Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Sierra.
Hi Sylvia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Arts was always a priority in my home as a child. My mother was a public school teacher and florist. Our dining room table was always full of bulletin board art, glue, scissors, wire, flowers… You name it! Another priority in our home was recognizing and living our Hispanic heritage. Spanish was my first language as a child and a huge part of who I am, therefore it’s important to me to include Spanish influences in my design work.
As a toddler, I was struck with a slight case of polio and as physical therapy, my mom enrolled me in fun dance classes. Years later as a college student, I leaned again on dance as physical therapy when a vehicle I was a passenger in was struck by a drunk driver. This fatal car wreck resulted in the death of a loved one, and months of hospitalization and rehabilitation for me. This led to me studying and graduating with a degree in Dance and Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.
After a successful career in nonprofit management, corporate public affairs, and owning a fine art gallery — I took a sabbatical from being on the fast track professionally to enter a second career as a stay-at-home mom. As I sat rocking my newborn baby daughter one day, an adoption counselor friend of mine asked me to create angel themed name cards for a banquet of foster parents. I had never drawn or painted before, however it was comfortable for me to combine my love of quilting/sewing and lots of color into my designs. Thirty four years ago, color copiers were a new phenomenon so each of the place cards were hand painted. My whimsical lighthearted designs were such a hit, that soon thereafter, requests were flowing in from folks seeking my little angels wearing patchwork clothing and, Voila! Sylvia Sierra Art was in business.
Over the years, I honed my drawing and painting interests by taking classes to include working with all types of art — ceramic clay, quilting, beading, and metalsmithing. Transitioning jewelry making into my art “choreography” has been a natural evolution. Especially since I’ve always loved wearing bold and interesting jewelry, just like my mom. Creating one-of-a-kind jewelry has been a favorite pastime of mine! Having my art drawings reproduced on resin components has allowed me to add pendants that I could hand-bead to my jewelry tapestry.
Very special to my heart is designing pieces with heirloom components belonging to clients. Using vintage components has brought new meaning to specific jewelry lines of mine, like working with my exquisite sterling silver Mexican sombreros.
Most recently, I have discovered the joy of surface pattern design. As a surface designer, I find it so soothing to create art images that continue to be reproduced on different surfaces — resin pendants, glass plates, tote bags, greeting cards, canvas art prints, and cross stitch patterns. I have also designed a unique, one-of-a-kind bi-lingual yearly wall calendar that I sell on my website along with my other paper products such as my greeting cards and art prints. I’ve discovered how to blend my different art mediums into a tapestry of eclectic treasures. I get my painted art designs professionally printed on linen fabric that I hand sew onto clothing made of vintage Kantha fabric and denim. For that extra special look I add hand embroidered details with beads and other decorative components.
At 68 years young, it’s important that I live my life like I mean it! Being Gigi to two precious grandsons is the best love affair ever. I paint my life canvas with every crayola in the box! It’s no wonder that having grown up around such a beautifully diverse way of being artful, has nurtured my eclectic style.
View my website (www.SylviaQSierra.com) when you have a chance, and see for yourself a little bit of the eclectic and colorful world I’ve created.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not enough time in the day to do all I want to do! I went through a period of having to set my art learning and dreams on hold to raise my daughter, and care for my elderly parents. Now, nearing 70 years young, I have more time for myself in between loving on my grandchildren and spending time with my retired husband of 45 years. Life is great!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work?
I love celebrating color and everything happy! I love to ART OUT LOUD creating art with meaning and embracing courage.
I always love my audience to experience the soulful tapestry of art that I create; it blends my love of family and heritage, painting, sewing, embroidering, beading and silversmithing. Even in the smallest ways, my strong feeling for my faith and spirituality is visible in most of my designs.
What’s next?
I recently wrapped up another successful year of showcasing my work in Round Top, TX, which is a favorite time of year for shoppers that visit from all over the country. The biggest hit was my vintage Mexican sombrero jewelry, so I have been working hard on collecting more rare vintage sombreros to add to this popular jewelry line of mine. To enhance this popular collection, I will also now be designing and creating my own sterling silver Mexican sombreros to incorporate into my jewelry pieces.
I am looking forward to the upcoming Round Top show in October at the Halles Galleries in Building 6. I love meeting customers in person and sharing stories through my work so I hope to continue doing that. “Arting out Loud” is my favorite way to live and I hope to encourage others to do the same!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.SylviaQSierra.com
- Instagram: SierraArtJewelry
- LinkedIn: Sylvia Q. Sierra
