We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cristina De Vilches. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cristina below.
Cristina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
For me, something that I find really important is not feeling the pressure of having to learn something and turn it into perfection right away. Learning to bake was a hobby, I failed and found different outcomes just by playing. Research is part of the process and no matter how Many hours you invest, it’s always enlightening!
Cristina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was always interested in arts; music, dance and I was also very creative. I pursued a career where I developed even more my creativity. Graphic Design was an amazing career for me but it is so widely used that it’s hard to find the area you like the most. I worked for many years at advertising agencies, graphic design companies, retail stores, entertaining companies and it wasn’t until I stopped working (when my second baby was born), that I started baking as a hobby. I was an amateur playing with flavors, forms and ideas and it made me so happy! Learning new skills and techniques every day was so addictive. I love the whole process, getting a brief from the client, sketching out if I have the time. I love to bake and design while I listen to music. I always remember which song I was playing while working on a cake… I think my clients find relief with me when they order a cake and they have a vague idea of what the want but don’t know exactly how to express it, so that’s my job and that’s what I like the most: not having anyone beside during the creative process, telling me what to do. I believe my clients love the fact that my cakes are unique and even if they ask me to do one of my previous creations, I always find the way to play either with flavors or forms! My recipes are unique as well, I watch and read many baking blogs and I try to find a way to personalize them all!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I think by being a creative or an artist, you have an amazing advantage, because you’re giving the clients a product that they really want. Something they indulge with and something it’s not necessary to live but Can absolutely make a change in their lives. Think about a beautiful piece of art? A painting, a sculpture. Nobody is going to die if they don’t get it, but having it and being able to give a glance at it every single day, makes a difference. That’s what happens with a piece of cake… you can admire it, enjoy its beauty and then indulge yourself with the most delicious bite. And for me, these moments happen when you’re with your love ones… you create timeless memories.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Even if I worked at advertising companies, I wish I could know more about social media and modern ways to advertise these days.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Tarta.bakery