We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Devin Hall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Devin below.

Devin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

There are two pivotal moments within my life that solidified that painting was the most fulfilling way for me to live. The first being at about the age of nine, my mom had a mural artist paint purple flowers draped all around my windows. The wonder of this mysterious artist that made my room into magic while I was away at school left my imagination spinning. I wanted to know everything about her, I wanted to study her as she had to study the flowers she painted. I couldn’t get away from the wonder of how magical her life must be as a full-time painter.

Flash forward to the age of 25, always painting, but never showing anyone. I was on a trip with my sister in Europe, snapping photos of botanical gardens, architecture, and natural history museums for later inspiration. I realized then that painting completed every part of who I was. It was a way to string together all of the things I love in this world, a way to meld all of my competing hobbies and interests. Eight countries later, just recently back from the trip of my dreams in Guatemala, I meet my now husband. He stepped into my apartment, almost taken aback. The dining area didn’t exist, it was just a chaotic scramble of photos and tapestries to inspire my current work, a Lady Guadeloupe painting. My now husband looked at me and said, this is the way to live your own true life, forget the corporate 401K and do this, otherwise the world will never see it through your eyes.

Devin , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After years of painting within my own solitude and space, I grew the courage to take design and painting courses in college. There, one of my professors became my art mentor. Or we can say mentor in all parts of life and specifically art. To this day we are both always getting together, sharing new techniques along with all of the emotion that comes with painting.

I started initially doing acrylic paintings, but have since evolved into murals and oil paintings. I always felt confined by a canvas, so I started painting murals on all my rental apartment walls. I started my business, having no idea where it would go, from making flower crowns, commissioned acrylic paintings, but when people saw my apartment murals online, suddenly that took off.

Currently I am doing residential and commercial murals. I love taking a vision of what a brand embodies and making a custom mural for them, that is also timeless and can grow as the brand does. As for the residential murals, there is something so intimate knowing that a mural is a part of a persons everyday life, challenges, moments of joy and forever memories. Most of my murals have a botanical aspect to them, along with pattern work that invokes a feeling of symmetry strung along with whimsy.

Each mural has fun tidbits of information for a client, such as a rare flower they have never seen, along with a whole history lesson of the flower. Truly making each mural specific to a client makes it feel like a once in a lifetime gift, uniquely special and thoughtfully curated for them.

My oil paintings are sort of my sense of self exploration, and a chance to further grow my skill. I will often visit a subject matter that feels challenging, or just make it a collection of my favorite things (such as carnivorous plants, and tropical birds).

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

One particular resource that I wish I knew to seek sooner in this creative venture is the guidance, love and support from fellow artists. At first I was so afraid to reach out, ask for help or connect in general. Any moment a fellow artist would acknowledge my work, I was like a small child seeking approval from a parent. I realized that I am surrounded in a loving and uplifting community of creatives around me. I try to extend the same appreciation for others work and journey but always sending helpful tips, resources or positive affirmation to anyone I see not only creating, but chasing the things they love in life most. I’m sort of notorious in the aspect of if you ask me one art related question you will get an inbox full of videos of me explaining every detail of the tools, tips, tricks and artist to artist support. A community of creatives is the best resource, in my opinion, to facing any challenge within your creative venture.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Holy moly, yes! I think any entrepreneur and/or creative works with such fervor and drive that our jobs can be more emotional while using never ending strategy at the end of every day. To be a creative and a creative entrepreneur means to constantly pour your heart into every moment, while battling conflicting moments of confidence met with imposter syndrome, constant looming deadlines and expectations. All of these things is what keeps us evolving and striving to make our best work, for clients and for ourselves. I think something beneficial people could take from that, is that it took us years to get here, and we aren’t stopping there. Every piece of art we craft came from our hearts, even if employing our services is not something a person can do at the moment, kind words and affirmation go a long way. Supporting those around you by acknowledging what they are doing, what they love and giving feedback means more than anything. There are days, weeks, months that aren’t as productive and income generating as we would like, and I can say that those moments of uncertainty can quickly be replaced with joy by knowing someone is enjoying your art, passion or interest.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: devinnoeldesigns
• Website: www.devinnoel.com
• Facebook: Devin Noel Designs
• Linkedin: Devin Hall

Image Credits
Chrissy Brahney — Brahneyphotography