Creative Interview
Cake Decorator: Laura Rodriguez
Devine Delicacies formally known as Devine Delights
Cristina Campos: What does creativity mean to you?
Laura Rodriguez: I will have to say is being original basically. Whatever you think of is 100% your work. Just being original and unique for me is creativity.
CC: Did you always know you would want to be a cake decorator?
LR: Yes, I began having an interest in sugar arts since I was a little girl in Cuba. Everything about it just amazed me.
CC: How did you get started in the field?
LR: I got started at a very young age. I always loved this art and little by little I started working in different places and learning from different teachers and professionals. I also went to a cake decorating school in Puerto Rico.
CC: What is Devine Delicacies known for?
LR: We are known for the use of Australian paste. We also have a title in drawing, decoration and sugar arts, but Australian Paste is what we are known for.
CC: Where do you get your ideas?
LR: We really get our ideas from anywhere. We are a custom cake store, so we have all different types of customers coming in. They ask us for many specifics and we have to do the best we can in delivering as close as possible what the client wants. So we might get our ideas from our clients but really we can get it from anywhere- we can be at the movies or the mall and suddenly be inspired or even from looking at the sky. I would say its just talent and having a creative eye.
CC: How do you keep your ideas from flowing?
LR: Well, its just that I love so much what I do, that I constantly see myself looking at anything with the purpose of seeing it in a cake. So my ideas are constantly flowing. As I said, you can look at anything and instantly get inspired and think “Oh, this might look great in a cake, I should try it”
CC: What is your creative process?
LR: We don’t really have a creative process, it’s whatever you come up with or see. Its something in our minds that sparks creativity - it’s just there.
CC: When and where are you most creative?
LR: Like I said, anything can spark your creative side. I don’t have to be sitting in a room filled with all my tools for cake decorating to be inspired or go outside to be looking for an idea. It can happen at any time, anywhere.
CC: How do you break out of a creative slump?
LR: I think networking with other vendors and other people in the field helps a lot. We look at their work and even be inspired from it. Also we like to look for new ideas in the fashion industry. Fashion is so innovative it is constantly changing, so we like to turn to it to get inspired once again. We look at a design on a wedding gown and get that design or pattern or linen and put in on a cake.
CC: Who do you look up to in the field?
LR: We definitely look up to Sylvia Weinstock, she is amazing at what she does. And also Martha Stewart. We have a lot of their books and their work because it is just impressive. But we do come up with and create most of requests that come in. Just because we like what they do doesn’t mean we want to replicate it- we like to be unique while at the same time admiring their talent.
CC: If you couldn’t be a cake artist, what would you be?
LR: A singer.
CC: And finally, what advice would you give someone going to a creative field?
LR: Have you heard of the novel “The Secret”. Well, we try to apply it to what we do. When we first started this company we had just arrived from Cuba and 2 years later our father passed away. We were devastated and we had to be very positive and thinking positive to be able to keep the company going. I will definitely tell them to be positive and confident in what they do. Having a positive mentality really helps to get you going and helps you move forward and get what you want.
