Interviewed by: Ronamil Valdez
For frustrated fashion photographer Bro. Joseph Gil Custodio (better known as Bro. Jojie in the Artists Guild), Christianity and Art is his day and night; his air, food and water.
An artist since birth and a full-time dad to Isha, Graphics Artist Bro. Jojie talks about his work habits, difficult clients and the difference of being a Christian artist.
On Conceptualizing
Because I’m working in an ad agency and time is essential, my routine is basically browse the internet for reference first and skim through design books for inspiration.
But when It comes to my personal artworks, my usual concept is about how I perceive life being a Christian.
Here in the Middle East, design has lots of limitation—the culture, the people you work with, the environment, etc, unlike in the Philippines where design freedom is at hand and concepts are borderless.
Here, everyday is a struggle and conceptualization takes time, so what I do is I don’t force my self to think of concepts.
I just go with the flow; my belief is that great concepts come from a subtle mind, so Facebook is my antidote.
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On Challenging Projects and Picky Clients
Everyday is a challenge at work especially if the client is too picky and sometimes don’t know what they want, but because of this daily pressure, I thank God for always helping me to always pull it off.
What I do is relax a bit, open Facebook, go to some design websites and after that concepts just pops out easily.
So far, the worst project was for an automobile company, the design was turned down for the 7th time and while I was on the 8th press ad, I was dead tired of revising, so I ended up making it crappy.
Later on, I was very surprised when my boss told me that the client liked the 8th design very much.
On Tools of His Trade and Software Upgrades
Graphic design for me does not require updated software.
I think it is up to the artist though sometimes a good Hardware is essential, because even if you have the latest software yet you don’t have a fast computer, I think it will be a problem.
As far as my job is concerned, it’s a vital part for me to maximize my software especially when it comes to the demands of the client.
Sometimes a little research helps me maximize any software because in advertising the possibilities are endless.
On His Past and Future Art
I am the only boy in the family with three siblings.
Occasionally back then, my dad would ask us to draw and compete with each other’s drawings pasted on our wall so he could have time to attend to his errands.
Luckily, the winner gets a treat so being the Kuya (eldest brother) and the only boy I always win and get the price (Chocnut or something else).
That was when I fell in love with art, as I grew up I always see my self as an artist. I always appreciate art and was very amazed how they turn a blank worthless thing into amagnificent work of art.
Ever since I entered the publishing and advertising world, I always wanted to be a fashion photographer, that’s actually my frustration.
I always dreamed of having an editorial fashion shoot for a well-known fashion mag and I’m almost near to achieving that dream, with God’s help,
On Problems and Tight Deadlines
Problems, I agree, are unavoidable.
For me I anticipate it before it happens and make sure I have enough Lusot to my Gusot (Solution for my Problem).
I see problems as ways to improve myself so I don’t see at as a problem instead I take it as a challenge.
On meeting deadlines, working with an ad agency demands maximum utilization of time and deadline is like an insistent boss who pushes an advertiser to work even without uttering a word.
Tight schedule is our friend so when It comes to doing designs, it is essential that I finish ASAP.
On Being a Christian Artist
As I sit and listen to MCGI (Members Church of God International) ministers Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel S. Razon, at the back of my mind, honestly they never seize to amaze me.
Every topic they preach contains amazing concepts for my artworks when I occasionally paint and do personal artworks and every time I listen to them, I feel very excited because concepts they tell us about the Bible cannot be learned even by the greatest art scholars of our time.
It is during the times when I listen to them that I especially feel being a Christian artist is entirely different from the rest of all the artists I’ve known.
They say artists have a very peculiar character but for me they are all the same.
Christian artist are the different ones. Now why would I say that?
Because whatever concept or lifestyle they do tells of something that really makes sense.
They tell something that has complete basis and are supported by Biblical facts.
They are just presented in a deeper way, something that is very hard to comprehend unless you experience and learn about it.
With this, I thank God, the Supreme Artist, that at this point in my life, I feel like a true Artist—a Christian artist.
On Art
For me art is life; without art, I can’t see myself doing anything other than being an artist.
Art made me what I am and I thank the Greatest Artist who designed me and devised art—our God.
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