We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Edda Davila a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Edda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

One afternoon, I remember the excitement and anxiety I had while I waited for my first check to be printed. I opened the enveloped and could not believe I made my first $308 from selling art. This was July of 2021, I started my art career in 2016. I was so excited I could cry. I lived in Sacramento and I found this amazing placed called ATRIUM who sole purpose is to help artist and support them. I found the store online and I wanted to apply. I though, my art is not good enough, I do not want to be rejected. Months after I was having lunch and I said let me go in and talk about putting my art for display, this is it, had a beer with my lunch and when I finished I stormed there asking to speak with the person in charge. Shira greeted me and open the doors for me and my art.
This was happening.
I was trying to get as much reach as possible to get out there and have my art seen. I still went to local tent events even though my art was being displaced at a local gallery. I went to a tent show in downtown Sacramento. I was out there with my husband and my baby and 8 beautiful paintings. I sold 0 paintings at that event. We got home after a long hot day in Sacramento and sat on the couch so sad and frustrated. I started crying of disappointment, I had so many expectations that were not met, I was sunburn from the heat and had a huge headache, tired from standing up all day.
I hear a beep from my phone. I got a notification. I opened it and that’s where I saw it <An order has been placed> whattt? I sold a painting at Atrium I was still crying but it wasn’t of disappointment it was tears of joy. Suddenly the sunburn, heat stroke and headache from that day didn’t seem as bad.

Edda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Nicaraguan artist based out of Fort Pierce Fl. My grandmother was an artist and my family is artistic. From little I wanted to be an artist then I grew up. I studied business in collage. How I got back to arts is a long story that I will try to make short. Deep inside me I knew something was missing in my life I had this desire to create and make art that was not fulfilled. I suffered from depression for many years, leading to suicide attempts and that’s how Art and I were reunited again. I started painting to let go of my depression and depression left and Art stayed. Being an artist was not an easy road especially at the beginning dealing with people not supporting me, discouraging me until they knew my desire for becoming an artist was so prevalent that they had no other option but to support me. I was a starving artist up until 2 years ago when I decided to take my career seriously and really improve my skills by attending art school.
What sets me apart from other I will say is my habits. I have failed so many times I cannot event remember, but I made it a habit to get up and continue trying. That has taken my career where it is today. I am still working everyday and failing but I do not give up. I am resilient. I know what I want and I am here to create my best life doing what I love.
My art is about inspiration, I want to empower others to follow their dreams. To not give up and be the best version they can be of themselves.
In my work a subject that is prevalent is empowerment and inspiration. My artwork can be described as bold and vibrant.
I am a mixed media artists I work mostly on unstreched canvas. My husband builds the canvas for me and we stretch it together. Even when my 2 year old daughter comes into my studio she plays an important part making a few line on my paintings.
I am currently providing mentorship to other artist to help them create a successful career by building HABITS. It has been such a solid foundation for me keeping the discipline to work on my dreams that are so many creatives out there that give up just because they fail one time. There is so much talent wasted that should not be it!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes absolutely. If I would have know 5 years ago that I started my career, what I know today I wonder where would I been now. The first thing you have to do is master your craft. Whatever you do you have to make sure you are the best you can be. You need to deliver quality. After that I will say make it a Habit of working towards your career. Have a clear direction to where you want to be headed and set goals. Persist and have grid. You will fail but don’t give up. Motivate yourself, listen to podcast, inspirational videos and never stop learning.
If opportunities do not arise and doors do not open make them happen for you. You are the person in charge of yourself so take action to make things happen. I waited to be magically discover one day and be succesful overnight. Hard lives lessons tough me that is not going to happen, you have to show up to work each day and work on your dreams you have the power to make your dreams a reality!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is when I notice how my art has impact on other people. Hearing peoples story how a person that you have never met can be somehow synchronized with you that somehow the painting that you created was meant for them. It’s somehow resonates with how they feel and it makes them feel an emotion. Reading or listening to their stories is the most rewarding aspect because I know that my art is serving its purpose and my message is being deliver through it. Art is like a vessel to deliver my message of inspiration. Art gives hope, joy and inspiration.
I remember this time I got a message from a client I have never met that purchased one of my paintings. She said ‘I’m kind of going through a transition in my life and when I saw bloom (that’s the painting), it made me feel so much- excited, hopeful and seen. Thank you so much for making something so stunning and thoughtful”
I felt so much joy and happiness when I read it. Reading messages like this from people who collect my art is the most rewarding aspect that I get form making art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eddamdavila.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddadavila.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eddadavilaart-169402338516433/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/eddadavilaart

Image Credits
Jessica Wilson