How Creatives Survive Adulting
by Danielle Balanga / August 7, 2019
Never stop learning. Put your phone away often. Read more. Travel more.
If you’re a creative in the Philippines, it’s not unusual for others to dissuade you from taking an artistic path in life. It’s difficult and unstable, and it takes a lot of applied effort to stand out at all, be it in art, literature or music.
However, as you navigate the art scene, it’s easy to see that each person takes a different path to attain their creative goals based on their personality and circumstance. Here are five young creatives talking about their art and their struggles.
1. Jona Branzuela Bering, Writer
How would you describe your creative style?
For my personal creative projects, I test different techniques and styles, depending on the demand of the material. I’m quite partial to the pensive and lyrical, but I’m beginning to get tired of it.
For work, it’s a mix between what the industry needs and what the writer in me wants. You see, in the field of content-writing and digital marketing, it is a mix of everything. Trying different tones and styles that suit the brand or the client’s needs is an everyday affair.
What’s your preferred medium?
Writing
How long have you been a creative?
I’ve been doing it since I was a university student. I remember emailing my first works to Sun.Star Weekend, and to Bisaya Magasin.
Any current projects you’re working on?
I’m working on three book projects–travel essays, short stories in Cebuano, and poetry in Cebuano–while travel-blogging, teaching English, and content-writing.
Is your creative writing your main career path at the moment? Are you working in a non-creative field as well?
I always think creativity has a huge role in whatever field you choose. Some months ago, I was heavily involved in a startup’s product development, and I found the process of making apps interesting, mind-boggling, and creative. Teaching English to Vietnamese students requires a lot of creativity as well, since I’m dealing with individuals with different cultural nuances. And I hustle. I dip my toe–or my whole foot!–into different fields and niches. I always want to be reminded there is something new to learn. It makes life more interesting. But the core is poetry. I always go back to poetry.
Did you study writing in school or self-study?
I studied literature, mostly classics. So my uni days, aside from running a school publication and making short films, were heavily invested in reading. I used to gobble up a book in three days. I finished four to five books a month back then. I can say the backbone of my writing life is reading.
What advice would you give your younger self starting on creative writing?
Never stop learning. Put your phone away often. Read more. Travel more. Fall in love with the smallest of things, of gestures. Always have that spirit, that habit of looking: look up, look forward to, look back, look on, look at. Curiosity always brings you somewhere. Never lose that. And listen, listen, listen.
Where can people follow you and your work?
I muse and rant on backpackingwithabook.com. Essays, poems, and stories are scattered all over the place.
2. Carlo v. Rodriguez, Artist
Lilila Primitive Art
How would you describe your art?
Handmade tribal and movie-inspired art
What’s your preferred medium?
I prefer clay, found objects and wire
How long have you been a creative?
Since I was in third grade, so around 1996.
Any current projects you’re working on?
Yes, I’m currently working on 150-piece bulk order for a wedding.
Is your art your main career path at the moment? Are you working in a non-creative field as well?
I have my art and my tribal band, and sometimes I do marine biology-related stuff.
Did you study your art in school or self-study?
Self-study
What advice would you give your younger self at the start of this creative path?
Follow your heart and never give up no matter what anyone tells you. You are amazing. You will be great.
Where can people follow you and your art?
You can find me online on Instagram, Facebook and Shopee.
And you can find my art distributed in stores such as Craft Story, Turtle’s Nest, Habagat Outdoors, Ayala Center Cebu’s Maze, Maribago Bluewater, Kota Beach Resort in Sta. Fe Bantayan, Tidal Wave Shop in Bantayan, Project Create in Robinson’s Galleria Cebu, Project Yard in Kalibo, Aklan.
3. Bastinuod, Artist
How would you describe your art?
Satiric vintage pop art.
What’s your preferred medium?
Digital and acrylic paint
How long have you been a creative?
Ten years
Any current projects you’re working on?
I’m currently working on my second Zine, for this year’s zineFest. We also have an upcoming show at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery in Manila. Our art collective, Koliktib-koliktib, just finished hosting the ‘KAYA: Creatives’ festival last July, and right now we are working on our annual group exhibit. We’ll also be in the Creatives booth at this year’s Cebu Design Week.
Is your art your main career path at the moment?
YES
Are you working in a non-creative field as well?
For now, I’m focused on art.
Did you study your art in school or self-study?
I studied Fine Arts at UP Cebu.
What advice would you give your younger self at the start of this creative path?
Develop a productive daily routine, and learn to manage your time ASAP.
Where can people follow you and your art?
I’m @Bastinuod on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
4. Chiara Christina Allera, Artist
Kiya Allera
How would you describe your art style?
Inconsistent. I’m still finding a style to work with, to be honest.
What’s your preferred medium?
Markers and watercolors!
How long have you been a creative?
Ever since I was a kid. I drew on floors and walls using crayons!
Any current projects you’re working on?
I’m working on a possible sticker set and a watercolor piece. Still in sketch phase.
Is your art your main career path at the moment? Are you working on a non-creative field as well?
I work as a dentist.
Did you study your art in school or self-study?
I self-studied.
What advice would you give your younger self at the start of this creative path?
Just keep drawing what you love!
Where can people follow you and your art?
I’m on Instagram: @Kiya_Allera
I’m also on Twitter: @Kiya_Allera
Thom Jopson, Artist
Thom Jopson Surreal and Fantasy Art
How would you describe your art?
A collection of weird, surreal and fantastical conceptual characters stemming from the personalities and events the artist experiences throughout his life.
What’s your preferred medium?
Acrylics
How long have you been a creative?
I’ve been active as long as I can remember, but I’ve been painting professionally for six years.
Any current projects you’re working on?
I’m currently working on several paintings for several shows this year, plus one solo show.
Is your art your main career path at the moment? Are you working in a non-creative field as well?
Currently, yes. I tried teaching English to non-English speakers once or twice, just to earn a little extra on the side when I don’t have artwork to sell.
Did you study your art in school or self-study?
I started off with self-study as a kid. I kept to myself most of the time back then, and I just kept sketching, trying to copy my beloved TV and movie characters. I didn’t go out much, so I guess that was a big help.
By the time I graduated from high school, I thought I was pretty good. But then college came, and with it the sense of not being that good after all. So after a couple of years spent slacking (which could have been more productive), I finally took art seriously and listened to what all my professors had to say about art and being an artist. After all that I find myself still learning.
What advice would you give your younger self at the start of this creative path?
Not to waste a second on anything else less productive. Keep churning out artwork while studying. Perfect the basics in art before starting on the manipulation and recreating part. Hard work back then would have made me better than the artist I am now.
Where can people follow you and your art?
They can follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.
