About Devendra

Welcome to my site. My given name is Devendra Hari Thakar Jr. My father, Devendra Sr., always went by Dave or David so I do too. When I got out of college, I decided to use Devendra when I sign my artwork. The site logo shows how I sign my wire sculptures. 

I sold my first paintings when I was eight years old. I had been given an oil paint set and an easel for Christmas that year. My father purchased the first one. He was my biggest fan and my best critic. He was honest and always told me if he didn't like what I was showing him. Rather than taking me to the art supply store and paying for what I wanted, he encouraged me by purchasing one of my first paintings for $50.00! Of course, I used all of it to buy more art supplies. I sold a number of pieces to my parent's friends, and once again all those proceeds went toward the purchase of more art supplies.

I thought canvases were too expensive so, I started painting on railroad board. So, on top of learning to be an artist I was also learning how to manage money. The train shown above is one of my oil paintings done on railroad board. I always liked this one and when we moved to California in 1973, when I was seventeen, I thought it was lost. I stopped to see my Grandmother in Cleveland on my way to Boston in 1979. I saw it hanging on the wall in her bedroom. 

In Junior High and High School, I continued to paint and draw, and I started doing sculpture. After being challenged by my art teacher to see what I could do with a bundle of hay baling wire, I did my first wrapped wire horse. Over the years I have seen many different kinds of wire sculptures but nothing like the style I created. In 8th grade I learned to use an oxy acetylene torch and added metal sculpture to my repertoire. My father was so excited by these sculptures that he bought me a torch of my own. Shortly after I moved to California, in the middle of my junior year in high school, he and I built an outdoor work space where I could fire it up.

Aside from getting my degree in Graphic Design, while I was in college, I also took advanced classes in drawing, figure drawing, painting techniques, and watercolor. My Graphic Design career has lasted more than 40 years. During that time, I have continued to draw, paint, and sculpt. I have sold pieces here and there and made a lot of gifts, gifts truly from the heart. More recently, when I’ve posted my latest creations on Facebook, I’ve gotten requests to do portraits from many of my friends. I’ve also had many inquiries from people interested in purchasing a wire sculpture.

I have always loved doing my “Fine Art.” I’m also excited by the prospect of teaching others, young and old, to draw, paint, and sculpt.