By: Shawn Mars

There are artists who make you think, and then there are artists who make you feel. Devine belongs to the latter. Her work has been described as “the emotional equivalent of a soulful friend’s gift, art that doesn’t just hang on walls but settles into hearts.

Simplicity as an Invitation

For Devine, intimacy begins with simplicity. “I think there is a comfort in simplicity,” she says. “People often feel intimidated by art the same way they’re intimidated by wine. My sommelier instructor in culinary school once told me, ‘Just taste the wine. If you like it, you like it. Don’t worry about the notes or hints, just remember what feels familiar.’ My art works the same way. It has depth and meaning, but not a lot of detail. I want people to look at my work and feel something they recognize, something familiar.”

Comfort in Solitude

If her pieces are often called “a hug you’ll never forget,” that’s by design. Devine hopes her work becomes a companion in solitude. “I spent a lot of time alone earlier in life, and for a while I thought that was a problem,” she reflects. “Now I see those moments of solitude as necessary, even beautiful. Still, not everyone feels that way. My art is meant to offer comfort, to ease loneliness, to help people feel at home not just in their spaces but in their own bodies and character.”

A Voice Beyond Control

Devine’s perspective is deeply rooted in her lived experiences as a Black gay woman raised in the South within the Jehovah’s Witness faith. “Anytime there are laws targeting a group, it tells me that group must be powerful, so powerful that there need to be rules to contain them,” she says. “My identity has been policed and governed since before I even knew what those words meant. My art is a silent voice that screams: “I’m here, and you can’t control me.”

This spirit of defiance and self-celebration resonates strongly with women-led, lifestyle-driven communities that have embraced her work.

Where Design Meets Soul-Care

Although she didn’t begin painting with the intent of bridging art and wellness, Devine has come to see the intersection clearly. “For years, I painted in any space I could find, hoping my art would be a way out of those small rooms. Now, for the first time in a long time, I have my own space. I’ve realized how powerful it is to curate your environment. My nervous system shifted from survival mode to healing. Hanging art on my own walls gives me comfort and identity. That’s what I hope my work does for others too, every single day.”

A Love Letter, Shared

Above all, Devine’s work is personal. “My art is a love letter to myself that I’ve chosen to share with the world,” she explains. “At first, it was therapy. Later, it became meditation. But from beginning to end, it has always been freedom. I’ve poured every emotion into my canvases, anger, grief, joy, resilience. Creating was my way of building confidence piece by piece. Now, sharing my art is my way of celebrating life.”

For those who encounter a Devine piece, that celebration feels tangible. Her brushstrokes don’t just tell her story; they hold space for yours. And in doing so, her art becomes exactly what admirers have called it: a hug you’ll never forget.