When I was single, and twenty-four years old back in 1970; I bought myself a condominium on the beach in Spain through the sale of my art. This has always been my focus and inspiration. I knew once I met the right person we would share a life that revolved around art and Spain.
Listen To Your Heart ~
By Diane Leon
F
or as long as I can remember I’ve been independent. Being true to me and following my dreams were vital. I couldn’t imagine meeting someone only to end up living someone else’s dreams. Reflecting back upon my life I realize the importance of my own identity and what I wanted. So many women live their life through other people, only to end up miserable and disappointed. Always remain YOU around everyone, especially the person you love.
After decades sharing my life with another artist, I’ve learned a lot. If you have a career or passion in life never put it on the back burner. For example, the driving force in my life has always been the creative process. I have been a professional artist for decades. When I was single, and twenty-four years old back in 1970; I bought myself a condominium on the beach in Spain through the sale of my art. This has always been my focus and inspiration. I knew once I met the right person we would share a life that revolved around art and Spain.
After years of not really looking for that special person, I discovered art school was my refuge from the 9 – 5 daily routine of work in the music industry. I immersed myself in my art work. Then in my fourth year of art school at The Art Students League, I met John Ferdico. From the first day we spoke I was comfortable with him. He was in the studio across the hall and his class had a party. He played soprano sax and I stood at the door of his studio and smiled. After awhile I introduced myself and we became inseparable. Six months later we announced our engagement in the spring and that fall we got married on September 15, 1979.
Since then we have spent every year in Spain on the Mediterranean. We also have traveled and painted in France and Italy. One year, we rented a car in Barcelona and drove to Venice, Italy and then back to Spain down to Alicante on the southeastern coast. We paint, exhibit and sell our work in addition to day jobs. I also teach as an adjunct associate professor of arts position at New York University. John continues to be my best friend, lover and most important person in my life.
What has kept us together all this time is our respect for one another. We like to spend most of our time in the studio. Unlike most people we really don’t have a social life and devote our time to the creative process. We want to work in the studio as much as we can when we don’t have to be in the office. Balancing the demands of work, creating the art and exhibiting has worked for us.
After twenty-seven years of marriage I reflect upon how important it is to accept the person for who they are. So many people think they can change someone and spend too much energy on trying to make someone into what they’re not. People only change if they want to. In a long relationship I enjoy how we can just hang out together, cook delicious meals, share our art and most important, have his emotional support through good times and bad. I’ve always followed my heart and gut feelings about what I wanted in life. All I know is I wouldn’t change my life for anything in the world. I live the life I was meant to live and share it all with John. It seems just right for both of us.
Diane Leon is a native New Yorker. Besides being an artist, adjunct associate professor of arts at New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, adult degree liberal arts program, she also writes articles and personal essays for Art Calendar magazine, Manhattan Arts International and Hercircle Ezine. Artwork for Diane Leon and John Ferdico can be seen at: www.ManhattanArts.com or email her at DL4@nyu.edu
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