009: Paula Aboy

Based in Guam, Paula Aboy designs and illustrates for her small business, Nalumade, which sells island-inspired products like art prints, stickers, and paper products.

While she enjoys working in many mediums, Paula Aboy chose to focus on illustration and graphic design because of its versatility as well as that feeling she gets when seeing her artwork being printed onto products. Her creative process starts with a sketch on her iPad, which is then colored to breathe life into it. All that's left is for her to add details and textures to enhance the overall aesthetic and make any necessary edits to ensure the final product fits the format she wants, whether it be a bag, sticker, print, etc. Aboy’s designs have roots in cuisines, travel locals, and mostly nature, anything she finds beautiful or interesting. If she doesn't have any ideas or feels stuck, she takes a break and does things that she enjoys, like swimming, listening to podcasts, or focusing on the intricacies of nature. Sometimes, she will even consult her children, which she finds an enormous help. Although she has yet to cement her artistic style, you might notice that most of her designs have a vibrant color palette and speckles, which Aboy likes the look and texture of. However, sticking to one style, for her, feels stifling, which, paradoxically, some other artists have commented felt liberating.

Paula Aboy has come to understand that her artwork is a reflection of herself, which necessarily includes her ethnicity and race, but her greatest influence would be her life experiences. Perhaps the greatest among them is her high school experience. She began her creative journey in earnest here with a summer workshop in freshman year where she enrolled in an Adobe Creative Suite program to expand her skills. During my junior year, she started a photojournalism summer course at a university run by her yearbook teacher, the only one who really encouraged her to keep pursuing art. In college, she eventually earned a marketing degree, which has come in quite useful for her business. Despite delving into art starting high school, Paula Aboy has long since admired artists from my childhood who created beloved characters that still evoke an intense nostalgia. She started making art because it was and is a large part of her identity and something she enjoys doing. As the years have passed, Aboy has utilized practice, patience, and criticism to improve her work. Nowadays, she pays close attention to the details and is more adept at using her tools.

To Aboy, art is anything that lets you express your thoughts and ideas in a creative fashion. Artists play a key role in society as they “have the ability to shape our perspectives and how we convey ideas.” They also connect people with people through the very special medium of art. To all aspiring artists, she suggests making use of time. “Don’t stop creating and learning. You’ll only get better over time.”

Taking a look at her designs, inspirations from food and nature are definitely noticeable. She makes thorough use of color theory, decreasing saturation and brightness and the midground edges towards the background and using complementary colors to make parts pop out and analogous colors to add depth to the same objects. None of the locals feel oversimplified or too detailed. In addition, the composition of her designs sometimes follows the rule of thirds and guides us through the different parts of the design. The background creates a kind of emphasizing aura around her subjects.

To see Paul'a’s full interview, continue reading below. If you’re interested in purchasing products from her, check out her online shop at Nalumade!

Describe what you do.

I make designs and illustrations for my small business, Nalumade. This includes things like art prints, stickers, and paper products, among others.

How would you define art?

Art is any medium that allows you to express your thoughts and ideas creatively.

Why did you choose your art form?

I enjoy many mediums of art but I chose to focus on illustration and graphic design because it’s so versatile and I really enjoy seeing my artwork translated onto paper and products.

How has your ethnicity/race affected the type of art you make?

My art reflects who I am, and while my ethnicity and race do play a part, it's really my life experiences that shape what I create. My parents are Filipino, my grandfather is Indian/Malaysian, and my siblings have Puerto Rican roots. I've been blessed to live in different places, and I draw inspiration from the things that feel nostalgic to me and the moments I've lived through.

How did your high school/college years affect the work you make today?

High school is really where my creative journey started. It began with a summer workshop freshman year, where I started an Adobe Creative Suite program to expand my skills. During my junior year, I started a photojournalism summer course at a university. It was my yearbook teacher who turned out to be the one person in my life who truly encouraged me to keep pursuing art. When I entered college, I found myself exploring various majors to figure out my path. Eventually, I settled on earning a degree in Marketing. It might seem a bit different from the artistic side, but it's proven to be a valuable asset when it comes to the business side of my artistry.

Who do you idolize?

I don't have a specific idol, but I do admire artists from my childhood who created beloved characters that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia when I encounter them again today.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Nature, food, and travel. Things that I find beautiful, funny, or interesting.

What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?

I take breaks to do other things that bring me joy. Swimming, reading, listening to podcast discussions, and paying attention to the intricate details of nature, all serve as effective remedies when I'm facing creative blocks. My children also help me overcome these challenges. I often seek my son's input, asking questions like, "What sea animal stickers do you think I should create?" or "What yummy snacks should I draw?” This process involves them and helps me see things from their perspective, offering fresh inspiration.

What do you like incorporating most into your art?

I like incorporating nature into my art.

What is something that you add to your art as like your signature?

I feel like I am still trying to find my signature style but you might find a lot of my artwork features vibrant colors and speckles. I love the look and texture it creates.

Take us through your process for making art.

I begin my creative process by sketching my design on my iPad. I then incorporate colors from my palette to bring my illustration to life. The final touches involve adding details and textures to enhance the overall aesthetic. Once I'm satisfied with the outcome, I determine the desired format for my artwork, whether it's a sticker or an art print, and make any necessary edits to ensure the final product is just right.

What do you struggle with the most when making art?

I struggle with the pressure to stick to one style. I feel limited when I am required to stick to a theme.

What role do artists have in society?

I believe artists have a big role in society. Art is everywhere and can have a significant influence. The movies we watch, the clothes we wear, the stories we read, and the games we play are all created by artists. Artists have the ability to shape our perspectives and how we convey ideas.

What characteristics do you think all artists share?

I think artists have a special way of connecting with people.

What’s your favorite place in Guam?

My favorite place in Guam is Gun Beach. I love snorkeling and diving out there. It’s so beautiful.

How has your artwork evolved over time?

Over the years I have seen my art change. Time, practice, patience, and criticism have helped me grow as an artist. I pay more attention to details and the tools that I use to create my art have become more manageable through continuous practice.

Why did you choose to become an artist?

I chose to start creating art because it has always been a big part of my life and something I really enjoy.

Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?

Don’t stop creating and learning. You’ll only get better over time.

Is your art geared toward a specific audience?

I believe my art would resonate more with specific audiences when it's relatable and they can establish a meaningful connection with it.

010: Lae Morales

008: Omasu Soto