To celebrate our Spring 2014 photo shoot in San Francisco as well as our #HEARTTHISCITY partnership as part of Alternative Spring Break, we wanted to make the prize for the last week of Project Live Your Life a trip to the City by the Bay. Gil A. from North Laredo, Texas will be taking a friend on a trip to San Francisco! Congrats, Gil!

Gil A.

Be sure to check back here and at ae.com/liveyourlife to meet the grand prize winners who will be part of our Back to School 2014 campaign.

Tags: Photoshoots, Project Live Your Life, Spring Break

Meet Devin, an artist and photographer from Athens, Georgia. Devin is a winner of Project Live Your Life and is currently featured in our Spring Break 2014 campaign. Learn more about him and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

You’re from Athens, GA. What do you heart about your city?

I love that it’s a college town and the numerous concert venues that they have there. I am an arts and entertainment reporter and I got to cover and photograph around 12 bands that came and played just in last semester. The music scene is a huge plus that I love about it here. The Georgia Museum of Art is also located on campus and the festivals that they have frequently are also pretty great.

You’re an artist. How did you find your love of art?

I’ve been drawing ever since I could remember, but I didn’t realize how in love with it I was until recently. With painting and drawing, the idea of capturing an emotion, thought, place and person as it was or they were in one moment in time is sort of just amazing.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Definitely from the people around me, my friends and other artists and photographers as well.

Who is your artist icon?

I’m going to cheat and pick two on this one. Andy Warhol, because his photography and art is really hip and I actually have two of his prints in my apartment in Athens. The second is Steve McCurry. He’s a really phenomenal well-known photojournalist and if you ever have time, check out his work. I promise you’re life will be positively changed for the better.

As an artist, you’ve watched Wynwood Walls go from a blank slate to a colorful piece of art. What emotions were you feeling during this process?

Being apart of the process and especially collaborating with my cast mates during the initial process and then coming back on the last day and seeing how it all turned out was one of the greatest things ever. I definitely felt a lot of feelings of accomplishment, pride, happiness and camaraderie. I don’t think anything really brings people together as much as creating something, so that bond with my cast and crew and also the thought and idea that people in that city will possibly be inspired by that.

What does art mean to you?

A chance to express yourself in one of most incredible ways possible. It’s sort of like a language, but to different people and at different times it can mean completely different things.

You’re a photographer as well. What are your favorite things to snap?

Pretty much I like to shoot people, concerts, sunrises/sunsets and people again!

Is this your first time to Miami? What about this city inspires you?

Yes. Being in Wynwood Walls and seeing all of the street art all around the city was kind of awesome. The art, scenery, people, attractions and just the busyness of the city as a whole inspired me.

What makes you unique? What characteristics help tell your story?

I love people a lot. I love learning from them, meeting them, hearing about them and just being around them. I go by the idea that each and every single person that you meet changes your life for the better or worst depending on how you let them impact you, so I treasure each person that I do get the opportunity to meet. I’m really into photography, I’m an arts & entertainment reporter, I’m in love with painting and drawing, I’m really really awkward and I like to make fun of myself a lot because it’s hilarious.

Tags: Photoshoots, Project Live Your Life, Spring Break