We were lucky to catch up with April Bermudez recently and have shared our conversation below.
April, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I’d like to clarify that it’s optimism with a dash of realism. And really it’s a mindset that I try to foster on most days. If our minds have as much power as they say, then having a negative outlook is not helpful at all to having a positive life. So I try to stay positive about what’s going on. There have been times where people have said to me, in an irritated way, “things always seem to work out for you” and I can only reply with, “That’s because I believe things are going to work out”. Not saying I haven’t had a hard and sometimes devastating life, but this is the long game we’re playing. The most destructive events of my life have saved me in a very circuitous way. Sometimes the worst things in your life yield the most positive outcomes. My secret sauce is optimism, with a dash of realism, and patience sprinkled throughout.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m an artist and right now I’m trying to come to grasp with what being a success means to me. I want to share my work because I think they’re worth seeing but having a broader ambition seems a bit daunting to me. If I really think about it, I’ve been successful already. I’ve been in exhibitions, and had a couple of commissions, this interview is definitely on that list, and I’m happy with all of it, A more recent success for me is being in a group exhibition in Los Angeles. Maybe to some it’s a small achievement but I’ve learned that you gotta take any wins you get. I’ve also sought a mentorship with an artist/gallerist that I’m excited about and a bit heartened by my ability to take that step and say that I could use some guidance. There are always projects in the works and on the back burner but I’m coming to terms with being a slow creator. Success is also about not having to work all the time. Sometimes ideas need to percolate longer than others, so you gotta stand still and that’s okay.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think I mentioned a few already, let’s see there’s optimism, realism, and patience. For me, my stubbornness has been helpful too, others may not agree, but I know what has gotten me here, and that has had a lot to do with it. It can also be seen as perseverance, standing your ground and having principals, and there are lots of situations in life where those things come into play. The other thing I talk about with people, is patience. I feel really philosophically about it, not just something you need in traffic or waiting in line. Patience is something that I’ve discovered to be essential to existing harmoniously. And while you’re being patient, you learn all kinds of other things like humility and finding humor in a situation. I think sometimes you just need to watch the grass grow.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
In the last year I have become more confident. One of the ways my confidence has grown is in my decision making. For the longest time I second guessed my decisions, partly due to the fact, in my younger days, when I had made solid efforts to lead my life in a certain direction, those plans have occasionally been catastrophically derailed. I’ve come to realize that lots of the outcomes are simply luck of the draw. Being recognized by your peers has also really boosted my confidence. When you have others that are successful in your eye, in the career that you’ve chosen, cheering you on and seeing your growth as an artist, it is like sunshine, it can make flowers bloom.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aprilbermudez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilbermudezart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/april24seven
Image Credits
All images by April Bermudez
