Hi, I’m Nuel.
This is my story.
I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid.
I’ve loved creating art for as long as I can remember. I distinctly recall times in grade school when my teachers and friends would laud my illustrations. I honestly couldn’t see why then, but in hindsight, I later realized that their kind words would be the seeds that blossomed into my love for art.
The Philippines. America. Across Asia.
I grew up well travelled, and owe my mom for the privilege.
I was born and raised in the Philippines, with significant seasons of my childhood being spent in San Francisco, where I fell in love with the beautiful cityscape.
My mom also made it a point for us to travel every year to expose us to different cultures, and show us just how big the world is, and—ultimately—how endless the possibilities are if only one has the courage to dream.
A creative. Through and through.
From the get-go, I knew that I wanted to pursue a creative career, so I got my bachelor’s in Multimedia Arts and Sciences from the Philippines’ premiere engineering institute, Mapúa University in Manila back in 2017.
The program offered a holistic approach across many creative disciplines including traditional and digital art, photography, cinematography, photo and video editing, 2D and 3D animation, copywriting, graphic design, web design, and film arts.
This equipped me with an incredibly diverse skill-set that would later on prove to be invaluable as I enter the industry.
Rising.
A game artist.
Straight out of graduation, I was immediately hired by the company I interned for: Skywind Group.
As a junior game artist with a background in multimedia, I was placed on heavy rotations around various teams such as static art, animation, marketing, and technical art, to better hone my skills, attention to detail, and discover my affinities.
This experience dramatically impacted and grew my work ethic. I realized no task is impossible if you set your heart and mind to accomplishing it.
Embracing multimedia.
After my time at Skywind Group, I ventured into true multimedia work. I sent in an application to be the Asian Poker Tour’s Senior Multimedia Designer, a position which promoted competitive entry. An illustration exam was given to gauge how designers would approach creating for the brand.
My entry was chosen, and made the official artwork for their upcoming tournament stop.
See below.
Entire tournaments. Designed by me.
I was thrust into a new yet familiar world of design work. Every creative discipline I had in my arsenal was put to the test:
Logo design
Brand identity
Illustration
Web design
Print design and pre-production
Venue design
Motion graphics
2D animation
Layout
Typography
Video editing
Presentation design
I relished in the satisfaction of putting together an insurmountable amount of designs that kept the brand going, powering through even the toughest of times especially during the height of the pandemic.
Proof enough that good design is crucial for a brand’s survival.
Onward bound.
Halfway through 2020, I started pursuing my post-graduate diploma in Graphic Design at VCC while working for the APT. This decision was heavily influenced by my new-found fascination with Design from working with them.
It is one of my greatest achievements to have been able to consistently deliver excellence in both my professional and student works through discipline, integrity, and being hella organized.
End of a chapter.
After two years, I left the APT. And as I got ready to depart for Vancouver and bid my life in Manila farewell, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of nostalgia as I reflect. This was a moment in time when I could literally feel a chapter in my life coming to a beautiful close.
Onward to greater things, onward to Vancouver.
Bidding my workplace of 4 years farewell.
RCBC Plaza
New beginnings.
“If you only do what you can, you will never be more than what you are.”
- Master Shifu (Kung Fu Panda)
I live by these words with a profound conviction, and believe in them fiercely. The exhilarating rush of running towards the best version of oneself can be terrifying, yes, but as anybody will easily tell you, it is ultimately rewarding. I have left the life I’ve known in the name of this pursuit, and I would do it all over again.
Everyday, I wake up with gratitude, grateful to be in Vancouver and the privilege coupled with hard work that has brought me here; to this beautiful city that has called to me since I was 13, and is yet to keep me from catching my breath in awe of it, and whispering to myself,
“Wow, I live here now.”