Devine Works: The Irish Artist Working With America’s Next Top Model

Vincent Devine has created stunning watercolour portraits for some of the leading names in music. Now, he is?creating art?for the hit TV show, America’s Next Top Model. We speak to the Offaly-based fine artist about social media, his ever-evolving style and working with R?is?n Murphy.

How did the collaboration with America’s Next Top Model come about?
I had made a portrait of Tyra Banks years ago and put it up on Instagram. Tyra Banks usually scouts for models using her hashtag?and she ended up seeing my portrait through it. When her people got in touch with me I thought it was a scam at first and almost expected them to start asking for my bank details.?I was the first to see the models? makeover shots, and from those, I created their watercolour portraits.?I didn’t have?time to go over to America for it but I heard how much Tyra loved the pieces I made.?

What is?your trademark style?
I’m known for my watercolour portraits, a lot of celebrities have endorsed me. Lana Del Ray was the first, Alanis Morissette, Kylie Minogue, and recently I’ve worked for Shakira, Will.i.am, Iggy Azalea. But now I’ve decided I’m done making celebrity portraits. It was wonderful – a stepping stone in my career. I cracked America because of it.?

Now I’m focusing on a new project that’s fine art focused. I’m using acrylic and oil paint. Hopefully, in a couple of years, I can blend this technique with watercolour. My style is different, not that I try too hard to be. It’s like a peach???not everyone likes them. My work’s not to everyone’s taste and that’s grand – once you work hard, put in the research, then your job is done.

What do you think about the art industry today?
For me, I find it exciting. It’s all about pushing the boundaries. That’s why I’ve stopped creating celebrity portraits because you can stagnate very quickly. It’s important to keep changing and moving with the times. It’s becoming a very fast industry. Social media is an excellent tool for creating a platform too, it’s something I use heavily to promote myself. You have to keep pushing yourself as much as possible. I find it really rewarding to see people from all walks of life, not necessarily in the art industry, recognising my work on Pinterest or Instagram.

What’s been the highlight of your career so?far?
The pinnacle of my career was working on a portrait of?R?is?n Murphy. I made a watercolour piece for her House of Glass Remix EP. For her to tip her hat to my work was a real personal accolade. She’s such a unique artist, one of a kind. I’ve never met anybody like her.

Vincent is exhibiting in Carton house Kildare, at the Kildare gallery. Expect to see him in Birr theatre for C?ig, The Five Artists exhibit July 21st, and the RDS for Artsource November 11th-13th.