Artist Spotlight: Freshman Faith Davenport
- thepaper6
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
By Zury Cordova
Faith Davenport is a freshman pursuing a major in art with a minor in psychology, combining her creative expression with a deep interest in understanding the human mind and behavior. Faith shares her journey from her earliest inspirations, how her style has grown, and the deep connection she feels between storytelling, fan fiction, and the communities that shape her creativity.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
What inspired you to start drawing?
When I was younger, I was big on playing video games, and [due to] being a girl, I faced a lot of criticism. I had an older cousin [that] I was very inspired by; I wanted to do everything she was doing. And I saw the praise she was getting for being an artist, so naturally, I copied her drawings. Everyone knew I started drawing because of her, and some of my family members did tease me about it. But many of my cousins and siblings are artists, so honestly, it's only natural that I started drawing.
Are you currently inspired by any particular artist, artistic movements, or even things outside of art?
My favorite professional artists are Rebecca Sugar, Alex Hirch, Pypah Art, Drawing with Waffles, and Pendleton Ward.
How has your drawing style evolved over time? How would you say your drawing style or technique evolved over time?
My style has changed over the years, I’ve been drawing since 5th grade with only two memorable hiatuses. The longest and latest one lasted seven months, and each time I go through the same [process] of relearning my basics. Currently, I would say my style is a semi-realism, but stylized with inspiration from Pypah and Rin (Drawing with Waffles) and a few Instagram artists like Victorria.art, Polina Bright, Gretel Lusky, paintedtrash, 99_monochrome among other.
Can you describe your creative process from idea to finished piece?
My creative process is kind of hard to describe, I used to make a lot of crafts for friends and family, and the thought of giving [the crafts to] them used to be my motivation. But if I had to describe it, a lot of my motivation came from storytelling. For about five of my nine years of drawing, I wrote and read a lot of fanfiction, and still do. And I would draw the scenes [that] I would be reading. Even to this day, I would scroll through Pinterest until I found something that jumped out at me, or if it fit one of my OCs or a plot line I was reading, I would draw it.
What advice would you give to someone who just started out with drawing?
I came off my hiatus because of my major. Being in college, and working part-time, plus general life functions, I can go days without drawing. I’m currently in the process of relearning my basics, and I know that every artist will say “draw daily, make art a habit,” but sometimes it’s just not possible. A general tip I would give is not to put pressure on yourself; everyone learns at a different rate. I spent nine years comparing my art to others and getting my gratification from their response to it. It’s very flattering to have people compliment your art, but it’s just as humbling to see people better than you or to even receive criticism about it. And I’ve [become] friends with very talented people who put me in both situations, but I’ve also been that person to put others in that predicament. The hardest thing about art is accepting the way you draw is reflective of what you see and how you perceive it.
Also, practice shapes from different perspectives before committing to anatomy.
What are your future career plans or artistic plans?
I like to say I’m a huge autism advocate. I work in the field of ABA therapy. Though I’m working with a friend to set up a non-profit while making it a club at CCNY [that would create] tools for people with disabilities. Our first project [that] we’re trying to get up and out the door is a new stimming device for kids with autism. But I’m also in the process of creating an animation studio and a potential game geared towards people with autism [that] various ABA companies can use as a learning tool. This creative side will also be under the function of the nonprofit as well.
Faith shows how art can grow from something simple into something meaningful. What started as copying her cousin’s drawings turned into a personal journey of self-expression, growth, and inspiration. Whether she’s creating characters, telling stories, or designing tools for kids with autism, Faith is using her creativity to make a difference.
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