Deven displays dramatic collection

Senior Deven Shoemaker has been attending art classes since elementary school. He said his plans after graduation will not continue down the art path.   

Deven said his main inspiration is American Artist Shawn Coss. He said he found out about him in middle school and ever since, he has decided to try and go in the same direction with his art. Coss does dark art pieces, he added. 

Deven said his teachers saw his work in high school and urged him to take more art classes.  

He said his favorite media to work with is charcoal or chalk—anything that’s black and white. Deven added his favorite piece that he did last year was a drawing of a skull, but so far this year, it would be his charcoal and chalk portrait. 

Deven said a big challenge he faces while doing art is procrastination. He struggles to work fast, adding that he does work on his projects at home. 

He has taken two art classes each year he has been at Milton, and he is currently taking Advanced Art. He has taken Intro to Art, Pottery, Drawing, Advanced Pottery, and Advanced Drawing and Painting. 

Deven’s plans after school have nothing to do with art, and he said that it’s just a fun hobby for him. He added he wants to join the workforce right away, and later enlist in the military. Art most likely won’t be a part of his career, but he said he will still draw during any free time he has. 

“I’ve enjoyed watching Deven explore and grow in his artwork over the last four years. He is a big part of the art department at Milton High School and will be greatly missed,” Art Teacher Ms. Lauren Richie said. She added that his work has improved greatly. 

According to Deven, he mostly likes to do 2D and occasionally 3D and ceramics. 

He explained that his love for music also inspired his art pieces, and he likes to do dark pieces with mystical creatures. 

Deven’s advice for students wanting to get into art is, “Enjoy your time with it. It can be difficult at times or stressful, but it can also be creative and calming. Just enjoy it.” 

Deven will be also showing all his art projects from over the years at the District Art Show on May 10, with his own section at the show.