There's something so endearing about knowing that Amaranth is home to artistic talents that take a slice of pride in being a Viscan. These people that we work with, the Creatives and Design team, have poured enough soul and imagination into bringing life and color to the stories that Amaranth makes regularly, and I believe they deserve to be recognized for such dedication.
For this National Arts Month, I wrote some notes as well as a few reflections for every member of our Creatives and Design Team. Just a little something to cap off February, and to show how much I admire their work for the publication thus far. Let's begin with...
The Layout Crew
Kacey, the innovator
I remember seeing Kacey's portfolio for the first time and noting her ability to create both layouts and sketches. I was particularly excited to see what she could offer after being accepted into the publication, and she proved her dedication beyond just her work ethic. Kacey was one of the layout artists who stayed with us during the PASUC and SCUAA trials. We found ourselves in a tight spot, working with a limited number of people and fighting off creative blocks all season long, but her versatility pulled through at times we needed it most.
If I were to pick a favorite piece from her, it would be the orange peel illustration for one of our Valentine's specials. I particularly loved the message behind the illustration and she is one good digital painter. Heck, I love it when she draws because she does it with so much passion and intention.
She started timid, but her creativity infused an artsy flair into her layouts. Now, I can't imagine the publication without her artistic touch. It's reassuring to know that her experience thus far has been engaging and honing because, more than anything, I want her to become the best artist she can be even after being in the publication.
Paul, the aesthete
Being a BCAED senior, I knew Paul had the chops to incorporate this aspect into being a great layout artist for the publication. As a Canva user myself, it shocked me to know that this was the main medium he used for his outputs when he applied way back in August since everything in his portfolio was clean, crisp, and detailed to everyone’s liking; it was almost instant to have him as one of our newest members at the time.
I’ve noticed that his strengths relied on maximizing space; knowing how and where to place certain elements to make them stand out in their way. I fondly remember Viscans and the online community raving about our Salingkusog 2023 cover photo as it set the tone for the upcoming athletic showcase which was the Uni-wide Intramurals. From that moment on, Paul was able to make a mark with his sophistication and keenness to detail.
My favorite output of his was the collage he made for my Miss Universe 2023 post-show review. That article gained more traction than I thought it would have, and I have to give it up to Paul's ability to capture the reader's attention with the bright and clean aesthetics that had me impressed, but I wouldn’t say I was shocked, because I always knew he was excellent.
Bien, the observer
I don’t know which is funnier: Bien answering that the best thing about being in the publication was to be able to eat snacks, or that the reason that he wanted to join the Amaranth was because of the lanyard *insert crying emoji*. Nonetheless, his skills are way beyond the perks he has gotten from the publication (even if he insists on it).
I’ve known Bien since last academic school year, and when he joined Amaranth, the thing that stood out to us was his well-put-together portfolio. Bien has mastered the skill of making newsletter layouts. What I like most about his technique is his observant nature; what he sees he takes inspiration from and blends it with his ideas. Ever seen one edition of our special publication, Amaranth Jr.? We have him to thank mostly for that since I can attest to how many sleepless nights ravaged his psyche just to have something published for the next day.
I’ve appreciated his creative process through time, and honestly, he’s quite a talent. He is industrious enough to dedicate himself to the tasks given to him. With a little guidance and communication, he delivers excellent materials that I could only wish to emulate for myself.
Light, the illuminator
Ate Light has been one of our senior members since 2019. She has been a former creative head, and a consultant, and even wrote some articles (and did some news correspondence at some point).
Her expertise in using vectors makes for an engaging and corporate style that marks her brand as a minimalist. While most artists struggle with outlines and finding a certain balance, Ate Light thrives in using bright colors and very little outlines. She’s able to make things compressive by making the design simple yet creative.
Needless to say, we carry a little bit of her style in every pubmat that we do. With her guidance as a senior member, we hold her opinions and suggestions highly as she knows what the publication has been and what it is supposed to be. She deserves her flowers for contributing so much to the image of what the Amaranth creatives have been known for today.
The Illustrators/Cartoonists Crib
Andrei, the storyteller
Andrei had a strong reputation backing up his abilities as a part of the creative team. He was multi-decorated in the realm of school press conferences and cartooning contests, and his body of work was already promising at first glance. We found his drawings to be nostalgic and soft as if it was already a story being told just by its visuals. The board mainly agreed that he resembles the likes of outputs found in Studio Ghibli films.
When he’s assigned a task, he has a way of referencing memes from social media or “taking a trip down” his memory lane to find the perfect inspiration. In the end, wherever his creative process takes him, he always puts out an amazing product that Viscans, including me, find ourselves in awe of.
I sensed that Andrei was very sure of the kind of art and the style he wanted the world to see from him, and that level of confidence is something that every artist could arise from. As admittingly stressful as it is, I am happy to know that he enjoys doing the work.
Niño, the constructor
If there’s a word to describe Nino’s body of work, it would be “dynamic”. As a senior cartoonist, and at times, a layout artist too, he possesses an innate understanding of how to breathe life into every project he works on. Working alongside him on the PUV Modernization editorial, published in early 2023, remains etched in my memory.
Nino had this uncanny ability to fuse the complex socio-political themes of the article into visuals that spoke volumes not just to me as an editor, but to the audience as well. It stands as one of my favorite editorial cartoons up to this day.
He exclaimed that it was primarily to ‘enhance’ his skills and discover new things that he joined the publication. And over the past two years of working with him, I can say that what sets him apart is his willingness to embrace feedback and adapt. Need to change some colors? He’ll do it right away. Need a more exaggerated emotion with the character’s face? He’s on it. He approached criticism and revisions with diligence, treating them as opportunities to refine his craft.
Lazir, the deviator
This kid is arguably the youngest in the publication, but his talent and creativity ripple a maturity and courage that transcends his age more than anything.
Lazir’s work has its way of capturing one’s attention. Using bold visuals and striking color palettes, his outputs almost seem to have a twisted edge that prompts you to look again, and eventually, to never look away. He attributes this to the fact that for him, art and journalism speak volumes of ‘courageous expression’ (a phrase that I will be using in the future). I was particularly impressed when he exclaimed that he only uses his phone to illustrate. I remember having him work on our Halloween specials, and we couldn’t have picked a better artist to exemplify the horror and gore that we wanted to emulate from each piece.
Ultimately, he says that it's been so satisfying to work for Amaranth, knowing that he has contributed to delivering a message to the Viscan community. His art style is the best deviation from what Amaranth has been used to, offering a new flavor to an already appetizing array of talents that only showcases the uniqueness within him.
Reyvin, the liberal
Appreciation is a high regard for Reyvin and his stint as an Amaranth cartoonist. He takes up tasks that are usually more political and controversial. He’s a go-to when it comes to making artworks that shape and divide public perception. Whether they agree on his stance or not, it’s his artistry that takes center stage.
His recent breakout illustration was for the Game of Clowns article which was a spin on the hit American TV series Game of Thrones, and the characters… just take a look for yourself.
While he admits that he is not the social bug that you’d expect a creative to be, he makes up for it with the quality of his work. He knows how to find an angle in each issue and capitalize on knowing that the public will be of utmost significance to his work, as its main consumers. A true editorial cartoonist at heart, indeed.
The Newbies Hub
Faith, the romantic
Two words: Coffee painting, 'cause I can’t do that, and that was already a major plus for me (><). In Amaranth, we value the unconventional ways of artistic mediums used by our artists, and she got my attention by using coffee as a substitute for watercolor paint.
I love her way of injecting a certain level of romanticism into her artworks, making the audience sense the delicateness and intricacy of every element drawn. She says she wants to venture out of her comfort zone by being in Amaranth, and with that I want to see how Faith would be able to translate her coffee painting skills to a more socio-politically inclined topic since hers would be the perfect style to engage commuters and artists alike.
Josabelle, the navigator
Josabelle’s first project was the pubmat you see above this excerpt. I woke up the morning of that day’s posting and saw the graphics forwarded to me, and my eyes gleamed with the subtle notion of “Hmm…nice”. I did not know what to expect from Josabelle as a member trainee, but she quickly aspired to the standards that the publication held after that.
After seeing her first project, I felt that her edge was all about refining each element that shows a level of elegance and professionalism that I admire. As per her words, she loves to navigate dynamic compositions that guide the viewer’s eye that create a balance between playfulness and functionality. Even if she still has a lot to learn and improve on, her output assured me that she can grasp it as soon as she gets to work on the field, just like how most Amaranth creatives have done in the past.
Sophia, the charmer
If there is an artist in Amaranth that I am currently obsessed with their art style, it would be Sophia. Yes, she’s still a member trainee, and we are yet to see more of her works in the future, but I hold high regard for the maximalist perspective that she brings to her artworks.
As she describes it, she makes “Chibi colorful story-book-like” illustrations that transport you to an other-worldly dimension. Sometimes, her work amuses me, sometimes it creeps a little bit of fright, but that’s the thing: her work makes me feel something, and that ultimately sets her apart from the rest.
Ultimately, she exclaimed that art is her safe place, that fusing it with campus journalism through Amaranth empowers individuals and promotes the truth more so.
These three ladies have major shoes to fill as new members of the publication, and needless to say, they will do an amazing job if they have the willingness to grow beyond what they already have in their arsenal. I can’t wait to see the great things they do for the publication.
The Masters
Chubi, the visionary
Chubi is a perfectionist; there, I said it. But that’s what I love most about him. Being the graphics editor, I’m proud to see his growth more than anyone else in the pub. He told me that he applied for the layout artist position in Amaranth despite not being confident in his skills yet, and look where that got him now, we can't get enough of his expertise.
Being a “bida-bida” is a part of Chubi's journey in the organization. He thought that Amaranth wasn't as prominent during the pandemic and he wanted to change, or at least contribute to that. Chubi’s story of growth, becoming better and better with every task, eventually prompted us to assign him tasks and bestow enough trust in him to make his visions into reality, with very little guidance. He's the mastermind behind all the publication materials that look like we've paid thousands of pesos with (even though we did not) when in reality, it's all just talent and a little PhotoShop; that's what they told me *wink*.
Recently, I've been enjoying a lot of brainstorming and catching up with Chubi, and I may have found my match when it comes to demanding a lot from them. His assertiveness made me respect and admire him even more, and who knows what plans he has in store for the organization shortly? All I know is that Chubi and I share the same thirst for excellence, and I'm glad to have him as our very own.
Ciann, the maverick
Ciann has done it all; from layouting to illustrating, and even animation. Sometimes, I wonder what we did right to deserve him in publication, but his almost 5-year tenure as a creative team member has been about the perfect mix of potential and growth, worthy enough to be an asset.
Ciann describes his art style as “bright and vibrant, with an edge of darkness that has an emphasis on shining effects”, but at this point, it's his art style that I'm most comfortable with, knowing that he'll deliver the best at all times and get the message across with his skills. I've collaborated and brainstormed a couple of projects with him, and he never fails to put his stamp on each project and make it his own.
Aside from being an excellent artist, he is also an amazing leader. He joined Amaranth primarily as a cartoonist but he was flexible enough to be titled as a layout artist. He became the Creatives head last year and my god, he never fails to surprise me with his work ethic. They call him "Lolo Ciann", by the way, and that warms my heart, knowing that his mentorship, especially to the new staff, made him an integral part of their journey in the publication. Everyone can attest to that, and everyone can agree that his graduating would leave a void that would be a challenge to fill in for the coming academic year. But no pressure, because I know that Ciann has trained the team enough for a worthy successor.
All my appreciation cannot be bottled up in a single article, especially for the team with which I resonate. I may not be blessed with the artistic chops that these people have, but at least I know that my writing can make up for an appreciation that's worth making and reading. Before I end up on another tangent, I just want to say, on behalf of the publication, the rest of the Editorial Board, and the staffers who have luckily been able to work magic with the creatives team, a major thank you. You guys make it worthwhile and worth standing for the truth with the immense talent that you bring to the table, and I couldn't be more honored to have your names credited with every post.