We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Destinee Love a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Destinee , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
I officially started my creative career when I moved to Augusta, GA form Baltimore, MD in 2022. I was leaving an abusive relationship with my child’s father, ready to have a fresh start focusing on self love and growing my art. My mother welcomed me with open arms and right after moving, I immediately met my now mentor Baruti Tucker, an amazing Artist in Augusta and joined his artist guild, Nubag (New Urban Blackness Artist Guild). I started selling my paintings left and right from the art shows we’d have. Selling a painting for $2,000 gave me the confidence and confirmation I needed that I really have the talent to become the famous artist I always dreamed of. If someone would buy my art for 2,000, someone would buy it for more, is how I saw it. I truly believe becoming a famous artist would put me in the position to make a positive change in the world through art.
I am now a full time artist creating a living from my paintings and sea moss business, while working part time as a child care worker. It is most definitely challenging maintaining being a single mom, working, and growing my business but it is so worth it because I am finally following my dream; taking the risks necessary to succeed as a famous artist. Sometimes I wish I would have started my creative career earlier. I even wish I would’ve taken the opportunity I had attending the Maryland Institute College of Art more seriously as well. I would’ve probably been a more established artist by now. But I also believe that everything happens for a reason, that my life is in perfect alignment/ divine timing. I needed to mature and experience what I did; take the time to love and learn myself before I really committed to being a full time artist. I am at peace with my process. I just got commissioned to illustrate a children’s book for $4,000 that I am so very grateful for. Slowly but surly my dream is coming true. So for right now I am embracing being a famous artist in progress.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As I child I’ve always had a love and talent for the arts. Anything creative has always intrigued me. I am very grateful to say that I grew to be an amazing artist. For 16 years now, painting has been the one thing in my life Ive stayed consistent with since high school and it shows. My Art teacher , Ms Hall gave me the encouragement I needed and help me get into one the top 4 Art schools in the country, MICA. Although i didn’t graduate I continued to create and now I sell my original paintings often. I was blessed with an amazing opportunity to do my first mural on the freedom bridge down town Augusta. I am always doing commissioned artwork, also i am currently working on illustrations for a children’s book. I am so grateful that I am able to bring my clients creative ideas to life. With my talent and love for art I aspire to be an art therapist as well as a famous artist. I believe that we were created to created. That we all should have some sort of creative outlet for our sanity. It is important that we express ourselves and Art is the perfect platform to do so.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is constantly being able to express my freedom, feeling that release and joy after creating and being compensated for it. It is truly a blessing. I thank God for it every day!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn is that I am not worthy of greatness. Being labeled as a undeserving black woman in America has really broken me down through the years. After I had my son, Art Zion at 25 years old, I decided to change my narrative. I am breaking cycles and generational curses. I am worthy of greatness. I am powerful. I am a goddess. I am a famous artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Paintings-by-destineelove.myshopify.com
- Instagram: @simplydestineelove
