Aziza Espina Daksla by Khail Santia

Aziza and Khail

For our feature this week, we have another digital artist. It is possible to practice both digital and traditional media in the visual arts.

KS: Despite the financial challenges and the demands of a course alien to your talent, you never neglected your art.

AED: If I did, my life would lose its meaning.

Aziza  grew up in humble circumstances and had been gently steered away from art to take a more "practical" path. She persevered in her passion, eventually becoming one of Dumaguete's most admired digital artists with a growing roster of local and international clients to her name.

KS:  In the pre-interview, you told me you were born inside your home in Vallehermoso. How was it like for you growing up?

AED: My mother was an elementary school teacher and my father worked as a driver in Saudi Arabia. During my kindergarten years, we were mostly alone with mother.

KS: Part of what I love about your story is you showed that we can have a dignified livelihood without leaving our families behind by taking advantage of digital technology and the internet. But bring us back to the beginning, why did you choose to pursue art?

T-shirt design

AED: I think I was born to make art. From childhood onwards, I feel happy every time I get to color or draw something new; or when I get recognized for my artsy efforts. This might be trite but nonetheless true, doing art gives me a profound sense of fulfillment.

KS:  You don’t remember struggling to acquire drawing skills?

AED: I started on coloring books. Then copied the characters on “text” cards we played with in school. I also copied manga. I was just having fun with drawing.

            In high school, I got fascinated with Photoshop - the ancient version with the feathers logo. We couldn’t afford a computer. So I would download photoshop tutorials on a diskette through a dial-up connection somewhere, then go to a cousin’s house to try them out. Men, it was a hard life.

           

"Pogi" acrylic on canvas

KS: When did you first receive validation for your art?

AED: I remember two teachers in elementary school. The first, Ma’am Duran, praised me to the whole class for the lettering work I did on our bulletin board. The second, Ma’am Sinco, really liked an artwork I made of a pig.

KS: After high school, you went to Marawi City. How did that come about?

AED: There were two of us in the family who needed to go to college by that time. We went to Mindanao State University in Marawi because the tuition in Dumaguete was too expensive. In MSU, we only had to pay 100 pesos each per semester. We stayed with relatives on our father’s side.

"Tingin" acrylic on canvas

KS:  You said you had no choice in MSU but to take up software engineering, a course heavy in programming, when you are very visual by nature. How did you keep yourself together?

AED: I did not waver in nurturing my art. I accepted small commissions. I joined art contests. And I was active in the school’s art club.

            

I was lucky to have a best friend who was gung ho about our studies. She was our magna cum laude. Under her influence, I finished cum laude but barely. It was pure hard work for me.

KS: After college, how were you able to build a career as a digital artist?

Poster design

AED: I wasn’t really aware that you could have a serious career as a digital artist until I began job hunting in Cebu and saw many openings for graphic arts and web design. I tidied my portfolio then put it up in DeviantArt.com. The work just came in from there. I got accepted as a Senior Web Developer and  Graphic Artist in Cebu. After that, I returned to Dumaguete to put up a t-shirt business.

At present, I am a virtual staffer for a web design company based in New Zealand. Local commissions continue to come in. I did the graphics work for the Belltower Project. The same and some stage set painting for Ampalaya the Musical.

KS: Please describe your creative process.

AED: I start with a free sketch. Then things would begin to flow. When I run out of ideas, I look at existing art. I always listen to music when I work.

Arkitektura T-shirt design

KS: What fuels your work?

AED: Knowing that I still have a long way to go keeps me motivated to work and improve everyday.

KS: Tell us about a project you’re currently working on.

AED: I am currently doing the art for Belltower Kwatro. I am still stuck at the moment and it is a struggle. What I like about Belltower is they leave it up to me to dream up the art for the project. And of course, I like to help in promoting local music.

KS:  What can you say to aspiring digital artists who want to follow in your footsteps?

AED: Don’t stop drawing. Don’t be afraid to put your work out there.

See more of Aziza’s art at:

behance.net/zingzang