AAF Podcast Season 4 Episode 2: Fine Arts and Watercolor with Darcy Espirutu

[00:00:00] Malaika Hollist: Welcome

[00:00:07] Malaika Hollist: to the Arts Axis Florida podcast. I'm your host, Malaika Hollist. This podcast supports the art, nonprofits and artists around us. We strive to amplify different voices in our community by creating us. Space for conversation, education and connection.

[00:00:31] Malaika Hollist: Support for Arts Axis Florida comes from Community Foundation Tampa Bay, champions of Philanthropy. Learn more at cftampabay.org .

[00:00:43] Malaika Hollist: Today we welcome Darcy Espirutu, a fine art student from the Philippines. I found Darcy's art through her TikTok account, DarcydsesP. Her page is filled with beautiful emotional art using watercolors. In this episode, she [00:01:00] gives us a glimpse of our start studying art in the Philipp. To taking the leap to come to Canada to continue learning.

[00:01:06] Malaika Hollist: I hope she inspires her peers to go after their dreams. Here's Darcy.

[00:01:12] Darcy Espirutu: Hi, and thank you so much for having me, Malaika. My name is Darcy Danielle Espirutu, and I'm a young artist on TikTok and Instagram. I'm also currently a student studying fine Arts in Montreal, Canada.

[00:01:27] Malaika Hollist: You said you were originally from the Philippines when we spoke earlier, right?

[00:01:31] Malaika Hollist: So can you tell us a little bit about growing up there?

[00:01:35] Darcy Espirutu: Yes, compared to Canada at least, it is very, very different. For example, the weather, it was, it's a tropical country, so when I went here to Canada, the, the weather was just so cold. But growing up in the Philippines, I was constantly surrounded by people.

[00:01:53] Darcy Espirutu: It's really warm there, like even people's personalities were warm. You get to chat with people [00:02:00] easily. They're very accepting of you. So, and, um, growing up, I, I lived with my family in, um, where it's like a village. And then in that village, my other, my cousins lived in the same village, so we would just like, go to each other's houses and like have fun.

[00:02:20] Darcy Espirutu: Yeah.

[00:02:21] Malaika Hollist: In your community, is that when you were inspired by art? What got you into art and wanting to become an artist?

[00:02:30] Darcy Espirutu: I think my drive to start being an artist or what really drew me into art as a kid was really like every other kid, how we used to watch all these cartoons and all these films. And when you watch those type of things, you immediately, when you're a child, you're like, oh, I wanna be like them.

[00:02:53] Darcy Espirutu: So other kids would like to put costumes during Halloween, but for me, I was, I wanted to draw them. [00:03:00] I wanted to color in their faces. I wanted to draw characters in those worlds. And from there like. There's so much possibilities that you can do. You can create characters inspired by the shows or the games that you play and just make your own little world.

[00:03:16] Darcy Espirutu: And I used to share these activities with my niece who was same age as me, so

[00:03:22] Malaika Hollist: yeah. So what were some of the shows or cartoons that you were really into?.

[00:03:29] Darcy Espirutu: Okay, this is kind of embarrassing to say, cause you know, I'll just say that we all start from somewhere and My Little Pony was one of it. And Adventure Time as well.

[00:03:41] Malaika Hollist: That's a good one. I was very into, um, I don't even know if you would know this, cause I'm not sure if it was around, but they had like Lisa Frank and like Sailor Moon. Those were my big Oh. Yeah, those are my

[00:03:54] Darcy Espirutu: big ones.

[00:03:54] Darcy Espirutu: I didn't know them, that those were amazing. I think in our country we would [00:04:00] even have Naruto and um, stuff from Nickelodeon, like mm-hmm.

[00:04:04] Darcy Espirutu: It was so funny. I love them all. When

[00:04:08] Malaika Hollist: you started school and you were deciding what you wanted to study, how did you find yourself in art?

[00:04:14] Darcy Espirutu: Back then in high school, I had to make a decision where I had to choose either business management, humanities, uh, sciences, or. Uh, arts and design. So I, back then, I actually already filled out the form to let teachers know about my decision that on what strand I wanted to be in.

[00:04:38] Darcy Espirutu: So I chose abm also known as accounting business management. However, right after I submitted that form, like during the week that happened, I was having. Thoughts. I was guessing more. I was like second guessing more, sorry. And I tried to imagine myself with like dealing with all these [00:05:00] numbers and it just never sat well with me.

[00:05:03] Darcy Espirutu: I mean, I wasn't horrible or failing at math, but it wasn't my favorite subject either. I only ever did place ABM because you know, it's a common pain you get growing up. Go for the safer route, you know? Yeah. But I really started asking myself, why will I pursue things I can barely imagine myself doing?

[00:05:25] Darcy Espirutu: Then I started thinking about the times I used to draw and paint as a kid, like making my little pony characters or drawing marcine from Adventure Time. And I felt like that was just the happiest I've been and where I shined the most. And from there on out, I knew then I wanted to take art more seriously.

[00:05:47] Darcy Espirutu: So when I came to that realization, I asked the counselor if I could change it because. This was what I wanted to do.

[00:05:55] Malaika Hollist: It's really great that you were able to figure that out for yourself at such a young [00:06:00] age that you kind of knew what you really had interested in and stuck with that track. So tell us about your early years in art in high school.

[00:06:07] Malaika Hollist: Like what exactly what kind of art were you studying and how was your experience with that?

[00:06:12] Darcy Espirutu: Um, during high school in the arts and designs strand, we were really tackling on. What I thought were hard questions back then, but now I was like, that's actually when you grow up. You realize it's not that hard, but it was.

[00:06:30] Darcy Espirutu: Is this art? When you see those abstract paintings and it's, these things are brought to question and, um, we learned a lot about how subjective art was and how it can make an impact to community because art can be used for so many things. It's so versatile that it, there's performing arts, there's painting, drawing, there's ceramics.

[00:06:53] Darcy Espirutu: There. Art events, making art events like exhibitions or making an [00:07:00] event to promote certain crafts. Those were all under art and throughout high school, I wa I was given that opportunity because I took that strand. However, on the side, for me personally with my experience at that time is I enjoyed it, but painting and drawing just always drew me in because I think it's just what.

[00:07:22] Darcy Espirutu: I kept doing as a kid to high school that I just couldn't step away from it. So at this side of doing all these multimedia types of art or exploring different types of art, I just found myself doing my own art at the side, and I shared it with my peers, my art teachers, and I just really loved that. I was learning different types of art back then and learning histories of it, and just really enjoying myself with.

[00:07:56] Darcy Espirutu: It's so flexible, you know, like it can do so [00:08:00] much.

[00:08:00] Malaika Hollist: Do you feel like the fact that you got to try a culmination of different types of art, it was easier for you to land on that you really enjoy fine arts?

[00:08:12] Darcy Espirutu: I think so, because at first, you know, when you're younger you always want to try these new things.

[00:08:18] Darcy Espirutu: Mm-hmm. And it'll make, it'll help you experience that. Do I see myself continuing this path, continuing this path, or no, because I. I really did like other mediums, but at the end of the day, I really did think to myself, did I enjoy it? The creativity, like there's, there's just certain parts of your brain like that you access when you do different types of art, like for example mm-hmm.

[00:08:48] Darcy Espirutu: In design and illustration, there's a morphological side to it. And for, uh, painting and drawing, it's more abstract. So I, I. Be either drawn [00:09:00] to more abstract works, but there are times where I would be drawn to the logical side of works. But I think yes, being surrounded so much by so much things can help you single things out because it really just gives you an opportunity to know what you like or what you don't like.

[00:09:30] Malaika Hollist: So can you explain to us how you ended up in Montreal?

[00:09:34] Darcy Espirutu: I ended up in Montreal because, In college. I was in college in the Philippines for around two years, and I was studying multimedia arts. So there I was studying, um, design illustration. Um, and soon, but I didn't take it yet, was, uh, coding, 2D animation and 3D [00:10:00] modeling.

[00:10:00] Darcy Espirutu: Basically, it's a. Computer programs, and I was taking that for two years in the Philippines and just before the subjects of 2D animation and 3D came in, the pandemic hit. Mm-hmm. So this is when things started to become harder because we were not allowed to go to school. Right. So to learn, let's say 2D or 3D animation, coding, and all these audio things as well.

[00:10:30] Darcy Espirutu: It's not accessible to do at home. Mm-hmm. You would need specific equipment for that to, to, to learn the most out of that course. And when I realized that I won't be able to learn multimedia to its full content, I felt like I, I was missing out so much. And during that pandemic to make up for this, like somehow loss of creativity because I'm not able to touch on [00:11:00] technology.

[00:11:00] Darcy Espirutu: I started painting and drawing again and during the pandemic it was accessible cuz you can stay at home. You didn't need much materials. Yeah. And you really had a lot of time on your hands to do that during that time. So I went back on that painting and drawing and I found. I found a newfound appreciation for it during that time, and eventually I was like, why don't I give it a try and take a big leap and apply to fine arts in Canada?

[00:11:36] Darcy Espirutu: Because in our, in the Philippines, COVID also wasn't letting up. But it's also because I found this newfound appreciation for the arts and I was like, let's just try to take this big leap. Yeah. Cause during that pandemic, It's just I felt like I wanted to know more. You know, I wanted to learn more about the arts and I, people change, minds change.

[00:11:59] Darcy Espirutu: I [00:12:00] eventually chose to apply here in Canada, so yeah. Awesome.

[00:12:06] Malaika Hollist: So that's a, a huge change. Um, it was probably a, a big culture shock as well. Mm-hmm. I'm curious, what has been the most challenging aspect of it, not only in being in Canada, what, but what has been the most challenging aspect of your schooling that maybe you didn't expect?

[00:12:26] Darcy Espirutu:

[00:12:26] Darcy Espirutu: Well, this

[00:12:26] Darcy Espirutu: is a lot. there was a shock to me here in the art scene because the art scene here is very different. Western art is very different compared to the arts. I knew in the Philippines. Here it's very conceptual. Everything is challenged and there's almost always a purpose to anything you do.

[00:12:51] Darcy Espirutu: And I realize how art can also be a research and. Like if I knew that back [00:13:00] then, I knew art was painting, drawing, you know, technicalities. But when I got here, it was concepts, research, political notions, and it just expanded the world of art to me in ways I didn't even know that was so relevant until I got here.

[00:13:16] Darcy Espirutu: So, mm-hmm. When I started studying that, it was a challenge because, I had to take all this information in and started really thinking about my place and what I want to do and why I do it, you know? Mm-hmm. So it takes a lot of reflection with that. And here too, like you're surrounded by so much art. So to really, uh, see all of these things and all these notions and concepts that are so new, it's just, I guess it's a culture shock too.

[00:13:49] Malaika Hollist: Yeah.

[00:13:50] Malaika Hollist: Mm-hmm. So for you, I mean, I found your art through TikTok. I literally was scrolling and I saw some. Uh, some [00:14:00] watercolor paintings. I was like, oh, these are really cool. And that's how I found your page. So I'm curious, how did you decide, how has watercolor been your medium? How did you find that? Why do you feel like it's the one you are most attuned to currently?

[00:14:15] Malaika Hollist: Cuz that might change.

[00:14:17] Darcy Espirutu: First of all, thank you for liking my art. I appreciate that. And mm-hmm. I chose watercolor because, During high school, it was the easiest thing to bring around, you know, because it, you didn't need the tubes of paint. You didn't have to make a mess and bring canvases around. You needed paper, and that's of course, much easier to bring around compared to canvases.

[00:14:43] Darcy Espirutu: So I started using watercolors and I had this artist that I followed that since I was 13, and she sparked this. You. I ne like, I've never seen people work with watercolors this way. And I was like, I [00:15:00] wanna do that. And it's, yeah, best part was, it's accessible. So I started using watercolors and I was so frustrated for an amount, a long amount of time with it because I was quick to realize.

[00:15:15] Darcy Espirutu: It's a very difficult medium to control, but mm-hmm. That's something I've learned to appreciate over time. So watercolor has this surprise element that, and you can't really control it, so it does things you don't know that will do. And I think I was really attracted to that because you can use it realistically and in an abstract.

[00:15:40] Darcy Espirutu: And I just continued my practice from there on out and I loved it. I enjoyed it. It's just something that you can't have with, compared to other mediums, like with watercolors, oils, can't do what watercolors can, but. Acrylics and definitely mimic oils. You [00:16:00] know, it's just so different. And from there I just kept doing it and doing it, and for some reason I'm still doing it.

[00:16:07] Darcy Espirutu: I'm kidding. I love it.

[00:16:09] Malaika Hollist: You're doing great. They're beautiful. Thank you. What are the themes of your art that you would say? That you are trying to express. Um, for example, like, and I don't know what you meant by when you made this art, but I saw a piece of it looked like, you know, a girl or a woman in her head was, you know, it was watercolored but it wasn't like the shape of a real head.

[00:16:33] Malaika Hollist: It was almost like her head was like floating away. And then she was looking to the side and she had this look of like, I don't know, maybe longing or like she was looking for something. So, yeah. I'm just curious what maybe even, what did that one mean to you, and then what are the themes that you're trying to bring about with your art?

[00:16:51] Darcy Espirutu: Um, Okay, so I'm gonna say that I'm not sure which exact one you're thinking about because I do a lot of motifs like that. [00:17:00] But, um, in general, the themes I really revolve on when I create my art is mental health and really about self-expression. I think it's just so important. Remember that your feelings are valid for what whatever you feel, you know, in whatever you do, it's important and you have the right to express yourself that way.

[00:17:25] Darcy Espirutu: You deserve a safe space for yourself to do that and well, I know the art that usually gets the most attention is positive, like, you know, It's very optimistic and I don't make people, optimism is great and you know, like happiness is contagious, but I also want people to know that being sad is okay. It happens.

[00:17:48] Darcy Espirutu: You don't always have to be happy all the time. You can express your emotions how you want, create your safe space, write things down. You have the freedom to [00:18:00] express any in yourself in any. And it's just beautiful because that's a human thing to do. You know, since

[00:18:09] Darcy Espirutu: I

[00:18:09] Malaika Hollist: found you on TikTok, how do you like to use social media?

[00:18:12] Malaika Hollist: Cause I think it's a great way to reach people your age and other student artists. Mm-hmm. And that's why I wanted to have you on to reach people who are, you know, wanting to do something similar to you. Do you have any reasons why you chose that app and how you hope to use it in the future?

[00:18:30] Darcy Espirutu: Okay, so I took, uh, TikTok because it was also during the pandemic when it was trending, and I decided to, um, put my art out there.

[00:18:41] Darcy Espirutu: But I just love that TikTok was able to show my art. To people. And those people are just so lovely. You know, like they have a chance to see my work. And I've had people message me on Instagram or comment on TikTok telling me such sweet [00:19:00] messages on how my art inspired them. And really, it's an honor because, um, It's so hard to believe that these things happen because I am too a person behind a screen admiring people's art.

[00:19:13] Darcy Espirutu: And since everything is online, it feels like they're just so far away, but really they're just a comment or a DM away. So it's just you're way closer than you think. So when these things happen to me, I can't help but think I reached you through TikTok, through a social media platform, and you resonate with my.

[00:19:32] Darcy Espirutu: Like, wow, thank you. And for being here for on my art journey. And also that said, I really do appreciate my collector's followers, and people support me. They mean a lot. And as for the content I want to continue doing on TikTok and I. I think I do want to continue showing my process and talking about mental health and creating safe places for you to express [00:20:00] your yourself, either through art or in any way you find that is comfortable with you.

[00:20:06] Darcy Espirutu: And for my case, it's art and I do it. Through voiceovers on TikTok and the content I'm looking forward to doing in the future is hopefully doing more long-term videos because I did do a lot of videos about advice in TikTok, but um, I do want to do more about exploring art and just showing them the way I see it more because it's so hard sometimes when you're holding your phone and you're painting.

[00:20:37] Darcy Espirutu: So like one hand is painting and one hand is holding the phone and I'm recording and I'm like, there's just some parts that are so hard to capture, but I do want to show that the process is just as magical as the end result too. So, yeah

[00:20:52] Malaika Hollist: So last question I have is what, what are some goals for yourself in the next, you know, 5 - 10 years. What are you hoping to do [00:21:00] with your art?

[00:21:00] Darcy Espirutu: I really hope that by five years or you know, in the future, I guess I would be able to have an exhibition either with my friends or with myself, and I. I would really, again, also love to make more video content because I love connecting with people. It's such a special connection.

[00:21:21] Darcy Espirutu: You get to have, you have these people who resonate with you, who can talk to you and just they can inspire you for your art and they, and sometimes they'd even tell me that. They feel so much emotions, you know, that's, that's an amazing connection you have right there. You know, you, you don't get to have that every day, and sometimes you don't even get to talk about that in real life with the people around you.

[00:21:47] Darcy Espirutu: So that's amazing, and I still want to continue creating these connections with people. So I hope that in the future that still continues to happen.

[00:21:57] Malaika Hollist: I'm sure it will. You're, I think your art's [00:22:00] really unique and beautiful and it's, I mean, there's a lot of artists on TikTok. Mm-hmm. And I, I remember yours really clearly.

[00:22:06] Malaika Hollist: So I think you're on the right track.

[00:22:08] Darcy Espirutu: Well, thank you. Thank you so much. It really means a lot.

[00:22:13] Malaika Hollist:

[00:22:13] Malaika Hollist: You're welcome. Well, thank you so much, Darcy, for being on this episode. Uh, Darcy is a student artist, so if you want to, can you share with the audience where they can find you, maybe where they can find your tikTok?

[00:22:26] Darcy Espirutu: Sure, uh, you can find me on TikTok with the username, Darcydsesp, and on Instagram with the same handle. So yeah, currently I'm on both of those platforms and you can find my video process there and all my photos of my art.

[00:22:47] Darcy Espirutu: Awesome. And is there anything you wanna add that I didn't ask you? Is there any last words of wisdom or anything you wanna.

[00:22:53] Darcy Espirutu: Yes, I actually do want to say this. Um, to all the listeners out there, [00:23:00] art will always be there for you. So it's never too late to start doing art, posting art, writing your book, or making your own podcast. So don't be afraid to let your creativity run and express yourself to the fullest. So awesome.

[00:23:18] Malaika Hollist: Yay.

[00:23:19] Malaika Hollist: Thank you so much.

[00:23:20] Darcy Espirutu: I really appreciate. Thank you so much, Malaika. Thank you so much for having me.

[00:23:25] Malaika Hollist: Thank you for listening. Learn more about our guests in the show. Follow us on any social platform by searching Arts Axis Florida, or on our website, artsaxisfl.org. We are a product of WUSF Public Media and sponsored by Community Foundation Tampa Bay and Gobioff Foundation.

[00:23:46] Malaika Hollist: Copyright 2023 WUSF Public Media.[00:24:00]

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