Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynda De Vita.
Hi Lynda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey as an artist started on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, where I was born and raised. I come from a family with a shared passion for fine arts and fashion. My mother made sure that her children would grow up in a loving and creative environment. When I ultimately expressed the need to follow a path in the arts, she immediately gave me her blessing.
I sketched from very early on in life, creating designs in fashion and imaginative characters. I was very different than my siblings, a very quiet child, so drawing suited me perfectly, and I was able to escape into a fantasy world of my creation.
For middle and high school, I had the fortune to attend Central High School of Visual Arts in Puerto Rico, which is a rigorous fine art school. With their strict and enriched curriculum, I had the opportunity to thrive and I began the process of learning the techniques and challenges that a true artist must endure.
I was recruited by Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, right out of high school during my portfolio review. I had never been to New York City, but it was one of the possibilities that I had imagined for my future and I took a leap of faith to follow my dream.
New York City was intimidating, especially when you didn’t speak the language well. To move from a sunny and incredibly colorful place to a grey concrete metropolis was challenging but an incredible learning experience. My years in Pratt Institute were amazing, not only for the lessons learned inside the classrooms, with truly the best educators but for the relationships forged with artists from different parts of the world, who that to this day, I can call dear friends.
Even though my diploma from Pratt says Bachelors of Fine Arts in Communication Design, I had taken many of the Fashion Department courses offered since I always loved both and the dance in between fine arts and fashion was something that my late mother, Lourdes, had instilled in me early on. I knew that was something that would continue to flourish in me for the rest of my life.
My sister, Sherla, was a professional fashion designer and opened my eyes to the opportunities in working in the fashion industry. I worked as a fashion illustrator, fashion designer, graphic designer, illustrator, and textile designer for different companies, in both New York City and Puerto Rico.
Opportunities also became available for me in Miami Beach in the early nineties, and I was happy to once again create and live in a more tropical environment. South Beach, with its emerging galleries and a very strong fashion community, offered great opportunities for spiritual and artistic growth. I also met my future husband, Tom, an artist from New York.
I continued working as an illustrator, fashion merchandiser, and buyer for a Miami-based company that gave me the opportunity to travel all around the United States. Those were incredibly busy times and the fashion world had my full attention.
My quest in sharing my passion for the arts lead me to consider a career in higher education. I did a low residency Masters of Fine Arts in Illustration program at Marywood University where I learned from many creative and successful illustrators throughout the country. I started my journey as an educator, teaching at IFAC International Fine Arts College in Miami, which soon became Miami International University of Art and Design. I was part of the fashion department and I taught there for almost 18 years. I taught design, illustration, and portfolio development for the Fashion Design and Accessory Design departments and also taught drawing for the Fine Arts department. I had the pleasure to mentor many of our students for scholarship opportunities, such as FGI Fashion Group International and the CFDA the Council of Fashion Designers of America. I was also the university’s liaison for the CFDA’s yearly Fashion Education Summits and even had the honor to be one of the presenters. My last lecture and workshop was at the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University, Miami.
Raising our two boys, Christopher and Jack, made us understand the necessity for art education, which is severely lacking in today’s school curriculums. That calling grew stronger with time and a decision was made with what I want to believe was the blessing of Rembrandt’s spirit in his atelier in Amsterdam. De Vita Academy of Art was born from that dream and that commitment to teaching everyone from ages eight and up, who are truly interested in art, are willing to put the time and effort to learn the skills and join our art family. I am so grateful to God, not only for the blessing of having our amazing art academy but also for allowing me to continue my dream of creating beautiful and meaningful artwork to share with the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Choosing a career in the arts, for the most part, is always challenging. Becoming an artist is a “calling”, bestowed upon by those fortunate enough to have the talent and tenacity to overcome the obstacles that lay ahead. No matter if you have to move to a foreign land, aren’t too adept with the native language, inherently shy, or don’t have the monetary means, the opportunities working in different creative fields are endless. You just need to persevere and you will create your pathway to transform your art into your career. You must take that leap of faith and trust the Universe. The world needs more creative minds to figure out the future.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work includes several themes such as spirituality, fashion, and the inner child. It is illustrative in nature with an energetic and vibrant palette that reflects the colors of my childhood in Puerto Rico. It talks about love, motherhood, inner awakening, the sacred feminine, and family.
I use wet and dry mixed media to develop my work, such as graphite, color pencil, marker, watercolor, acrylic paint, oil paint, and ink. My surfaces can be wood, canvas, or paper.
My work can be seen in many different venues. I have recently exhibited work at Studio 18, in Pembroke Pines, FL, and Art + Soul, in Fort Lauderdale. I have also developed work for Hoffman’s Chocolate boxes.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice for starting in a career in the arts is to learn your craft, be the best at it, never give up in the face of rejection, and always move forward. It is a life-long journey and takes full commitment. I feel it’s a gift to be an artist and your talents must be cherished and shared.
Contact Info:
- Email: Lynda@DVAART.com
- Website: http://www.devitastudio.com/lynda
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devitaacademyofart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DVAART
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbk6e59wkmNfko_5xzs9eIQ
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/dvaartfashion/
Image Credits
© Lynda De Vita
