Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Levine.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream in life.” a quote by C.S. Lewis
I was raised in a very practical family. My father was a principal and very old school. When I told him I wanted to be an Art teacher he said, “Absolutely not! That is the first program they cut in any school”. He told me to major in Elementary Education and to minor in Art, which I did. However, I played with art for years, taking classes, doing personal projects, but still, I wanted to do more. I married a very supportive man. I had gone to a class art exhibit of a friend where all the paintings were bright, colorful and shiny. I really wanted to learn how they got the shiny surface.
Finally, after about three months of talking about it to my husband, he told me to go take a class and find out. I called to inquire and told the instructor that I thought I might be too old to take the class. She assured me I wasn’t and I joined the class. The shine comes from using resin. In our first class, I thought we were told to mix our pigments into the resin. I had misunderstood, my bad. The other students were doing their paintings and, then, pouring clear resin over the painting to create their pieces. I didn’t want to waist my paint and resin, so, I poured it on my board. It turned out lovely. The instructor told me to keep doing my paintings that way because it was working for me. I had a friend that told me to try to sell my paintings at a festival. I was overwhelmed with the number of people who liked my work and sold quite a few pieces. Even though I am older than most Artists starting out. I have taken C.S. Lewis’ quote to heart. I love my medium and I have a new dream and have set another goal.
Please tell us about your art.
I create abstract paintings by mixing acrylic pigments into resin and, then, pouring it onto wooden canvases. It’s a little bit more than just pouring. I layer my colors, move the board and manipulate the medium using sticks, utensils, even gloved fingers until it “feels” right. I only have about thirty to forty minutes to work with the resin before it starts to thicken. I have driven by this challenge. I have to have everything planned out before I start because once I start, that’s it. I have a very limited time to work. The pressure is on, and that takes me into a zone of creation that is, personally, very satisfying to me. Before I am finished I have to use a blow torch to go over the surface of the painting to get out any bubbles which create the smooth shine I’m after. Gravity can be my friend or my enemy. The resin continues to move after you have finished. I have been learning when to stop working the material in anticipation of what the final movement will create. I am now trying to control the resin even more in order to get specific images. Why do I put myself through this when I could just paint exactly what I want on the canvas? When you pour the colors, they look like they are moving even when they are set and dry. I love that.
My paintings have dimension and movement to them, especially when viewed in person. Photographing them takes a lot of that away. I really don’t have a message in my paintings, but I am definitely inspired by color and nature. Many of my extremely abstract paintings look like geodes, ocean bottoms or celestial bodies. I think I want people to take away a sense of wonder when they see my paintings. I want them to be drawn in to take a closer look. I want them to have an inner conversation with themselves. What is that made of? How is that made? I want them to want to touch it. Isn’t that our inner wonder of discovery? Each piece of my artwork is one-of-a-kind. I can never create the same picture twice due to the nature of the medium. When you purchase a piece of my work you will know that this piece is yours and yours alone. Others may have the same color combination, but each piece is absolutely unique.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Get your work out there. There are several festivals you can participate in that are not too expensive. Get your work out on social media. This is still a struggle for me because I am a fifty-plus-er, as my daughter has dubbed me. I do not have the technology gene and I am having to learn. But you younger artist speak this new social media language. Use it to your advantage. Get a website as soon as possible. There are many do-it-yourself websites out there that look very professional. Then, get a business card, so, people will know where they can go to see your work. See the money you put into getting your work out there as an investment, not a drain on your wallet. Create whenever you can and build up your inventory. To be truthful, I love to create. I do not like the administrative/business part of this path. If you love both, you are already one step ahead of your fellow artists. If not, it really helps to have someone who supports your efforts. It’s even better if you have more than one person who supports you. Remember, it doesn’t matter how fast you get there as long as you are moving forward. Best of luck to all who dare to put themselves out there.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can view my work on my website. You can also go to my landing page, CynthiaJ0Levine.com where you can like my business page, follow me on Instagram and even sign up for a newsletter I send out letting you know where I am going to be and to see my latest pieces. This October 27-28th, I will be in New Braunfels, Texas at the Fall Into Art Festival. November 3rd, I will be at the First Saturday Arts Market, in the Heights. (530 W. 19th St., Houston, TX, 77008, 11am-6pm.) Finally, I will be at the Friendswood Art in the Park, November 17-18th. You can support me by making others aware of my work and, hopefully, purchasing a piece for yourself.
Contact Info:
- Address: http://cynthiajolevine.com/
- Website: https://www.levinefineart.com/
Image Credit:
Paintings done by Cynthia Levine, All photos taken by Marty Levine
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