Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kenneth de Vito of Oak Park/Conejo Valley

We recently had the chance to connect with Kenneth de Vito and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kenneth, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My many thanks to you for this opportunity!

A normal day these days consists of working on three paintings (all three in acrylics) and two musical compositions (a symphony for strings & timpani and a piece for solo piano). I spend approximately 3 to 4 hours painting and the same amount of time composing. Every other day includes a trip to the gym.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a self-trained artist, classically trained composer and classical guitarist.

I consider myself an aesthete in the best sense of the word, a passionate lover of beauty and of the visual, performing and literary arts. Works in these fields have the ability to enrich and uplift. With my own artistic efforts, I try my best to create paintings–and music–that do just that. I am not saying that I achieve those goals…but those are my goals! I am addicted to beauty!

Line, color, shape, texture, dynamics and form are elements of both painting and music composition. My intention with my painting is to incorporate my training as a composer to integrate the musical with the visual to create vibrant, colorful, aesthetically and emotionally impactful paintings.

My first painting, done in oils, Il Mondo dei Sogni (The World of Dreams) was executed in 1973. After a hiatus of almost 47 years, I returned to painting in January 2020. Working primarily in acrylics but on occasion in oils, I have over 100 paintings in my portfolio.

I have my Bachelor of Music degree in composition, magna cum laude, from California State University Northridge where my primary composition teacher was the distinguished Cuban-American composer, Aurelio de la Vega. I also studied composition with Daniel Kessner and Frank Campo, classical guitar with George Vick and cello with Magaret Auë. I received my M.A. and Ph.D. in composition from UCLA where my primary composition teacher was the Bulgarian-American composer Henri Lazarof. My other teachers included Paul Reale and Paul Des Marais.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My friendship with the distinguished Cuban-American composer Dr. Aurelio de la Vega. I met Aurelio in September 1974 when I began my music composition studies at California State University Northridge. He was my primary composition teacher there and I considered him my composition teacher/mentor until he passed in February 2022. Over the last six years of his life he became one of my closest friends.

He also had a profound impact on my becoming a painter. Aurelio loved art passionately, had done some excellent painting and drawing himself and was a very serious collector/connoisseur. After I started painting in January 2020 I would bring my latest work when I visited him for our weekly lunch and/or dinner. He responded very positively to much of my work and was incredibly supportive and encouraging. And when he acquired, framed and hung three of my paintings in his home, my pride knew no bounds. I consider it a great honor.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
January 2020 when I changed my mind and turned my dining room into my studio.

In 2018 my girlfriend at the time wanted me to do a painting for her similar in style (surrealistic) to one I painted in 1973 entitled “Il Mondo dei Sogni” (The World of Dreams). To that end, for Christmas gifts, she got me paints, brushes, easel paper, instructional books, etc. The only possible place I had to paint was my dining room but I didn’t want to turn into a studio. So we returned all the supplies.

A very determined lady, the next Christmas she again gifted me art supplies. This time I changed my mind regarding my dining room. Beginning in the first week of the new year I began painting in my new “studio”. If not for her determination and my decision to “sacrifice” my dining room, I would not have had the great pleasure and fulfillment of painting for the last six years.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
When I was younger I did not take life and myself seriously…very naive and very wrong! My approach to living was sometimes frivolous and I took too many things lightly.

I have a very different attitude/approach now.

However, in taking one’s life, one’s goals, and oneself seriously one must do it properly: without arrogance, affectation or pomposity.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
It might be frustrating at times but, yes, definitely…I give my best always!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.kennethdevitoart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennethdevitoart