Monday Musings: How My Art Sustains Me
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. Back in elementary, I was that kid constantly sketching dreamy mermaids and doodling outfit designs in any scrap of paper I could get my hands on. It was always something I enjoyed, for no other reason than the fact that it’s fun. My mother was always supportive and never failed to get me the art materials I requested even when money was tight, something that I will forever be grateful for.
After university, I started taking my watercolor hobby more seriously. I signed up for workshops, invested in proper materials, and eventually even organized a big event for the watercolor community in Manila. That’s how obsessed I was. It truly became a huge part of my life for a few years. When I was still running my skincare brand, I even snuck in some of my own paintings into the product packaging. Perks of being the boss, right? I wasn’t going to charge myself for licensing, anyway.
Then came the pandemic, and with it, a curiosity for a new medium. I found myself reaching for acrylics and diving into impasto techniques. I liked the thick, textured brushstrokes that felt like they carried energy. It was a way to forget about COVID, even if just for a little while.
But still in all my years of dabbling in art, never did I think I’d actually exhibit my work in a real gallery. And sell a painting? That was a plot twist I absolutely did not see coming. I was floored when the gallery manager messaged me about the sale last week, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feeling of someone loving my art so much that they spent P30,000 on it. I mean, I design jewelry too and I’ve sold more of that over the years, but somehow it’s not the same. Someone spending P30,000 on something made of gold and precious jewels doesn’t feel equivalent to someone spending the same on canvas with paint. Is it just me?
Growing up, I always heard the same thing: artists don’t make money. They starve, they struggle, they suffer for their craft. That narrative was so loud it practically became gospel, and for a long time, I believed it. I thought art was something you did for love, not for a living.
But over the years, I’ve realized that art has sustained me, maybe not always financially, but in every other way that counts. It’s given me community, connection, inspiration, and a place to express myself when words fell short. Even when I wasn’t selling anything, just the act of creating helped me feel grounded and alive.
That said, let’s be real - I also like money. I want to make more of it through my art, and I don't think there's any shame in that. There’s something empowering about turning something so personal into something valuable. So I’m putting myself out there more, exploring new ways to connect and network within the art world. Let’s see where that takes me! How exciting.
