photo: @jam_macaraeg
interview by Christiane Salamat
Manila-based illustrator and visual artist, Jill Arteche creates whimsical artwork celebrating the liveliness and color of the Filipino culture. Upon completing her illustration residency at New York City’s School of Visual Arts, Arteche returned to the Philippines to work as a full-time artist. We spoke to Jill about her artwork, creative process, and how she incorporates bits of her culture into her work.
Christiane: How does Filipino culture inform your art?
Jill: I love how Filipino culture heavily embraces festivity and togetherness. I grew up with a family who loved setting aside certain days each week for celebrations, get-togethers or wala lang, as we usually say. As a Filipino artist, I enjoy incorporating these Filipino core values into my work through bursts of vibrant colors, candid facial expressions and an overall sense of warmth.
Filipino culture also embraces laughter as we love to laugh at almost anything. It’s been said that Filipinos choose to use humor as a mechanism to deal with problems while avoiding tension at the same time. I’d like to think that this has influenced the contrast between the lightheartedness of my work and the underlying message it tries to convey.
Can you walk us through your creative process? What is it like to go from a concept to a finished product?
I don’t really have a precise set of steps to follow when it comes to my creative process. More or less, it starts with an idea. It doesn't necessarily have to be a new one; sometimes, I find ideas from old sketchbooks, the “idea bank” folder I keep on my laptop or even my saved folder on Instagram. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a great one too, but it has to be something I’m interested in. Before working on the finished product, I develop the idea into an entire concept such as how the characters look, the story behind it and the mood of the piece. There are many times when I improvise my way through though, and I think that’s perfectly okay! I think it’s important to see every work as an opportunity to explore and learn something new.
Regardless of the medium, I always like to focus on perfecting the characters more than any aspect on the canvas. Facial expressions and each character’s features are central to the message of each piece; to me, they make or break the finished product! Once done, I repeat my so-called process just so I can see if there’s anything I can add or change to make it better.
When I don’t have a deadline to catch, I’m one to take A LOT of breaks in between. Taking regular breaks have really helped me refocus, come up with better ideas and more importantly, love my work even more. Other than this, I found that having a regular work playlist helps in doing the same!
Where do you find inspiration for your artwork?
Everyday life has always been my favorite source of inspiration; it’s candid, relatable and limitless. As an artist, I’ve always liked the idea of making meaning out of the most mundane things in life. It continues to inspire simply from our day-to-day interactions with people down to the silly moments we have with ourselves. Through time, I’ve grown to see it as a way of recording and openly sharing my personal story to others with hopes that they may find a way to relate with it.
Other times, I also get to find some inspiration from my favorite cartoons and TV shows –– The Addams Family, Mr. Bean and Looney Tunes to name a few. You can never go wrong with them!
What is the art scene in Manila?
The Philippine art scene is continuously growing and evolving. I can’t even stress how many talented local artists there are! There’s such an increasing appreciation and demand for Philippine art, not just locally but also internationally.
Although the art scene was affected by the pandemic, artists have found ways to reach audiences and use the arts to further connect people. Galleries and museums have also done the same through pushing through with digital exhibitions and offering courses and workshops –– all of which are done in the digital platform. It’s impressive!
To see more of her artwork, you can find Jill on Instagram, @jillarteche.
