A Q-tip is an everyday household item that’s hardly given any thought outside of serving its original purpose. For 30-year-old artist DéVonté Rhea, the ordinary cotton swab is used to create extraordinary works of art. At the onset of his creative process is his hands, a blank canvas and a box of Q-tips.
To put it simply, it’s practical, especially for the New Orleans native who prefers not to paint with brushes. While using Q-tips makes for an easier clean up, it’s more about the end result for DéVonté.
“When I was younger, when I would use brushes, I hated that they would leave brush strokes in your work,” DéVonté told THE BLOCK. “I wanted something that was a smooth finish. You’re able to get a smooth finish with no brush strokes. One, it was more cost effective. Two, I like the way my paintings looked when I was done.”
DéVonté, who always had a knack for art, started Von Don Art by accident. The son of an artistic mother started creating art at a young age. Inspired by his mother’s attention to detail with colored pencil drawings, he became interested and even had his artwork submitted in various art contests. Back then, it was only a hobby. About seven years ago, his love for art was revived with the realization that he didn’t have to buy art but he could create what he wanted to display. One social media post of his work led to inquiries, which transformed into an online shop where his handmade art is displayed on prints and apparel, including shirts and denim jackets.
Prior to taking on Von Don Art full time, DéVonté still needed some convincing. While interest in his work increased, he struggled to see art as more than a side hustle, he told us. With evenings filled with commissioned work after spending 12 hours at his nine to five, he slowly realized he was on to something.
“I think that’s when I knew that maybe I’m kinda dope,” he said. “ I feel like when I started getting recognized more, I felt like I could actually do something with it.”
Throughout the years, DéVonté developed his signature style that is his version of abstract realism, which by definition is a mix of abstract and realistic art. It’s a technique that involves using an abstract approach to slightly distort real things.
One look at DéVonté’s work and you can immediately tell who he’s painting, but it’s the colorful drip art that he’s made his own. The Malcom X print shows the activist with blue hands, blue and green ears and a vibrantly colored face. The Lauryn Hill print shows a similar sentiment with her colorful face filled with dripping green, yellow and blue paint.
There’s a sense of intentionality to DéVonté’s signature style. The significance of the use of color is two fold.
With the colors at least, I feel like there’s so many different layers to people. On top of that, I wanted to paint whomever and not depict an actual skin tone. I wanted people to look at my work and not see ethnicity necessarily. … all you see is color. I wanted to express diversity without causing division.
DéVonté Rhea
“I wanted to reach a wider audience and have my own signature style that nobody else had,” he added. “I wanted to set myself apart from everyone else. You can get [one] kind of artwork from 10 or 20 different people, but you can only get my style from me.”
Clients can expect the artist’s unique style no matter the canvas. Versatility is seen in the utilization of flesh tones in the Black Is King piece that highlights Beyonce and the black and white that’s used in a Nipsy Hussle piece.
“I feel like [Black Is King] was one piece that I got a lot of attention from and that really showed me that I can paint whatever because there were times when people would see my style and because I’m not painting like everybody else, they would question if I could really paint,” he recalled. “I felt really proud of myself when I was able to tackle black and white work and tackle realism and do it to almost perfection.”
For him, creativity sparks when a piece evokes a particular emotion. DéVonté—who can relate to having a mask on and the mystery that it brings—recalled a Kanye piece where the rapper wore a mask and DéVonté’s colorful, drip style was still present.
For some artists, it may be difficult to get deeply inspired by commissioned pieces whether creative control exists or not. This is sometimes true for DéVonté, who admitted he also welcomes a challenge and uses it as inspiration.
“I’m like, I don’t know if I can pull this off, but I’m trying to prove myself wrong and provide the customer with a dope piece,” he told us. “So I work extra carefully to make sure that I execute and I’m able to do what they asked me to do. I think it inspires me when I’m given a piece that I’m not quite sure if I’m able to do.”
True enjoyment is a huge part of this life that DéVonté never saw for himself. For him, it’s about remaining grounded and living in the moment.
“There’s not a cap on where I want to be in the future,” he said. “I just want to continue to create dope work and push myself. If I do get there, great. If not, I’m satisfied with creating dope work and providing dope work for my customers and just allowing people to see my talent.”
