Cynthia Garcia Leyva, a native Cuban artist based in Miami, recently shared profound insights into her art and its transformative role in her life. From a young age, the world of art had always captivated her, serving as both a sanctuary and a medium for self-discovery.
It all started with a box of paints that her artist grandfather frequently used. Growing up in an impoverished country, art became the escape she subconsciously sought. She was intrigued by how artists could create stunning masterpieces using simple tools, a fascination that would eventually lead her to pursue her own creative path.
A Journey Through Color and Form
During her teenage years, most of her illustrations were pencil and graphite pieces depicting characters from her favorite movies and books. One of these sketches earned her the first-place prize in a contest held by a Spanish website when she lived in Tenerife, Canary Islands. It was only after she relocated to Miami to pursue a career in Fashion Design that she uncovered her true passion for color. This discovery unlocked a whole new realm of creative expression for her inner artist, allowing her to explore the emotional depth of her subjects in ways she hadn’t imagined before.
«Exploring this new medium reignited my passion for creating portraits,» she reflects. «It inspired me to search for new techniques, which I learned from observing YouTube artists and experimenting with different textures and layers.» Her dedication to her craft is evident in the meticulous detail of her work, which often takes weeks or even months to complete.
The «Mil Mares» Series: A Reflection of the Soul
Her academic pursuits led her away from this passion for several years until she found her muse again. She restarted her artistic journey by creating oil self-portraits, which served as a wellspring of inspiration for her ongoing work, «Mil Mares,» or A Thousand Seas. This series showcases various women in bodies of water and conveys complex emotions through their eyes and facial expressions, leaving a lasting impact on observers. For Cynthia, water represents distance, feminine emotions, and a yearning for a place to call home—a sentiment deeply rooted in her experience as an immigrant.
“Mil Mares” is a personal collection that portrays the melancholic sentiments that the artist grapples with. Each piece is a dialogue between the artist and her heritage, a way to bridge the gap between her past in Cuba and her present in Miami. The use of vibrant blues and deep greens creates a sense of immersion, inviting the viewer to step into the emotional landscape of the subjects.
Art as a Tool for Healing and Empowerment
Today, she lives in Miami with her family and continues to advocate for self-expression, whether that be through writing, painting, dancing, or any other creative endeavors. When asked about her artistic values, she emphasizes, «Self-expression has the power to heal us and others as well. It is a universal language that transcends borders and connects us on a human level.»
Her future aspirations involve showcasing her artwork in prestigious galleries and motivating fellow artists to pursue their dreams despite the challenges they may face. Cynthia believes that art is not just a career, but a lifelong commitment to truth and beauty. Discover more inspiring stories of artists at Original Living Magazine Art & Music.
