Meet Devin Noel | Muralist and Fine Artist

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

Hi Devin Noel, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve always been a “busy” person. Past jobs or careers I would be that employee that could take on a 70 hour work week happily. Now at a point where I do murals full time, it’s been a point of reflection for me lately on how those habits have changed. I’m still the person who will grind on a painting or mural for 10 hours straight, day after day, but it’s such a different feeling. As long as I have a cup of tea and ample carbs as snacks, I’m into the grind. I did have a revelation recently, though. I realized life as a full time artist isn’t just constantly producing art. I find for the first time in my life, settling in to watch an inspiring movie is a part of being an artist. Rollerblading to photograph plants for painting references is a part of it, as well as just having creative conversations with those around me. There are days where my fellow artist friends and I go to the studio just to throw paint around and wear silly bird costumes because it makes us happy. It’s a new way of living for me, it’s more of a concept. It’s each moment having importance for the sake of living through the ways of what an artist means to me, less of a point of constant production and execution.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is a vessel for all the things I love in this world. I’ve studied botany, herbalism, and FL history. I obsess over different tropical birds, plants, and environments. I realized that painting is an all encompassing way for me to keep studying strange plants and bird behavior. It’s a way to mash all that I love about the world into one medium. I typically do commission work, and telling a client about each bird that I’m painting for them about the bird’s strange call, behavior or plumage brings me so much joy. In a way, my art for clients becomes a new part of the natural world for them to resound with.

Predominately doing mural work, I’m giving a chance to learn a lot of new information and skills daily. There is so much to pivot around as opposed to painting in my studio. The research alone to create a whole room mural is a really fun part. I get to pull inspiration from so many places. Sometimes I’ll be researching a specific flower to paint, and next thing I’m down a rabbit hole of information about it and going on a road trip to find it. There is also so much to learn about each site location. The type of materials best for the job, different wall textures..the list goes on. To discover the mission or purpose of each mural for the client is always a fun part. It is a fun challenge creating something for their home, or brand, something that is relevant now but timeless for the future.

To be honest, murals are challenging in itself, without the extra tidbit of building a business and learning as you go. It’s a career where you have to be able to critically think often, of all the possibilities and problems on a site, and have plenty of bravery to try something out, even if you haven’t tried it before. Sometimes it sort of feels like you are constantly “fake it until you make it”, but you just didn’t realize maybe you made it!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh my goodness, okay so I loveee Florida adventures. I’m the friend you call if you want a funky Florida day trip! One of my favorite things to do is go to Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami. Walk around the Rainbow Eucalyptus, explore the different tropical fruit plants, then head to Homestead to Robert is Here Fruit Stand for a smoothie and some fresh Guanabana. Jump back into the car for the short drive to Schnebly’s Winery, grab some guava wine, lychee, passion fruit..you name it. Head back up to Juno Beach with a car load of speciality fruit and tropical wine and have a fruit party on the beach!

One of our favorite spots in Miami is Phuc Yea, it’s Vietnamese Cajun cuisine. We always go there the night before an early morning head out to Shark Valley in Everglades National Park to do the bike loop and observation tower. Always make sure to keep going West a bit on the Tamiami Trail to see the FL Skunkape Museum.

I love pretty much anything revolved around food, fruit and outdoor adventure.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so lucky to have an armful of awesome people who support and nurture my creativity. My art mentor Dr. Jaqueline Kern is essential to my creative path. I’ll never forget walking into her college Design and Art History classes for the first time. Her spirit is electric, and 12 years later she is still my guiding light. She is constantly pushing me, whether it be to try a new medium, re-evaluate the business side of art, or just a true to friend to talk over being a step-mom, wife and artist and how it all ties together.

My husband is also the biggest reason for where I am with my art now. When I met him I was getting signed up for EMT and Fire Academy. He stopped me in my tracks, and told me that I need to pursue my art. The art I had hidden away within my apartment, the reason I had traveled from Europe to Central America and back a few times over. I would travel, photograph experiences, and come back with inspiration to paint. He said he would be my biggest fan no matter what, but that being an artist was my best shot at living my most authentic life. Here we are four years later, he is my right hand man in life and art. I’ve gotten to show him how to view the world creatively, and his viewpoint is so interesting. We never thought we would be painting on aerial lifts 30 feet up in the air, or that he would be skilled in using a brush. Here we are now, and I couldn’t do a bit of it without him.

Website: Www.devinnoel.com

Instagram: Devinnoeldesigns

Facebook: Devin Noel Designs

Image Credits
Jakob Takos Chrissy Braheny