Ivelisse Designs: In Pursuit of Creative Callings

Inspired Art

Words by Sam Lauron photos by Eric Morales

Stephanie Bernard has always felt the need to create. But it wasn’t until she made the leap into running her own creative business, Ivelisse Designs, that she received the fuel she needed to fully explore her artistic calling.

Following a period in her life where she says her “soul didn’t feel like it was on fire,” Stephanie turned to a book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert to realign her creative desires. Upon finishing the book, she felt she must act on her impulse to live a more artistic life, and, having always been drawn to the beauty of letters, she decided to give calligraphy a try. 

Stephanie committed to practicing calligraphy every day for three weeks. Shortly after, without hesitation, Ivelisse Designs was born. Ivelisse Designs—which officially launched in December 2018—initially began as a calligraphy business geared toward the wedding industry. But the business shifted, although in a positive way, when the pandemic hit. 

“When COVID happened, it was a blessing in disguise,” says Stephanie. “Since I couldn’t work on the weddings I had lined up, I started creating more things that I felt like creating.” She adds, “I’m so quick to create for other people, but it’s harder to create for myself.”

With a chance to step back from her calligraphy designs, Stephanie allowed herself the space to process her feelings and freely create from the heart. She started with a drawing of herself and ended up with five other women who are longtime friends or have made a big impact on her life. “I wanted to make a collection during a time when I didn’t feel very empowered,” she explains, “and each of these women possess a quality that’s empowering to me.”

Together, these drawings made up the “Mujer” collection, Stephanie’s first series of art prints. With influence from the Dominican dolls she grew up seeing in her home, the faceless black and white outlines of female figures represent more than just the inspiring women in her life. They are a celebration of women everywhere. 

“I didn’t give the women a face because I wanted every woman to see themselves in it,” Stephanie explains. 

For anyone who dreams of following their desires and creating something of their own in the steadfast way Stephanie has—whether
that’s a business, an art collection, or even a new hobby—her advice is to just do it. “Start exactly where you are,” she encourages. “Trust that you have your own gems, and you’re on a search to find them.”

Art For a Cause
Like many, Stephanie found herself wanting to contribute to the Black Lives Matter movement in a more meaningful way than just signing petitions and making personal donations. So she leaned on her designer roots and created a Black Lives Matter shirt to help spread the message and donate the proceeds to different organizations. Shirts can be purchased at her online shop.

Contact:
ivelissedesigns.com
@ivelissedesigns