The Grind | Donté Janae, Artist + Creative

The moment I locked eyes with Kendrick Lamar, I knew I was looking at undeniable talent.

He looked at me from afar with crisp eyes and his chin nestled into a rich red fur coat. His image pierced through the columns of people in the bustling Essence Fest marketplace, all scanning the room for a unique piece to bring home as a souvenir.

I had to see him up close. I soon landed in a booth and met Donté Janae, the mastermind behind the vibrant portrait of the Pulitzer-prize winning rapper.

With paintings featuring the likes of Lamar, Kobe Bryant and Aaliyah, what better place for Donte to showcase art inspired by music and themes that celebrate all things black culture. Even as a first-timer at the festival, the Denver-native’s artwork held its own among the heavyweights who sell their creations at Essence year after year.

Donté shows a mastery of proportion and incorporating textures that elevate her work to new levels. If the art is truly a reflection of the artist, it speaks volumes on her boldness, ambition, and the heights that her skill will take her in the future.

Follow her on Instagram @dontejanae and see more of her art on her website, dontejanae.com.

J: When was the moment you officially thought to yourself, “Art is for me,” ?

Donté: I was actually in college when I made that decision. I used to be an anatomy major, I’m really into the human body and biology. However, I was failing my chemistry classes really bad and my other science classes, and I was on the verge of losing my scholarship. I was at a crossroad: do I just work harder and be miserable, or do I do something that i know I’m beasting at? That’s when I decided to switch my major to art.

I decided to start pursuing it professionally in 2016 because I was tired of working for corporate America. I did the full-time artist thing for a year, but it was very inconsistent, so now I have a part-time job.

J: How would you describe your style?

Donté: My style is very spontaneous. I just paint whatever I’m inspired by, whatever I was brought up in my cultural background, the music I listen to. I love painting women, I love painting black women, and God is my main inspiration.

J: Are you a big hip-hop head?

Donté: I just love music! Whenever I’m painting, I have to listen to music. I need to get in the zone. Music is my go-to for everything, like if I’m struggling for a title for my piece. It matches whatever I’m vibing to, whatever mood I’m in.

(Left to Right) Volumes, Black Mamba, and Aaliyah by Donté Janae

J: What is your favorite medium to use when you create?

Donté: Oil. I learned how to paint with oils back in 2012 during my undergrad at the University of Colorado & Boulder. When I first started learning, I hated it. It was very hard, a lot of my work would get muddy. Oil is very tricky to work with and it can get real bad, real messy real fast.

It takes about 2-3 days to dry, sometimes a week or two. But sometimes, when you’re forced to use something over and over that's when you naturally get better at it.

J: Where do you see your art in a year? What direction do you want to go with your business?

Donté: I don’t want to put a limitation on anything. I want to go as far as God will allow me to. I want to reach my fullest potential in art. I want to be able to be an example for other women. At this showcase specifically, I’ve seen a lot of male artists, and it's not really intimidating, but it just makes me wonder why. Why aren’t there more black women here?

I want to show other women that it’s possible, especially younger girls, I’ve met so many younger artists who are scared to pursue their art or they’re being discouraged by their parents.

I just want to take over the world. I want to be all over Paris, wherever I can showcase my art.

J: In the Louvre, next to Beyonce and Jay-Z?

Donté: Yeah, exactly! Next to the Mona Lisa!