041: Christel Aguon
Christel Aguon, also known as "Stel" or "Stella," is a Filipino contemporary artist and high school art teacher from Guam.
"Head in the Clouds"
Christel Aguon
Her art style is heavily influenced by surrealism, with a focus on portraits that often incorporate elements of nature as symbols. Christel draws inspiration from her dreams, personal experiences, and the world around her, which she channels into her work to create meaningful and thought-provoking pieces. In addition to traditional mediums like acrylics, she has recently begun experimenting with digital art, expanding her creative boundaries.
For Christel, art is a unique form of self-expression that allows individuals to share their personal vision with the world. She emphasizes to her students the importance of putting a part of themselves into their art, as each person's perspective is distinct and valuable. Christel's connection to her Filipino heritage and life on Guam significantly shapes her work, with elements of local culture and nature frequently appearing in her pieces. Her love for the island's beauty is reflected in her art, where she often uses flowers as symbols of personal growth.
"In Another Life"
Christel Aguon
Her artistic process is thorough and reflective, beginning with research and inspiration gathering, often through platforms like Pinterest. Christel's creative journey involves careful selection and adaptation of reference images to develop a clear vision for her final piece. However, she acknowledges that the initial stages of sketching and planning can be challenging, as finding the right direction sometimes leads to feelings of overwhelm. Despite these struggles, she finds joy in the process of bringing her ideas to life through layering, color mixing, and refining her technique.
"Strength from Uncertainty"
Christel Aguon
Christel's work has evolved over the years, becoming more refined in both skill and meaning. While her earlier pieces were influenced by paranormal experiences, her recent art is more symbolic, reflecting her journey as a mother and a mature artist. She no longer idolizes specific artists but draws inspiration from the talented local art community on Guam, which she finds deeply inspiring. This evolution signifies a shift in her work towards a more personal and introspective expression, highlighting her growth both as an artist and as an individual.
"The Six-Eyed Girl From My Dream"
Christel Aguon
In her advice to aspiring artists, Christel emphasizes the importance of progress over perfection. She encourages young artists to keep practicing and to remember that their unique perspective is what makes their art valuable. For Christel, art is not just about creating something visually appealing; it’s about connecting with others on a deeper level. By staying true to herself and her creative process, she continues to produce art that resonates with both herself and her audience, making a meaningful impact in her community.
“Like I always tell my students, art is like a sport — the more you practice and the more techniques you learn, the better you will be.”
To read Christel Aguon’s full interview, please continue reading below. Also, make sure to follow her work on Instagram (@art.bystel). Thanks again!
"Xhale"
Christel Aguon
Please introduce yourself and describe what you do.
My name is Christel Aguon, also known as "Stel" or "Stella." I am a contemporary artist and a high school art teacher. My style focuses a lot on surrealism, drawing inspiration from my dreams, personal experiences, and today's society. I find favor in working with portraits, and I love to integrate the beauty of nature in my works through symbolism. I also do some lettering, calligraphy, and have recently experimented with digital art.
How would you define art?
Art is being able to express yourself in a way that no other person can. I always tell my students that when they create art, they need to remember that they're always going to put a little bit of themselves in whatever it is they create. Everyone's vision is unique. Everyone has their own perspectives. You are the only person that can make others see the world through your lens.
Why did you choose your art form?
I don't know, actually, haha I guess it just came naturally. I've experimented with so many different mediums, but I find myself always gravitating towards acrylic. I've even recently experimented a lot with digital art, which I find is so much fun and although the possibilities are endless, I still feel that using acrylics is just who I am. It just flows to me, sort of like breathing. I understand how it works most of the time, and it's fairly simple for me to manipulate. I love the feeling of getting lost in physically mixing colors, creating shadows, highlights, contrasting complementary colors, and the process of layering and just seeing everything come together from the initial underpainting.
How does your background (education, culture, etc.) affect the work you make today?
I'm full Filipino, born and raised on Guam, and I think that has a huge impact on the influence of my work. I tend to incorporate the beauty of nature into my pieces -- the ocean, local flowers, animals, and any aspects of culture I feel I want to be able to express within my work.
Who do you idolize?
I don't necessarily idolize anyone in general. However, I do admire the work of a lot of the local artists here on Guam. It's definitely inspiring to see the amazing talent we have here on our island.
Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from my own experiences -- from feelings to past memories, what's currently happening in my life, future visions, dreams, and even paranormal encounters.
What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?
If one day I don't feel motivated or inspired to continue a piece, I won't force myself to even try because I know it'll show in my work. I feel it's good to take breaks and to just come back with fresh eyes.
What do you like incorporating most into your art?
I like incorporating portraits and fusing it with aspects of nature to represent some sort of symbolism. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the movie, "Big Eyes," but someone once told me my work reminds them of Margaret Keane's paintings in that movie. Not necessarily that my portraits have "big eyes," but that the eyes in the portraits I paint hold a lot of emotion. I really appreciated that comment because most of my paintings do hold stories and bigger meanings to them that I hoped others would pick up.
What is something that you add to your art as your signature?
I feel like my go to signature is adding flowers to my work. The symbolism behind the flowers is that I feel that it often acts as a reminder for me that I have grown so much, yet I still have a long way to go.
Take us through your process for making art.
My artistic process starts off with researching and looking for inspiration, mainly on Pinterest. I'll create a Pinterest board on what vibe I'm looking for and after I have a few references to look over, I'll pick and choose certain images or styles from these references that I feel would best help with the vision I have.
What do you struggle with the most when making art?
I would say I struggle the most in the beginning stages where I'm just sketching and just really trying to solidify how I want the final piece to look. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with looking for reference photos or inspiration that I don't have a clear vision of what I want, which leads me to mindlessly scrolling and constantly changing how I want everything to look.
What role do artists have in society?
Artists play the vital role of giving people a different perspective. By thinking creatively and out the box, it allows others to appreciate how things can be seen through another individual's eyes.
What characteristics do you think all artists share?
I feel that all artists are passionate and dedicated to their craft. Being able to create thought-provoking and impactful work is certainly something that can be agreed upon by all artists.
What’s your favorite place in Guam?
My favorite place on Guam has to be the beach and being able to admire our breathtaking sunsets. There's just nothing like it outside of our island.
How has your artwork evolved over time?
I feel my work is a lot more refined in terms of craftsmanship and skill. Additionally, the meaning of my work has definitely evolved into a more mature and personal expression. A few years ago, my inspiration drew from paranormal encounters I've experienced. I could say I have sort of a sixth sense, which I've displayed in one of my watercolor paintings, "The Six-Eyed Girl From My Dream." Other encounters would be for a later, much longer story, haha. Recently, I've not had many paranormal experiences and have instead used symbolism to represent finding myself as I am now a mother and am entering a more mature point in life.
Why did you choose to become an artist?
I'm very passionate about what I create. My art is an extension of who I am. It's rewarding to step back after finishing a piece to see my vision come to life and to be able to share it with others.
Is your art geared towards a specific audience?
My art isn't geared towards a specific audience. I create for myself and add my own style if asked to commission a piece. Probably the best thing about putting my art out there is when someone is able to connect with my art. I love hearing why someone is drawn to my paintings and listening to their interpretation of my work.
Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?
"Strive for progress, not perfection" - David Perlmutter. That is the quote that I go by. It's so easy to compare yourself to others, but no one will ever be you. Keep practicing. Like I always tell my students, art is like a sport -- the more you practice and the more techniques you learn, the better you will be.
