Self-taught and Stellar

John W. Bateman

I’d heard of Divian, before I met her, through a mutual high school friend. When I first met this astounding, creative, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat and large sunglasses at Nine-twenty Nine, I knew we had to talk about her work. You may know her father, Dr. Douglas Conner, who was the first African-American physician in Oktibbeha County and, at one time, the only medical provider for the black community. Divian is a tremendous talent in her own right. Here’s a bit of our recent conversation about her art, the creative process, and life in Starkville.

How did you get into photography?
Well, I was a blogger. And that turned into scrapbooking - digital scrapbooking with Photoshop. I needed better photos of my children, so I took them. I didn’t want traditional photos, either. Eventually, I shifted to photography.

So you’re self-taught? [Nods.] I started with a little point and shoot. Even now I use a mid-level camera. A lot of people ask me how I get my pictures so clear. People assume you need to spend two, three, or four thousand on a camera. If you know how to work it, you don’t need an expensive camera.

I may quote you on that. What artists do you look to for inspiration?
We’re all so different, and we each bring something to the table. I like looking at work that’s not even like mine. Amanda Diaz, she’s awesome. Creative Soul Photography, they’re a husband and wife team and the nicest people.
​
Oh wow! Their work is wild. I love this.
[www.creativesoulphoto.com] Their work is a LOT of fun and down to earth. They focus on children of color to give them a highlight, and so you’ll see a lot of natural hair in their photography.

Who else do you look to for inspiration?
Carole McReynolds Davis. I want to be her. She made her own hats. I remember when she was in a wreck and she painted a band-aid on her car. She is one of those fun people who was like “POW - I’m gonna be me!” And, Paula Mabry-- --our high school drama teacher-- --people who aren’t afraid to be themselves. People like Bill Poe, who surround themselves with art and whose lives tell a story.

Sounds like you’re already there. Are there particular stories you like to tell? In my stuff, I like to tell stories around peace and serenity. On my Instagram, I have a lot of images of people with eyes closed, heads up. I try to simplify and remove elements. I like the simple glamour of the photos in the 1920’s and 30’s.

When you look at other work, what do you take away from it? Not to give up. I see that people started in the same place and grew. It gives me something to look forward to. No matter what, when I pick up a camera, I have a chance to learn. Don’t compare yourself to others, just continue to grow. Here in Starkville, it’s harder to do editorial work with children. People don’t quite understand it, and I usually have to travel to do that work. I have done a lot of work with Alexandria Olivia in Chicago, and I have a set launching in two weeks. I’m really excited because I had creative control of the shoot. I got to pick the clothing, accessories, really direct the shoot.

When you say that “editorial with children” is harder here, what does that mean?
Most people don’t understand what editorial means. It’s different from commercial photography. Commercial sells stuff. Editorial tells a story: it sells a lifestyle. For example, I get a lot of questions like “Why aren’t your children smiling in the photos?” Smiles can be fake. We put one on for the camera. I want people to see children through [the children’s] eyes. Editorial can be simple or complex, but it’s telling a story in some way. In fact, a lot of brides now want more editorial photos, even though they don’t realize that’s what they are asking. They’ll show me photos they like and it’s definitely editorial work.

Some of Divian's work.

You told me when we first met that you are putting together a fine arts exhibit. What is that going to be? There are two things I want to do: one is an exhibit of children. The other is a “Faces of Starkville.” Show real people. The nitty gritty.

I’d love to see a Faces of Starkville exhibit. What do you think the arts community needs?
More shows and exhibits. I want to see more art of all types. Music. Everything. Work different from mine. I encourage my kids to try new things, whether food or activities. Step outside the box. Have fun - we have murder mystery dinner parties and you have to come in costume. I want my children to be more accepting of diversity, so I start with food. I figure if they start by being open to new foods, then they’ll be open to people who are different from them.

Do you have any advice for a young artist who is starting out? You define you. Don’t allow someone else to define you. Their likes and dislikes are not yours. Do what makes you happy. I think people want to change who they are, because they think that’s gonna make them successful. Really, success is about being true and consistent to who you are.

If you’d like to see more of Divian’s work, you can find her on Instagram, or online here or even here… (meanwhile, I’ll be working on an invitation to these murder mystery dinners).