Hello! Please introduce yourself.
Hello! My name is Bel Weber, I like cats, the color yellow, and I am currently a freelance illustrator. Nowadays, I work mostly in digital but with the personal goal of working on my traditional roots.
How exactly did you fall in love with art? Was it something you always wanted to do growing up?
It was something I’ve been doing for as long as I could remember! I would go through reams of paper just drawing and drawing. I was on my own a lot as a kid, but I never noticed because I always got to do something I really enjoyed.
Formal training never really crossed my mind growing up and thought it was too late (and too expensive) at some point, so I just thought to learn things on my own and attend workshops instead.
What was the turning point for you that made you pursue a career in art?
It actually came really late lol. I was studying Multimedia Arts in college but never really thought I could bring my passion for illustration into my future. I thought I was stuck with advertising and convinced myself I was okay with that (not that there’s anything wrong with advertising hehe u do u boo). It was only until my 3rd or 4th year, when our publication org had a talk with illustrator/designer Raxenne Maniquiz (i luv u), that I was just…blown away. I realized it was possible. It was the moment na, “Oh my gad, may ganito pala dito.” After that talk and being pushed further to go for it by this random guy named Rj Camacho (who is now my partner), here I am!
I’ve always felt a little lonely and found interpersonal communication really difficult and tiring, but realizing I could actually help people feel less alone just gave me more purpose and made me feel less alone too.
How did you manage to find your voice as an artist? Did you find it difficult or did you immediately know what kind of artist you wanted to be?
I didn’t really know at first…I honestly just really wanted to draw, especially when I was really angry or sad and sometimes even happy. I decided to post them ‘cause I didn’t think there was much else I could do with them. Eventually, I realized that my work actually offered a shared experience. It made people feel things and I found that really exciting and beautiful. I’ve always felt a little lonely and found interpersonal communication really difficult and tiring, but realizing I could actually help people feel less alone just gave me more purpose and made ME feel less alone too.
How would you describe your personal style to someone who can’t see?
I like to draw unrealistic, partially nude people being unrealistic and kind of ironic. I like using solid shapes and really bright colors that I’ve been told don’t really go together but work anyway [laughs].
Lastly, what’s the future like for you?
I wanna draw and keep making things until I die mehn [laughs]. I don’t really know what the future has in store for me, no one does, but I’m really excited for it! I’ve wasted a lot of time and opportunities because of fear and anxiety and to that I say, “No more!!!”
