The A-Z Of Artist Ella Orencillo
Born and raised in Quezon, the Dubai-based creative started her career as an airbrush artist
Illustrator Ella Orencillo combines her love for letters and art below, walking us through the A-Z of her artistic journey…
A – AirArt Asia, where I started my career as an airbrush artist in 1999.
B – Balara, the place where I grew up in Quezon City, Philippines.
C – Craftology by Ella Orencillo, the company I established in 2019.
D – Dreams, most of my paintings are interpretations of the dreams I’ve had. I often say that I dream in colours.
E – Executive assistant. I worked as an assistant for nine years and it has been very fundamental to what I do now.
F – Frida Kahlo, one of my greatest inspirations.
G – Girlboss, the book that fuelled the fire inside me even more. After reading the book, I felt that anything I want will be possible if I work really hard towards achieving it.
H – Home of Classics, a collection by a known brand during which Craftology was commissioned to do an activation.
I – Inspiration, I always say that we can always find inspiration around us. Also, it makes me feel happy to serve as an inspiration to others.
J – January. I arrived in Dubai in January of 2008.
K – Kat Von D. Meeting her was one of my wildest dreams to come true. I was elated and meeting her made me admire her even more.
L – Level Shoes, where I started my shoe customisation career in 2012.
M – Maria and Murals. Maria is my mother who is my forever inspiration and heroin. Murals, I love. I love challenging myself by making them on huge walls.
N – Notes, especially handwritten ones are the best feedback I receive from clients.
O – October, my birthday month.
P – Project:MEGA was my very first exhibition in Dubai. It was a toy exhibition in DIFC held in 2010 curated by Mo Abedin who is also the designer of the toy.
Q – Queen, what we women should think of ourselves. That we are all queens in our own way.
R – Rogelio and Rosanna, my father and my sister who will inspire me forever.
S – Surrealism. This is how I describe my paintings most of the time. Although, I still find it difficult to find the right words to define my art.
T – Travel, I love to travel (before the world told us to pause). I get a lot of inspiration from travelling. Travelling is also a great way to reset and refresh for me.
U – Urban artist. I’d like to think I am one. My paintings are mostly of urban and low-brow pop surrealism.
V – Vinyl toys. A customised vinyl toy was my entry into my first exhibition in Dubai. And that paved the way to my art career here. I also won an international competition for a vinyl toy I customised.
W – Women empowerment. As the day goes by, I feel that I am being directed by the universe to discover more about myself and how to use my gift to empower other women.
X – Can’t think of one!
Y – Young artist award, spearheaded by Sheikha Manal. I was shortlisted in 2012.
Z – Zanzibar, the last country I visited before the pandemic hit us. A memorable trip for many reasons.
For more information about Ella Orencillo, click here
Images supplied.