Art can be a deeply personal journey, a way to transform inspiration into physical creations. For one Sahuaro senior, Devin Marks – the Best Artist senior superlative winner, that journey began at the age of seven and evolved into a creative passion that continues to this very day.
“I started drawing when I was like seven, and I never stopped,” Devin shared. His early sketches were simple, but with time they grew into more complex and meaningful works. But it wasn’t just a solo journey, inspiration came from other artists’ music and pivotal influences. A friend named Hunter pushed Devin into taking art more seriously. “There was this one kid who went here, his name was Hunter. He inspired me to start trying on my art,” Devin explained, crediting his friend’s influence as a turning point for his art.
Over the years, Devin’s style has become more defined, mostly favoring graphite but exploring other mediums. “My proudest art moment was actually the first time that I used colored pencil, and blending and techniques and stuff. And I made a really good, cool-looking drawing,” Devin said. Although colored pencils were a unique art experiment for him, he decided to primarily work with graphite to create intricate, detailed drawings.
Despite his artistic talent, Devin humbly maintains that art is more of a side passion. He has taken various art classes throughout high school, from beginners to advanced levels, each providing him with a space to refine his techniques. However, Devin’s favorite class isn’t even art, it’s culinary. “We made some good things this year.” Culinary offered him a chance to be artistic in a creatively different way, experimenting with flavors and techniques.
After high school, Devin expressed a desire to keep art as a personal passion rather than a career. “I think I’ll keep it as a side thing,” he shared, confident in the balance he’s found, but even as a side pursuit, art has been constant in Devin’s life and a reliable outlet for self-expression.
Devin’s art is a quiet but significant part of who he is, shaped by years of experience, inspiration, and a constant drive to improve from simple sketches to detailed graphite artworks. Each piece reflects his thoughts and emotions as well as his growth as a person.
To truly understand Devin’s talent, you need to see it for yourself. Through delicate graphite lines, his art captures both emotion and detail. As his high school journey comes to an end, Devin looks forward to continuing his creative journey one drawing at a time, knowing that every piece he creates is another chapter in his story.
