#MalikhainMartes: Kaye Cee Ablat
Youngblood artist Kae Cee Ablat is a 20 year-old Las Pinas based artist. With her vibrant palette, she captures child-like bubbliness in whatever canvas she picks (sometimes that canvas is a tote bag she sells online!) Follow her on Instragram and Facebook @kae.mara and on Youtube at Milkaewae.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m a 20-year old creative from Las Piñas. I make digital art with vibrant colors and random doodles that somehow signifies the childlike creative in me. I also make traditional art with hand painted tote bags of my original designs like Sol at Luna, which I also filmed in one of my youtube videos that surprisingly got a lot of views. I also try to sell merch like art prints and tote bags and sometimes take portrait commissions! I really love seeing my artworks in tangible objects where it is used and displayed by other people.
What does this piece mean to you?
This is actually the first time I tried considering making illustrations that could potentially give way to more opportunities in design. During that time, I was so inspired by Soleil Ignacio’s take on illustrations with fierce and powerful women as her main subjects, so I thought of a magazine-ish concept with a woman in her most natural and confident self and used Ida Anduyan as reference (fortunately, she noticed and featured it on her Instagram story!) Since then, I realized that it is possible for me to use my ideas and art style for commercial purposes if I tried harder and if I didn’t limit myself to just sketching or doodling or seeing art as just a hobby.
How did you make this piece? What was the process like?
I did it in one sitting and I remember not having a hard time doing it. It was supposed to be like a practice on anatomy so I probably didn’t pressure myself that day which fortunately led to great results!
How do you interpret this piece? What is it about?
Unlike my other artworks, this particular one didn’t really have a deeper meaning to it. I just feel inspired when I see women being confident in their skin so I made an art about that which probably tells something about women’s relationship of being able to uplift each other!
How did you start doing what you do?
To be honest with you, I only started last year even though, as a kid, I’ve always loved making art. I never really took it seriously and so I admit that I’m a little behind in terms of the basics like anatomy and coloring. I started taking it seriously when friends and strangers would compliment or appreciate my art. Since then, I believed that I could do it — the mindset that I needed to start doing what I do now.
Who are your inspirations in creating?
My inspirations come from various things, but mostly from the people I am surrounded with. When I realized this, I started filtering my friends on Facebook then added a bunch of artists, and it was effective! When I see them being passionate with what they do or being determined to reach their goals, I get absorbed by that energy and it sparks the will to create in me.
How did you find your style?
I found my art style when I wasn’t looking for it. Just like other beginner artists who are in search of their own trademark or art style, I was also frustrated at first because I couldn’t find what I like. Instead of pressuring myself, I just started to try out a bunch of different things from joining DTIYs to food art and more. One day, I was experimenting with my software’s brushes and color wheel and after seeing the result, I was so sure that this will be my color palette and that doodles will be part of my style.
What drives you to make what you do?
The people who continuously believe in me and cheer for me are a big part of keeping the drive to make what I do. As an artist, it is easy for me to always criticize my works, compare it to others, pressure myself, and get burned out. That is why, having a support group is so important for me.
What advocacies do you stand for?
Women’s rights to feel safe and free in her environment is an advocacy that I stand for. As long as there are women who don’t feel safe and free, those who can speak up and those who have the privilege to do so should raise their voices for them to be heard.
What’s the final goal when you make art?
My final goal when making art is to be able to inspire others with it. I always think of the impact it will make to others when brainstorming art ideas, and it will always go down to my mantra, “create to inspire.”
What advice can you give to other artists?
An advice that I can give to other artists is an advice that I also give to myself and that is to acknowledge the childlike artist in you, make a mess, and just splash that paint out. Art isn’t always about technique; sometimes, what matters most is the feeling you get from creating the art.
What’s the most vital thing to keep in mind when creating art?
Love what you do and success will follow. When this is missing, it is okay to rest for a while until such time that you are ready again to create art with all your heart. :)
Written by Theo Itchon
Layout by Leya Senen
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