Meet LYNDA HERRERA TRAVIS | Artist, Worker Bee and Friend

We had the good fortune of connecting with LYNDA HERRERA TRAVIS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LYNDA, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Success is Balance. Oftentimes we see a “successful” person who is thriving in one area but is severely lacking in others. In the past I put my career on a pedestal at the expense of everything and everyone. I rocked it in the board room but found myself going through the McDonald’s drive thru on my way home. Or I’d answer emails during my kid’s gymnastics practice rather than watch them build their confidence by nailing a cartwheel. I was busy all day which made me feel important. But the busy-ness robbed me of good health and being present in the moment.

The pandemic taught many Americans how busy we all were but how unbalanced we were. We all bought into the lie that we will do our hobby when we retire. Until then, we go full throttle for our job and let life’s beautiful moments pass us by. No one ever says on their death bed, “I wish I would have worked more.” Instead family members cling to their loved ones and say,” I wish I would have watched my son’s practice instead of answer emails.” Or, “I wish we had more time around the dinner table together.”

And it was these realizations that pulled me out of work in the traditional sense and flung me into other areas of my life. I began practicing art and making a conscience effort to be here now. I have a long way to go, I admit. But one thing I am convinced of is finding Balance will serve everyone better because it is the most undervalued and most important work we can do!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from others in art is I draw interpretations of persons rather than exact replicas. I capture the person’s experience which comes through in the colors and the features of the face and body. I draw what someone is feeling/experiencing/suffering/enjoying. Some clients like their beauty to be embellished in art by giving them bigger eyes or fuller lips. But I prefer to emphasize the person’s life experience to convey that the perceived imperfections and the experiences resonated are the true beauty.

What I am most proud of in my art is the messaging. The facial expressions and body contorting expose a life well lived.

In regard to my art resume, I have recently participated in Four Colorado Art Shows. I displayed pieces at the 2022 and 2023 Truth Show at Bloback Gallery in Pueblo, Colorado. All my work was also published in the Truth Show 2022 book. I won First Place in Watercolors at the Lone Tree Arts Center’s Art Expo in 2022. And I was a part of the 7 Deadly Sins art show at R Gallery in Boulder, Colorado. I also sold my first art piece this year!

Lessons I have learned along my art journey are 1)Do art for yourself. If you draw with someone’s opinion in mind than you’ve already hindered the creative process. 2)If an art piece comes out bad throw it away or cut out what is useful for your next concept. 3)Don’t do it for the money! If I make money on my art then great! But don’t let money be your driving force. Do art because you love art. The money will follow. 4)Don’t be afraid to try new things and… 5)Learn from other artists. Some artists think they have to create in a bubble to be unique. But no man is an island. We all learn from each other. Look at different art genres and don’t get stuck in a box!

What I want the world to know about my art story is that art can heal. I have practiced art on and off since my youth. However when I look back at all the times I’ve drawn in life it was when I needed to process something. Art got me through the toughest times by pulling my subconscious issues to the forefront and for the meditative practice. I encourage everyone to practice art in any form (dance, poetry, splatter painting! etc,). For through it we find ourselves:-)

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting I would take her to downtown Denver and find a spectacular view on a high rise. We’d grab lunch and head over to the Rhino district for some sight seeing. I’d also head to Colorado Springs that has a lively and artistic downtown scene with a plethora of fun stores, murals, 3d installations and restaurants. From there we would head to Pueblo, Colorado for a full day of Colorado History. We would visit the Pueblo Heritage museum, Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center and Bloback Gallery. We would grab a chai tea and walk along the Arkansas river to see the murals from local artists.

In terms of fun, interesting, exciting people, we’d connect with the locals. People within a community are the ones preserving its beauty and adding to its reputation. While in Rhino district, we’d walk up to someone painting a mural. While in springs we would visit with and feed the homeless and talk to the candy store clerk about any local lunch suggestions. Basically, we would just connect with who and what came across our path:-)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My greater family deserves recognition for helping shape me into who I am today. My grandfather aka “grampo” let my aunt raise my uncle and I in his newly purchased home. This provided a stable environment where I was able to thrive in high school and in my college career.

I also thank my brothers who have been lifelong artists. Growing up poor none of us were in sports or extra-curricular activities. No problem! My brothers just picked up a pencil and paper and began drawing what was around them. I watched them draw from childhood all the way to the current time. This no doubt made an impression on me as I learned early on art is very meditative and good for mental health. I dabbled in and out of art throughout my life as they consistently created caricatures, participated in art shows and received art degrees. And since the 2020 pandemic, I haven’t put art down.

Lastly, I thank my husband and children (8 and 11 years young). They have provided me love, companionship, encouragement, responsibility and discipline which helps me to stay focused on a daily basis. They are my refuge. My daughter joins me in our weekly (and sometimes nightly) art parties and my son and I relish in our obsession with our two new cats.

The shoutouts can go for pages! I admire and appreciate every person in my family who has contributed to my growth and well being.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbylynda/