Coco is a recent art graduate from Laguna College of Art + Design and has a passion for telling stories through her colorfully, whimsical art style that may be viewed on her online portfolio. As a Filipino-American, she paved her way into the art scene and continues to grow every day through her wonderful style. Drawing since a young age, Coco took art more seriously around the 4th grade and pulls inspiration from her childhood, whether it's celebrating it or depicting growth from it. She finds the idea of childhood to be complex, as it can highlight the idea of viewing the world as fun and whimsical, yet bittersweet and complex.
In terms of career choices, stigma does poke at the Filipino culture, especially towards the medical field. My mother and father would tend to point to the idea of being a nurse or doctor, but never something within the art field, at least from my own experience. Parents tend to gravitate to the idea of their children having a settled amount of money with a secure job, which isn’t exclusive to just Filipinos. However, for Coco, her heart was set on something that would always be with her despite these stigmas: “Initially I was struggling to choose a major when I started to pursue higher education. I ended up going to art school because I felt like art was so ingrained in me - if I chose a different path, would I regret not pursuing art? I personally didn't want to think about what-ifs and decided to take a risk with art school”. Art has always been a passion for her, as it has been for me as a child. As I reflect on our childhood, I realize there was never a form of representation for Filipino artists for us growing up. People like Coco are pushing to change this in terms of what she wants to do later down the line, “As for future goals, I really want to create artistic content for kids and teens, whether it's through animation or illustration. If I can make something that would've helped me when I was ten, fifteen, or eighteen years old, I'll be happy”. These changes are definitely taking place now, as more Filipino artists are beginning to pursue what their heart tells them. I’ve personally met a few, and I asked Coco if she met other Filipino artists as well, “I have! It's always nice to connect with other Filipino-American artists. From my initial impression, I felt like there weren't a lot of us, but that's actually not true - there's a lot of talent out there,” and there really is! If you ever attend a convention, walk down the artist alley. You’re bound for finding a handful of fellow Filipinos showcasing their own work on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Tumblr, and it’s almost electrifying seeing your fellow Pinoys and Pinays out there.
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Kristalyne Rullamas - San Jose, CA Contributor
Kristalyne is currently a Communication Studies student at San Jose State University who also has a fond interest in art. With her spare time she enjoys drawing, ice skating and watching various cat videos. Utilizing her artistic skills and the power of words, Kristalyne hopes to spread the love of her culture and represent Filipino Americans, as well as the Asian American population.