Sharmane - I Welcome Experimentation and Seeing What Works on My Pages (Architect, Artist)

It took a while for me to identify my artistic style. Over the years I've explored different styles and I guess from there my creative work reflects an amalgamation of my  creative journey. At the moment my aesthetic teeters and toters from soft to vintage style meshed with accents of botanical elements with a general leaning towards a neutral color palette. 

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I'm Sharmane Coquilla and my instagram bio best describes my  background. I am an 'architect on weekdays' and a 'creative by default'. I am based in the Philippines and I've been a registered architect since 2013. As an architect, art is an inevitable part of my profession where eye for aesthetic details is essentially paired with the technical dynamics of construction. 

I've been dabbling with art and journaling as a kid and visual arts non negotiable aspect of architecture. In 2015, I took my masters in Australia at Deakin University and it was during my first term break when I started sharing my hobby on social media. 

I've been sharing my creative progress ever since through photos or video content. My craft is quite unique because my medium comes in various forms - journal pages, penpal letters, post cards & stationery in general. But zooming out, the most essential medium across the board is paper.

2. What inspired you to be in the field of art ?

As a child, I've always been inclined to different types of art forms. Early on, I've enjoyed exploring different mediums and watching art and diy tutorials on television. This love for art manifested fully as I took up architecture in university.

Architecture in itself generally is artistic expression made tangible through the science of construction. But architecture as an art requires adherence to guidelines and standards so there is some structure to it. 

So to unwind from work my journal keeping and papercraft hobby acts as a creative outlet that has no bounds which is why I thoroughly enjoy it and I find it relaxing too.

3. How would you compliment the beauty of your work ?

It took a while for me to identify my artistic style. Over the years I've explored different styles and I guess from there my creative work reflects an amalgamation of my  creative journey. At the moment my aesthetic teeters and toters from soft to vintage style meshed with accents of botanical elements with a general leaning towards a neutral color palette. 

I say 'at the moment' because from what I've learned over the years, my design style and approach can shift and I like to think the growth as a creative is something that should be welcomed. I'm just glad that my current aesthetic connects with a niche audience that has helped the online stationery and journaling community grow.

4. What are your views about organising the journal and how it helps ?

There are  different types of journaling systems to choose from. I often use it as an organizer/planner and/or for memory keeping. There are different ways to approach journal keeping too. For example in terms of style, you can opt for minimalist pages or be expressive through loud collages. 

You can also choose to have text heavy journal entries or be direct to the point through short captions with bullet journal system. Another aspect is the frequency of use - daily, weekly or as you feel it. 

There is no one-size fits all for journal keeping because it can be different for every person depending on the circumstance. I believe my advice as a journal keeper is to not be afraid to try different set-ups until you find a notebook type, a layout or an art direction that suits your lifestyle.

5. How would you describe your specific style ?

As I've mentioned earlier, my style has evolved over the years. I had a bright-color kawaii cartoony phase. I have old pages that are dark and heavy grunge retro. 

I can perhaps say that I've tried them all. But what has stuck for a couple of years now, and I guess this is my current prominent aesthetic, is the soft vintage botanical theme. 

Lately, I've noticed that I've been using a whole lot of geometric and modern shapes with my vintage stationery. I welcome experimentation and seeing what works on my pages moving forward. 

6. Who is your role model?

I can think of three persons that I greatly look up to in the community. I love the softness and calm of pooichin. For youtube content and style, I adore Jordan Clark.

As for a general lifestyle aesthetic I admire the works of jasmindowling. Not all three share the same or similar style that I do and even the mediums and preferences vary. But I think if you put all of their works together, that's the general mood board of my creative content.

7. What message would you give to aspiring artists?

Never be afraid to try and challenge yourself to explore new things because that is the only way to grow as an artist. As a creative I know too well that 'I want to do *insert craft activity*' impulse. 

Others might suggest to shut down that inner voice, but for me if resource permits give it a go. There will be a struggle to weed out art styles or art crafts that you cannot connect with, but the thing is there is a good chance you will find something that you're exceptionally passionate about. 

8. Which is your favourite book and why?

My favorite journal reference is Pooi Chin's book. It's called 'Pooi Chin' and it is filled with a lot of journal keeping and stationery inspirations. Pooi Chin shares her experiences and artistic process. I also enjoy the delightful photographs collated in the book. I always have it on my desk for when I need a dash of inspiration.

Ar. Sharmane A. Coquilla, MArch

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Interviewed By - Anshika  Maurya