Meet the Artist - Danie from Pasadya

It's the end of the week, and I'd love to leave you with a special treat. I met Danie from Pasadya recently and immediately fell in love with her art prints on her blog. Luckily, she has an Etsy Shop where she sells her art, which is great because that way interior spaces around the globe can be graced with their presence and the world will be a happier place because of them. Here are a few of my favourite works from Danie:

It's the lines, guys. There's something about those lines. I can't describe it because I'm not an artist. But there's something serious and mature about  them that creates a perfect balance to her sweet content. I really admire her work. 

So I contacted her to ask if she might like to answer a few questions about herself and her art with you folks over here. She agreed. I'm glad, because I was dying to know more about the lady behind the art. Let's get to it then, shall we?

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1. What kind of mediums do you use to create your art? If more than one, do you have a favorite?

For my abstract paintings, I mainly use acrylic paints. I'm naturally a messy painter, so I love the fact that acrylic paint is thick and texturized and allows for coverage of mistakes or changes. On the flip side, I do my fashion illustrations in watercolor and pen. I love the smooth, subtle effect of watercolor mixed with the precision of pen. My line drawings (illustrations) are created with Prisma markers and pen, and I use the intuous pad to digitally draw my designs for cards.

I don’t really prefer one medium over another because I love all the mediums for their differences in effects and feel. When I use different mediums, I don’t find myself getting tired of working on art. I love that acrylic allows me to paint quickly and without fear of precision, watercolor is light and fluid, the markers are bold and detailed (and also portable!), and the computer allow me to duplicate elements from one drawing to another extremely easily.

2. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get a lot of inspiration from fashion and design blogs. Oftentimes, I'll take elements from a photo and create an illustration, and other times, I'll draw something out of my imagination. I also get inspiration from nature and my personal, everyday experiences. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful places and people to pull creativity from.

3. How did you get into creating these lovely art pieces?

Brace yourself! This will be a bit of a reading…

I actually went to college and grad school at Texas Tech University for interior design and did an internship for a summer in Dallas at a company that I look up to very much. I still love interior design—I miss the environment and the constant interaction, but I almost regretted in a way that I didn't pursue an art degree (I didn't want to be a starving artist).

After I married my husband, he encouraged me to do exactly what I loved for a career. I have a lot of loves, and at that point, I thought I would refinish upcycled furniture and paint murals for homes. However, I wanted to incorporate small elements of art such as greeting cards, and I fell. in. love. I designed a line of greeting cards, and then I was commissioned to do a large painting for a hairdresser to display in her salon. I realized then that my business should truly be dedicated to art and illustrations. When I paint and draw, I'm lost in my thoughts, and it's like nothing is happening around me. It's a hard concept for me to explain, but when I'm creating a work of art, I'm truly happy, and I feel that I'm doing what I was always meant to do.

The evolution of my business began in the summer of 2011, and I registered the business in November. Since then, I've been painting, drawing, and creating digital illustrations to build inventory, and I recently launched my blog in mid February of this year. I'm still adding items to my Etsy shop, and while the thought of sales is nervewracking, I am so excited and feel like my business is finally beginning to take shape. I plan on marketing my business once 40 products are added to the Etsy shop, and my husband is working with me to launch the Pasadya website. 

Oh, and Pasadya (pronounced pay-sahd-jah) is the Filipino translation of the word 'custom.' In the beginning, I wanted to do custom furniture, but thank goodness that name also applies to my art. When I was choosing a name, I wanted to be sure that the business could evolve while remaining true to its name. Culture has played a huge role in my life (my dad is American and my mom was raised in the Philippines), and the Filipino culture is very inviting and hospitable. I hope to be the same to my clients; I want them to know that their products were created with quality and a sense of happiness in mind, and when they look at their product, they feel as if it were made just for them.

4. If you had to describe your art in two words, what would they be?

Modern and simple.

5. What is your favourite colour?

When I was five, I would always blurt, “BLUE!” That’s changed quite a bit though, now that I’m in my twenties. I don’t really prefer one color over another, because I love the differences and the moods they create. I do tend to be drawn towards bright pops of color and subtle neutrals, though.

6. Have you always lived in Texas? What's the best thing about Texas?

Oh yes! I grew up in Abilene, went to school in Lubbock, lived in Dallas, and also San Antonio. You will definitely catch me saying ‘y’all’ in any given conversation. Texas has absolutely gorgeous, firey sunsets and starry nights! I used to go out to the lake with my husband when we were still dating, and we would lie down on our backs on the dock and watch the sky turn deep pinks, yellows, and oranges. After a while, it would melt away into a deep navy blue, and the stars were just so bright and stunning (these spectacular sunsets are in the country). I have to say that the massive cotton and wheat fields are also absolutely beautiful.

The inner Filipino in me can’t wait to live near the beaches, though! I'm also enamored with the amazing mix of culture in huge cities around the world. Texas will always hold a very special place in my heart, but my husband and I can’t wait to immerse ourselves in new surroundings.

7. Please complete the following sentence: "If I were to be magically turned into an animal, I would be _______".

Dolphin! It must be so freeing to splash around and hurl yourself through those fantastic waves, don’t you think? 

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Thank you Danie for taking the time to answer questions here for us. It was so nice to learn more about you!  

If you'd like to see or purchase works from Danie, visit her Pasadya Etsy Shop, and stop by her blog to follow her inspiration. Sometimes, she posts some of her illustrations with little stories attached. It's such a treat. 

***all images by Danie at Pasadya.

Wishing you all a great weekend.

Xx. Holly.