for others, 70 plus shows and counting, as well as in cahoots with some of the coolest living artists you will ever meet.

Added bit of awesomeness to all this is I also finally have an excuse to be a professional crazy cat lady. I write a web comic about my cat Punkin and her adventures around the house. I even took some of her favorite episodes and made a comic book, it’s even got her little pawtograph in the back of the book.

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?
I actually live in suburb of Chicago called Sandwich, yup like the lunch food. Haha! But I do love going into the city and checking out the museums, our Art Institute is top notch. I also thoroughly enjoy the amount of concert venues we have. Music is as much a part of my soul as art is and I spend a lot of time just losing myself in the sounds of a concert. The best place of all though is one of the little forest preserves out in the suburbs. You don’t quite understand peace and quiet till you lose yourself in the middle of a forest in the middle of farm country. Punkins loves going on these walks with me too!

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 shout out my mom a.k.a. the mom-ager. She has been to almost 60 out of the 70 shows I have done, sat and cried with me through all the heartbreak, held my hand through all the scary moments, and cheered me on through every bit of success. I can’t imagine pursuing my dreams without her never ending love and support. Added bonus she buys one original piece of art every year in order to help fund future projects, her collection of my art is the largest of anyone’s.

Website: artbydevan.com

Instagram: Main: devantheartist , 18+: devansdarkside

Facebook: facebook.com/devantheartist

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5F5LdkWtwwC8QoOeoajxYw

Other: My shop: https://art-by-devan.square.site/ Punkin’s Instagram: @punk_kitty Tik Tok: artist_and_cat

Image Credits
Kim Sowa Photography

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