Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kalin Devone. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kalin , appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
In the beginning of my career I remember working multiple jobs at once while simultaneously trying to create art. The societal pressure of maintaining a meaningful, well paying job weighed heavily on me. I cycled in and out of random jobs from being a teacher assistant, admin at multiple law firms and side hustles. While I was able to support myself I never felt fulfilled. I always felt like something was missing and that I wasn’t truly doing what I was supposed to be doing with my life. At some point it all became to much for me and I think I just mentally broke down, knowing that something had to change I took an entire summer off from work, friends and everything outside of myself to really figure out what I needed to do to grow. I began intently painting day and night, I would go around asking businesses if I could display my art in their stores and restaurants. I took any and every painting gig that was offered to me and I promoted my work on social media more than I ever had before. I found myself literally painting in clubs, painting bathroom floors and through that I learned new styles and skills.I began assisting other artists that I looked up to on the projects and began to open myself up to meeting more people in my art community. This all felt like the slowest process on earth and sometimes I felt like I was going 10 steps backwards but something in me saw what it could be and every no pushed me to go harder in everything I did. I applied for ArtPop Street Gallery, a local non profit, and project management company and received a billboard with my art on it. I feel like that opened so many doors for me. From there I received mural offers and commissions as well as opportunities to show my work in local gallery’s. I began to work with many of Charlottes sports teams soon reaching other brands such as PGA Tour, Formula 1, Modelo, Puma and Footlocker. I don’t think it hit me right away that I was solely surviving from these opportunities alone. Being able to travel and make art, take vacations and hire other artist from income form these jobs alone. It’s been a humbling and beautiful experience for me, even now sometimes it’s wild for me to comprehend because again I didn’t think that this would happen for me. I think that had I gotten out of my head sooner by not allowing the thoughts that this was a career track that in some way was too big for me to overcome me I would probably much further in my career. Though I realized that now, and I have realized over time that confidence is truly key and that you become your thoughts, I don’t think I would go back and change and of my process to now because I needed to learn. I needed to mature, I needed to grow up and really face myself and go though some of those hard times to truly appreciate all that I have been blessed with.
Kalin , 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?
I received my Bachelors in Fine art with a Concentration in painting from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I’ve always loved painting portraits and the figure so most of my work is of small to large oil paintings depicting the figure in dynamic poses with fun and bold color combinations. My current body of work plays heavily with the concept of play and childhood nostalgia. I feel like one of my life’s missions is to bring out the inner child in everyone around me and those that may view my work. Though I paint in a realistic style with traditional oil paints I have had to opportunity to take on other projects beyond painting which include digital works, large scale indoor and outdoor murals and illustrations. I think one of the best qualities of my of art making is that it is very versatile and flexible to my clients needs . I’ve been able to turn something figurative into something abstract while still maintaining a consistent style in contract to the rest of my work. I think it is a beautiful thing as an artist to be able to stay true to yourself and what you create while still being able to bring the visions of others to life. I am most proud of my will to get things done. I am extremely dedicated to what I do and I care very much about all parts of each project that I am responsible for. If I don’t know how to do something I teach myself, if I still don’t understand I will pull in other artists to help. I am a finisher and I refuse to leave anything incomplete. I understand that my brand is a direct reflection of me. I really want everything I create to feel like me in my absence. The joy I have, the light that I have, I want it all to shine through.
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.
It’s always interesting when I meet someone new who is not a creative and they that ask me what I do for a living. I would say that more than half of the time after I tell them that I am an Artist there’s an awkward pause followed by “Oh yeah? Then finished with more silence. I’m sure they mean no harm most of the time, but as an artist it’s always a little bit surprising because I feel like it’s still not widely accepted by people with more traditional jobs. It was exactly the same when I would tell people I was majoring in Art. Peers and family gave my parents such a hard time with my decision and their acceptance of my choice. It was always “well what is she going to do with that?” Which was hard to hear because it made me second guess myself a lot. Granted I have a mother who always pushed me to do what made me happy and always supported my gift with art so she didn’t care but I think of how many parents are not that way and may have listened to outside influences and deterred their child from pursuing a career in art. I think if anything I wish more non creatives would open their minds a little more to why art is needed and not just why but how difficult it is and the skill and dedication it takes to master a craft along with the strength someone has to have to wholeheartedly follow their passion no mater how hard the process may be. Artist add something to the world that could never be replaced or substituted by anything else. When discovering that someone is an artist I would like for more non creatives to be open to responses like, “Oh, nice, would you mind showing me some of your work? Are you currently exhibiting anywhere? Where can I view some of the projects/murals you’ve worked on? And so on.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I would love for society to support artists by investing in their work. By collecting artists work you’re not only showing support monetarily but you are adding value to current and future works that artist makes. Rewarding artists, just as athletes, performers etc. enjoy being acknowledged so do artists, and through society has gotten better with this over time I think there is room for more improvement within smaller realms like local city/community recognition. Showing up, by showing up to gallery receptions, artist discussions and talks adding feedback and educating one’s self on a specific artist or collectives work is huge for keeping conversations going and open. City and state funding comes from conversations like those and the more people are involved and informed the more than can advocate for the arts to receive grands that feed art communities and projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kalin-devone.com
- Instagram: Kalin_Renee
- Twitter: Kaycassoo
Image Credits
Photo 1- portrait of myself: Taylor Banner