Painter and horror comic creator Lucia Asul embraces optimism like her life depends on it. Though consciously subtle, her art perseveres to be an extension of her positive demeanor, radiating a ‘Lucian’ art experience that is intimate, embraceable, and authentically Ilongga.

Lucia is one of the 15 artists showcased at the “Susuportahan Kita” Benefit Art Exhibition, an advocacy fair initiated by the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc., also known as the Kasuso Foundation.

‘Pagbaton’ is her acrylic-on-canvas entry at the exhibit. It is an 18x27” portrait of ‘Tita Rose’ as she is, showing her purest form while clasping herself so dearly, eyes closed intimately, smile seemingly brimming with positivity and relief.

Lucia’s goal is to present her Tita Rose, a breast cancer survivor based in Cebu, in the manner that is seen in the painting. It’s a vibrant depiction of difficulties hurdled and worries healed.

“There is hope. I wanted to show her embracing herself, that she had to get her breasts removed, but she still loves her body,” she says.

Support system

Born and raised in Iloilo City, Lucia attributes her art consciousness to a well-built support system, the values of which she still carries to this day. She shares that her ever-supportive family, who also has an inclination for the arts, paved the way for her to recognize fondness for colors and strokes. 

“I took art classes in elementary. I went to a special art program in high school in Iloilo, and my parents are very supportive,” says Lucia, who later studied fine arts at university.

It is no surprise, therefore, when the horror comic creator revealed that virtually all her paintings have embedded elements of the Ilonggo culture. Pagbaton, in particular, boasts of a ‘patadyong,’ a traditional tube skirt wrapped beautifully around Tita Rose. 

Though extremely passionate about her intentions, Lucia opts for a more subtle approach, electing for Ilonggo-influenced styles that are not too on the nose. She is in love with the diverse ethnicities in her hometown, their cultural nuances, and the rich biodiversity found at the heart of the place she calls home.

“Right now, I want the elements to be more subtle. Sa comics ko, a lot of the stories are set in my home back in Ilo-ilo - bahay kubo, trees, and plants - I want to showcase that.”

‘Horror comic creator’

It is typical for artists to find themselves in dark corners once in a while. Lucia’s turn came in 2020. She was struggling with her style, a problem aggravated by the innate gift of perfectionism that prevented her from appreciating her paintings’ status quo. This prompted a departure from her colors momentarily, instead turning to the nonchalant charm of the monochromatic. Enter her horror anthologies in the form of comics - Lucia’s black-and-white dream diary of sorts.

“I just wanted to illustrate this one vivid dream, then from there I finished the whole comic, I wrote a monologue and posted it on Twitter (now X). And I thought this is a good thing to continue,” says the Ilongga about how she embraced this particular experience and used it to her advantage.

Getting out of the slump

Lucia believes strongly in the social functions of art. She thinks very highly of belonging to a unit, like an art community or a network of artists to support and that supports. She suggests that individual efforts to grow as an artist are one thing, but the inspiring connections nurtured in the process will go a long way insofar as liberation from the so-called “artist’s block” is concerned. 

“Be an active part of the community and conventions. Meet your favorite artists. Really ask them how they do it, and what inspired them.”

Lucia’s art is vividly her. It explicitly tells her story as an Ilongga fine arts graduate battling against nightmares; as a woman in a country riddled with poor healthcare systems; as a creator who’s not exempt from dead ends and brain fogs. 

Through it all, Lucia perseveres to embrace the difficult. She believes in deriving her art from whatever is given, accepting even the most unwanted bits, and turning every experience into something meaningful - one artwork at a time.