Devica Shah

painting with a purpose

Painting since the age of three, Miami Palmetto Senior High School sophomore Devica Shah has transitioned her hobby into a business that has earned over $400 to fund the construction of water wheels in a remote Indian village. The project hits especially close to home for Devica, as it connects her to her cultural roots and family back in India.

“When I saw her paint for the first time, I realized that she had a lot of potential. She started out with coloring books and moved on to more symmetrical designs,” Devica’s grandma Dhanalxmi Shah said. “Being a college-educated painter, I have a very good eye for an artist, and I knew Devica had what it takes.”

Dhanalxmi served as Devica’s first painting instructor and biggest artistic inspiration. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in painting at Bombay University, one of the most prestigious art schools in India with only a handful of female graduates at the time.

“When I was very young, I always colored the entire page, but she corrected me and told me to keep a little bit of white to help balance the colors,” Devica said. “I have kept this tradition in my art to this day, whether it be in the smallest moon in the sky or a speckle of snow.”

As Dhanalxmi got older, it became difficult for her to travel to the U.S. and continue to teach Devica. This, combined with an increased course load from school, caused Devica to put a pause on her painting hobby for approximately four years.

“Quarantine was probably one of the biggest reasons why I could begin painting again, since I had so much extra time on my hands,” Devica said. “One day I was scrolling on Pinterest and came across a painting I liked, so I decided to paint it for my room. I hated how it turned out, but my mom suggested I sell it on eBay. That’s when the idea hit me: I wanted my art to make a difference in the world, and I began creating my project.”

Devica set up an at-home studio and her painting journey began. She decided to paint what provided her with the most comfort and familiarity: dancers. Her first major sale occurred at her former dance studio, Jill Mallory School of Dance, in the summer of 2020.

“The studio helped me set up a table next to some of the food stations,” Devica said. “I had three finished paintings on display, and I sold around 20 customizable pieces, which are my favorite because I get to learn everything about my subject and make them 100% unique.”

Devica’s love for dance began when she and her sister, Monica Shah, enrolled in Indian classical dance classes together. At first, Devica did not enjoy the classes, but Monica pushed her to not give up and continue trying for the sake of their family and heritage.

“She was only six in the beginning, and when she would goof around, the teacher would get mad at her. After class, I would sometimes have to talk to her and be like, ‘Look, this is important to our parents, and trust me, you’re going to like it too one day,’” Monica said. “As we have both matured, I see dance as a great way for us to express our emotions.”

Now, the roles have reversed, and Devica’s dedication to her project has inspired Monica.

“I’m definitely so impressed because I never did anything like this in high school. She’s put in so much effort [and] been up so many nights during the summer when she would do all the painting,” Monica said.

After her first in-person art sale, Devica expanded her business to Instagram. Her account (@devicasdancers) allows for smooth communication through direct messages or emails with customers. She paints her clients’ silhouette on six-by-eight canvas tiles using acrylic paint. Each piece sells for $10 each, and people can purchase frames for an additional $5.

“[Painting] is a very time-consuming process. It takes me around three hours to make each painting,” Devica said. “I have to write each person’s name in pencil, then go over it in sharpie lightly, erase the pencil, wait for it to dry, write it in a nice ink pen and wait for it to dry again.”

In total, Devica has dedicated 93 hours to her painting business. While a good portion of that time went towards physically creating the paintings, Devica also spent countless hours finding a place to donate her earnings, too. She decided to connect to her Indian roots and work with the Spandan Foundation — a non-profit organization based in Mumbai, India that facilitates thousands of projects to create better living conditions for Indian villages.

“I use WhatsApp to communicate with my family in India, and one time when I was texting them, an advertisement came up for the Spandan Foundation. I researched their many projects, and fell in love with their project that raises money for waterwheels,” Devica said. “People in the village used to have to travel many miles to a river, carrying four-pound barrels on their head, but the waterwheel system will allow them to bring water up with ease.”

The wheels cost $15 U.S. dollars each, meaning that Devica has raised enough money to fund the construction of 26 water wheels. To avoid excessive taxes and postage fees, Devica must wait until she has sold enough paintings for the donation to qualify as a charitable transaction.

“I’ve never seen the village in person, but once it is safe to travel again, I will be visiting India, and I am very excited to see the impact the water wheels have made on the village there,” Devica said.

Devica has followed in her grandmother’s footsteps, as they both made a point to create art that benefits charitable causes. The similarity between Devica and her grandmother has a special meaning; they both care for others and give back to those in need.

“What Devica is doing is absolutely phenomenal... It reminds me of when I was young [and] I would do a lot of paintings for local charities,” Dhanalxmi said. “She is aware India is still a poor country, and what she’s doing is going to make a significant difference in the lives of the poor natives here.”

Kate Stuzin Managing Editor

k.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com Isabella Hewitt Multimedia Photo Editor

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