Meet Billie Jayne DeVille | Artist, pinstriper, magazine owner & pinup model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Billie Jayne DeVille and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Billie Jayne, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
All my life I have been an artist. As soon as I could hold a pencil, my mom said I was drawing! It never stopped. Art is essential in my life. Up until about 6 years ago, it was always just something I did in my spare time and also a way to wind down from the stress of my job. I wouldn’t call it a hobby because it was more than that for me. If I wasn’t working, I was drawing, painting, making jewelry, and nearly any form of art I could pick up! I taught myself the art of pinstriping which combined my love of art, pinups, and classic cars. I did this nights and weekends, working every show and event I could to get my art out there. I even traveled to different states to bring my art to new places. After working one particular show out of state, I had more requests for work than I could do in just one weekend. I started commuting every weekend back to the area to do more and more work. After a couple of months of this and the workload never seeming to slow down, I came to the realization that it was now time for me to make a huge decision… the most exciting, difficult, life-changing (and a little terrifying) decision I have made so far: to quit my steady job with great pay, benefits, time off, the whole shebang, move to a new state and go into business for myself. They say without risk there is no reward so after a huge amount of consideration and many sleepless nights I decided to take the plunge. Here I am 6 years later and never looked back. I am extremely happy making that call!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Originally from a little place called Athens, Georgia, I moved to South Carolina to pursue my dreams of becoming a full-time artist & pinstriper. Luckily I found myself doing just that in an awesome restoration shop! Things started at a very young age after discovering my mom’s art books filled with images of the incredible Bettie Page. From then on, you’d never find me without my sketchbook in hand, endlessly drawing pinups, bobbing my head to The Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace” or slowly swaying to The Drifters. I spent hours learning every curve, mimicking each pose, fantasizing about one day being like one of the beauties on those glossy pages.
Fast forward to my teenage years when my art & pinup worlds merged with what had evolved into a complete obsession with classic cars. I wasn’t interested in shopping or going to the movies. Car shows, that’s where I wanted to be! Give me those weekends filled with whitewall tires, glistening chrome, and doo-wop tunes. Moving works of art, those lines, those curves! It was only natural that I was drawn to the art of automotive pinstriping. After years of practicing, and working car shows & events, I was finally able to quit my 9 to 5 and fulfill my pinstriping dreams by moving into a restoration shop, working alongside John Parnell, restoring classic cars and trucks.
While pinstriping is my foundation and true passion, I decided to take my pinup aspirations to the next level. After working with several photographers over the years, John and I decided it would be exciting to do our own thing with photography in-house. I have been published in multiple publications and have even been fortunate enough to be on the cover of several as well, for both art and pinup modeling. A little over a year ago John and I started a new adventure running our own kustom kulture magazine called DeVille Magazine. Things stay busy around here but I love every minute of it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am definitely more of a homebody but I do enjoy the numerous car shows and cruise-ins the area has to offer! You’re almost always guaranteed to have a good time with those.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are far too many people to name them all but a select few could not go unmentioned. My mom has been my biggest supporter since the day I was born. She has always encouraged me to go after any dreams I had and never ever made me feel silly for having them. I know without a doubt she is there for me no matter what! Next, would be my boyfriend and partner John Parnell. Without his continuous support and encouragement, I wouldn’t have had the courage to go after so many of the things that I had been afraid of trying for so long. He is by my side through all my achievements and more importantly, there with me through the struggles as well. He remains a positive influence in all aspects of my life. One of my biggest inspirations as an artist is my “hometown hero” David Piatek.  Along with being an amazing pinstriper and sign painter, he is one of the most down to earth people I know. A genuinely good guy who is a pleasure to be around and a joy to watch as he creates his art!

Website: www.devillegarage.com

Instagram: @billiesqueeze @rockinbillie @deville_magazine

Image Credits
Images by John Parnell, Gwendolyn Graves, Dolly J Photos, Melissa Runyon