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Yehuda Adi Devir is a blessed man. He’s a handsome, athletically built, insanely talented artist, with one of the most viral webcomics on the planet. And to top it all off he’s married to the equally talented and stunning Maya Devir. Yehuda and Maya are a package deal. They are the kind of couple that finishes each others sentences, so I think it only makes sense that this is a dual interview, a first for Urban-Muse! I don’t think it would work right with just Yehuda, or Yehuda + some Maya parts. So, again this is a first for Urban-Muse magazine, and it’s really exciting. These two are really loveable characters and we’re excited to help our readers get to know them a little better!

Urban-Muse.com: Ok let’s get started! Thank You both for agreeing to be a part of Urban-Muse Magazine #4. Your work really exemplifies the best things we try to showcase on Urban-Muse. While researching your art I found so many interesting, heartwarming, and funny things that I often had to chuckle or have a big grin on my face. Your work really has a certain kind of warmth that explains why it resonates with so many millions of people across the world. So again thank you.

Yehuda Devir: Thank you for inviting us to be interviewed.

Urban-Muse.com: Let’s start at the beginning. According to my research you two met during Military training at in 2009 or so? That would mean you two have been together for more than ten years now? (Note: For our readers who may not know in Israel every citizen is required via Conscription to do a three year period of Mandatory Military service.)

Yehuda Devir: We both met during our military service in 2009 and became a very good friends. We began dating a year after so we officially 8 years together.

Maya Devir: Yehuda claims he was the one that did the first step, but that’s not true. I took the first step and invited myself to visit him 🙂

Urban-Muse.com: In another interview you mentioned that when Maya came to the base all eyes were on her and she caused quite a fuss? And eventually you two got together when Maya was looking for somewhere to stay in Tel Aviv and the rest as they say is history?

Yehuda Devir: Not exactly, it’s a mix of two stories. It is true that Maya has attracted quite a bit of attention in the military service do to her good heart and beauty, and eventually she agree go out with me.

We moved to Tel Aviv after our university time and there we began to draw our comics “One of those days”.

Maya Devir: After school we were looking for an apartment in Tel Aviv. I suggested that Yehuda will make a fun illustration asking our friends help to find a nice apartment (it’s very hard in Tel Aviv). The illustration got many people attention and sympathy and now we publish a new illustration every week.

Urban-Muse.com: In the TV News interview with iTV (which is great by the way, you can watch it here: – LINK) You two were interviewed together, kind of like this. I noticed that Maya seemed to do most of the talking, and in some ways seems to take on a managerial and publicist role in addition to being your literal MUSE. (See what I did there?) Would you say that’s accurate?

Yehuda Devir: The work on “One of those days” is teamwork. I do the illustration itself with Maya’s help (Maya is a great artist herself – not many people know that), and Maya is the business manager.

Urban-Muse.com: In fact it seems that it was Maya who encouraged you to pursue art more as a career and to go to school for it, and after your military service you both attended Bezalel, Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem?

Yehuda Devir: Yes. I admit that I’m not a school person. I was not an A student at high school (to say the least) but Maya was convinced that if I study something I liked then the experience would be different, and she was right!

Maya Devir: The way I persuaded him to come with me to Bezalel was to tell him that he could do a degree in drawing – simple as that.

Urban-Muse.com: While I was in the early stages of putting this interview together it really became apparent that you two have a symbiotic relationship, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that without Maya, Yehuda really wouldn’t be the same. And as I dug deeper and found out more, like the Art School idea it really seemed to be more and more true than I even realized. Is this the way it feels for you two as well or maybe I’m completely off base?

Yehuda Devir: We are together for many years, and from a young age that many things in life change from one end to the other, so it really feels that we have experienced a lot together and many experiences would not have happened without the other half.

Maya Devir: I’m sure we both have changed from our relationship. Our illustrations tell the story mainly from the man’s eyes, so it is easy to see the effect of the relationship on him, but I proud to say that the relationship with Yehuda takes out the best of me.

Urban-Muse.com: During College your senior project (basically a thesis) was a HUGE mural sized artwork called “Cinephile” that highlights characters from 1920-2016, and it was even displayed at The 2017 Festival Film International Leiden, Holland. Can you tell us about this pivotal project in your career?

Yehuda Devir: CINEPHIL is A mural 11 meters long and 2 meters high

giant scene of 300 most iconic moments and characters from the film industry (1920-2016).

I’ve always dreamed to see all the action movie stars that I grew up on, fight together in one movie. I used my graduation project in Bezalel, Academy of Art and Design, as a platform to realize my dream in a way, and with the drawing skills that I have gained over the years since I was a child, I created a scene that assembles 300 iconic characters and moments from the film culture, from 1920-2016.

Maya Devir: I had never seen Yehuda work as diligently as he worked on the CINEPHILE project. he had worked day and night for 4 months. He only took breaks just to sleep. An actual robot 🙂

Urban-Muse.com: We’ve talked a lot about your relationship and it’s very important to this interview and we’ll get back to it because it’s key to the artwork. But this is an art magazine afterall, let’s get into the more technical aspects about the artistry that goes into creating these comics. It seems Photoshop is your preferred tool? What model of Tablet do you use?

Yehuda Devir: I use the Wacom Cintiq device so I do the illustrations straight on the computer. I work with Photoshop software.

Urban-Muse.com: One of the most common questions for an artist is what brushes you use. So let’s get that question out of the way. Are there any specific brushes or do you just use the general presets?

Yehuda Devir: I have some brushes that like especially. I make my own brushes.

Urban-Muse.com: It’s been said that Yehuda behaves like a machine, and has a very rigorous daily routine, where he wakes up early, works out vigorously, then starts the day off working. Do you think this kind of structure, no doubt passed on from the military lifestyle has helped you and your work be what it is today?

Yehuda Devir: Since I am a freelance, my regular daily routine helps me maintain a continuum of work. My clients are the most important thing in my job and to be able to provide the best product for them, I have to be at my best.

Urban-Muse.com: So for the creative process, do you start a piece when you have an idea or something interesting happens, maybe taking mental notes, and then create it as it happens, or do you just sit down and work and see what comes out?

Maya Devir: The working process is both of us together. Usually after something interesting for illustration happen to us, we tighten the concept and do a few composition sketches (by hand or in the computer). After that, Yehudi sit down and start working. When Yehud is finish, I adding my suggestions for improvement (color, typography and so on…).

Urban-Muse.com: Because you two are the primary characters in ìOne of those Daysî do you take photos for reference or maybe look in the mirror, or just glance at each other as you are creating the works? Or maybe it’s all from your head?

Maya Devir: In order for the illustration to be authentic as possible, most of the time we photograph ourselves as a reference for the illustration.

Urban-Muse.com: This one is for Maya, Maya you are also a talented artist as well, but with the recent success of “One of those days” it seems like you are spending most of your time helping with that project. We’ve seen some really amazing work from you, from realistic sketches, to geometric forms, to advanced typography techniques. What else can you tell us about your wonderful artwork?

Maya Devir: I really like to draw, my style is much more realistic than Yehudi’s. I draw mainly for fun. Artistic in our comics, I help with the typography of the illustrations, the construction of the composition and the coloring.

Yehuda Devir: She is very modest. Maya is a amazing artist, more than me for sure.

Urban-Muse.com: The story of how ìOne of those Daysî started is basically you two were moving to Tel Aviv and were looking for an affordable place to live, so you created a comic to show your friends and it gradually became viral, and 9gag was one of the first sites to really popularize it. Now over a year later looking back, to that important time in your life if you had a time machine what would you tell yourselves based on what you have learned since then?

Yehuda Devir: Keep on being you, no matter what people think.

Urban-Muse.com: Yehuda, I think you’re 29 right now. How old are you Maya if you don’t mind? It’s incredible you’ve accomplished so much before you’re even 30. Do you have any big plans for the big 3-0? A big comic no doubt.

Yehuda Devir: I must say that I don’t attribute too much significance to my age, as far as I am concerned, I am still a child.

Maya Devir: I’m 28 years old, 8 months younger then Yehuda. (EDITOR’S NOTE – This interview originally came out summer of 2018 so they are a year older as of this publication.)

Urban-Muse.com: You two recently got married in 2016. What can you tell us about your wedding and first years of married life?

Yehuda Devir: We got married in July 2016 right after graduation.

We have lived together for quite a few years before our wedding so it was not a very big change for us.

Maya Devir: We love celebrations! We never miss a reason to celebrate.

Urban-Muse.com: When artists ask you how they can improve their art, and maybe gain a following with their webcomic what do you say?

Yehuda Devir: The best tip I can give new artist is to never stop practicing. Constantly keep your hand and head active. And the most important thing is to believe in your work.

Urban-Muse.com: What has been the most rewarding thing about the “One of those days?”

Maya Devir: The fact that we waking up every morning and making people happy with our work.

Urban-Muse.com: Speaking of “One of those days” what can you tell us about your new book!? That must be so exciting, what was it like finding a publisher etc? That is similar to what this magazine is going to be doing for this issue because it will be the first one we print.

Yehuda Devir: We publish our first collection book in a private publishing.

Maya Devir: Because we both are a designers as well so it’s comfortable for us making the book by ourselves.

Urban-Muse.com: What do you do with people who leave nasty comments on your work? Do you let it get to you?

Yehuda Devir: I don’t answer to bad comments. It’s peoples right of to feel what they want, and if they choose to express it in public and offensive this is their choice. I don’t give a platform or credit for such comments with my response.

Urban-Muse.com: Your work has literally been all over the internet but which site(s) would you say was the most important to helping it become viral like it is today?

Yehuda Devir: Much of the attention came from our work publish in Bored panda website. They published our works several times.

Urban-Muse.com: And what social network has been most important? Instagram?.

Yehuda Devir: Most of my followers are on Instagram, but I publish on all my social media pages the same thing on the same time.

Urban-Muse.com: Which artist(s) do you admire and have influenced you and your work?

Yehuda Devir: Those are some of the artist I love: Tomer and Asaf Hanuka, Jim Lee, Kim Jung Gi, Picasso, Stuart Immonen, R B Silva, Skottie Young, Frank Cho, Frank Miller, Jack Kirby, Maya Devir. From every artist I took something: Coloring, humans anatomy, movement, composition and so on…

Urban-Muse.com: Pop culture seems to play a big role in your work, what are your favorite movies, tv shows and games these days?

Yehuda Devir: We both really love movies, it’s hard for me to choose exactly what. I always appreciate good action and quality acting.

Maya Devir: Lately we have seen a lot of series:

Game of the Thrones, Sherlock Holmes, The Walking Dead, Friends and more…

Urban-Muse.com: Somewhat related to the last question, but there’s a great comic where Maya watches a bunch of TV episodes without Yehuda, what TV show could that have been? You guys strike me as a Game of Thrones fans? Is that a good guess? (Editor note: It was!)

Maya Devir: I admit that I couldn’t restrain myself and continued to see without him Game of Thrones, and The Walking Dead 🙂

Urban-Muse.com: So many people see themselves in your work and can identify with their loved one doing something similar. But others seem to find your comics inspirational and encouraging for them to not give up on love and to find someone special for themselves. (I am one of those.) What advice can you give people who might want to find love?

Yehuda Devir: Don’t look so hard. Be yourself and eventually someone who loves you the way you are will come.

Urban-Muse.com: Yehuda and Maya are really counterparts, a Ying to each other’s Yang. Would you say that you two are best friends?

Maya Devir: We are definitely the best friends of each other. A good and respectful friendship is very important in relationships.

Urban-Muse.com: Of all the comics you’ve done so far, which is your most favorite?

Yehuda Devir: I can’t really say. I really love a lot of them.

Maya Devir: Same as me 🙂

Urban-Muse.com: Since you two have recently been married, is there a chance there might be a new character in “One of those days” soon? Maybe a small Devir of some kind?

Yehuda Devir: We both believe that we will expand the family in the coming years. That’s the most I can say 🙂

(EDITORS NOTE: This interview came out in the summer of 2018. Since then the Devirs have welcomed their first baby! Congratulations!!!)

Urban-Muse.com: And finally a light question to finish off the interview. In La’lsha you mentioned that your Nicknames are Shosh and Mosh. (Shush = Yehuda? Mush = Maya?) Can you tell us how that happened and what it means?

Yehuda Devir: So my nickname is Shush, and Maya nickname is Mush.

Maya Devir: These are very old nicknames that have gone through so many incarnations that it’s hard to remember where they started from 🙂

Urban-Muse.com: Thankyou so much you guys for being a part of this, and thank you for giving so many millions of people visions of what true love looks like.

Yehuda Devir: Thank you!

Maya Devir: Thank you!