Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Billie Jayne DeVille. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Billie Jayne , thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Sometimes as artists, we are prone to falling into a creative slump but if that happens, I have found that looking back over some of my favorite pieces of art that I created in the past can bring back a creative spark! Also, chatting with my artist friends can inspire me to snap out of a rut.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a full-time artist and pinstriper in a restoration shop owned by John Parnell, with a growing collection of my own classic cars in various stages from full-on projects to daily drivers. Being able to create art for a living each day is a literal dream come true that I fantasized about from a very young age. John and I are also the owners, editors, and publishers of DeVille Magazine, a kustom kulture publication available in both print and digital copy. In addition to this, we are also part of our local community committee that organizes events and car shows throughout the year. Needless to say, things stay pretty busy all year long for us! In the rare chance I find some spare time, I enjoy attending local car shows, estate sale bargain hunting, and pinup photoshoots. My art is largely inspired by mid-century modern and atomic era with lots of spacey and starburst themes. I have always loved the pinup art of Olivia DeBerardinis as well.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When I develop an interest in something, I become almost obsessed with it. Especially when it is something new that I want to learn, I will spend hours, days, weeks, and months researching it and thinking about it nonstop. I am hyper-driven to get into doing whatever it may be and this is how I was when I decided to finally get serious about pinstriping and art. With social media, YouTube, and Kustom Kulture gaining more interest in recent years, everyone now has access to the art form. Veteran pinstripers speak of how difficult it was to learn pinstriping in their day and how apprenticeships were a hard road. Today, we are very fortunate to have so many great artists offering their knowledge of the craft in the form of paint workshops and even free videos on YouTube! I had a goal of what I wanted to achieve and I worked very hard to achieve it. Every day, I continue to work hard to maintain it.
So to sum it up, the 3 would probably be determination, drive and focus.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
As I move along through life and meet people and hear their journeys, I am more and more aware and thankful of how blessed and fortunate I am to have had the strong family support system that I grew up with. My mom in particular has always been extremely supportive and encouraging my entire life. She believed in my artistic dreams from day one and spent a lot of time drawing with me as a child and into my teens. Those moments mean the world to me to this day. It is because of her that I even know what pinup art is. She also introduced me to classic oldies music and Bettie Page, Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, etc, at a very young age which formed my undying love for all things old Hollywood. Without all of this, I may not be who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @billiesqueeze, @rockinbillie, @deville_magazine
- Facebook: Billie’s Pinstriping, Billie Jayne DeVille, DeVille Magazine
Image Credits
Images by John Parnell, J-RAP Restorations and Billie Jayne DeVille
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
