Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Silva.
Hi Cindy, 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.
I grew up in Long Island, New York and went to the Fashion Institute of Technology for AAS in illustration and then a BFA in Toy Design. While I always loved drawing and painting, my parents instilled in me that I needed a 9-5 career that would pay my bills, so I chose the creative field of toy design. I did this for about 18 years in NY until we moved to Parkland, Florida when my daughter was five years old. We moved for my husband’s job, and I became a full-time mom for a few years. During that time, I was missing a creative outlet, so I started taking painting classes in Boca and fell in love with painting all over again. I really developed my own unique style that took my years of designing toys into a whimsical look for my paintings. My daughter became my muse for many of my paintings, which also reflected my own vison of myself.
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?
Nothing is a smooth road, but that makes it all worth even more.For me, the painting is the easy part. That is my happy place. But it is not easy selling your work. The marketing side and the online nature of the art world is difficult for me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work has a whimsical look to it. I especially love painting people. I grew up with a lot of depression all around me and I have always tried to rise above that darkness. My art has always been my outlet, and I want to portray beauty, color, and happiness. I create images that make you smile and feel good when you look at them. I have started to explore a method of putting a painting on a painting where I attach a smaller canvas on top of the larger canvas to give the painting more depth and a 3-dimensional look. I think this depth reflects my style as I give life to my dreams of happiness and love in bright colors.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
That my journey has just begun! Life is a marathon and not a sprint. I am at work at a toy company again for the last four years and have split my time between working, being a mom, and painting. My daughter goes to college next year (for graphic design!)and I will have more time to paint in the future, and oneday I hope to be able to paint full-time. My goal is to display my art in a gallery. I want to grow as an artist and in my understanding of how to market my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cindysilvapaintings.com/
- Instagram: @cindysilvapaintings
- Other: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/cindy-silva
