October Logo Remix: Beatriz Lugtu
Every month, we invite a new artist to take the ThinkNW logo and make it their own. We asked artist Beatriz Lugtu, a west coast Filipina-American storyteller, to bless us with her talent for our October Logo Remix.
How did you initially want to approach your interpretation of the ThinkNW logo? What were your thoughts and inspiration?
When ThinkNW asked me if I’d like to be their artist for October, aka “spooky season,” my culture’s folklore stories popped up in my head right away. I enjoy creating caricature wordings and how you can play around with the curvature of a letter within another subject. So I represented each letter based on Filipino folklore stories that my Dad used to tell me when I was a kid.
How did the direction in designing the ThinkNW logo evolve/change over time?
The direction in designing the ThinkNW logo evolved over time as I laid out each of my favorite folklore stories and dissected them. Dissecting them as in, how can I incorporate these creatures into each letter without fully recreating their full figure, but more so the small intricate details they are known for, objects they hold, and places they are known to live at. From there, with me being a storyteller through my illustrations, I had to figure out how each of those details can flow across, telling a story of protection from the creatures, to encountering them, and them preying over their victims. I wanted the piece to be a bit spooky with a dash of kawaii (a Japanese term for cute).
What are some of the specific elements in the ThinkNW logo design that you feel are unique/cool/fun (i.e., palette, illustration, overall style)?
I feel like the first letter “T” in the ThinkNW logo design is very unique because it’s actually based on a piece my late Grandma used to have by her side back in the province in the Philippines (see photo below). She told me she keeps a bottle of this in her pocket or purse, and when a bruha (witch) or an Aswang (ahhs-wahng) passes by, it bubbles up. You can tell they are one if they can’t stand still and walk off. Besides that, I also enjoyed how I played around with various textures and shapes to give the piece more depth and movement to the objects.
BONUS Question: Which one of the letters do you find the creepiest? And what is the Filipino folklore story behind this?
All of the letters represent some of the scariest folklore I’ve heard during my childhood, but the scariest one would be the letter “K” which represents the Aswang (ahhs-wahng). It is the most evil of creatures that lurk in the night of a full moon. A shape-shifting creature, which during the daylight hours take human form to blend in, observing who their next target is. The elders say if you look directly into a person’s eyes and if your reflection is upside down, you have just met an Aswang. Going back to the last question/answer, there’s a special oil curated by the witch doctor, which will boil when an Aswang lurks nearby. When nightfall creeps in, they shift into a predatory form with a long tongue as a large dog, human-sized bird, or black cat. Following those who are alone, as the full moon shines upon them and wait for their chance to attack.
When did you know that art was something that you wanted to pursue?
To be honest, I never thought that art would be something that I wanted to pursue. Besides drawing on the walls of my childhood home, with the box of Crayola Crayons my Mom gave me when I was four years old and the art classes I took at school as a hobby. I didn’t know art could be something I could pursue until I realized my work could help other small and/or large businesses grow. I actually started off as a Product Developer for eight years in the streetwear industry. So when I transitioned into a creative, I took what I learned as a developer and incorporated into designing. It gave me a better insight on technical vs. design, knowing how to create a graphic accordingly to the object I’m designing around.
What are the biggest inspirations in your art (i.e., people, places, things)?
My biggest inspirations in my art would be my Filipino culture, Toontown Disney, food, nature, and music. I really look up to other artists such as Kane Navasard, Janelle Quibuyen, Brian Bantog, and Ekundayo.
Do you think that you have a style? If so, how would you describe it? If not, why is that?
It took me a while to figure out my style; I guess that’s what artists do, right? Play around with different styles, mediums, etc., based on their emotions, surroundings, and figuring out who they are as a creative. For me, I found my style to be like you’re walking through Toontown in Disneyland and flipping the T.V. on a Saturday, watching the morning cartoons.
What is most important to you when expressing your art?
Creating pieces that can in some way impact someone else to help them get inspired, motivated, and to learn a bit about my journey as a 1st generation Filipina-American growing up in America.
Where do you feel your art is going next?
I feel like my art will be growing away from custom work for others. It will be more focused on commissioned projects with small and large businesses in clothing, restaurants, coffee shops, etc., for their branding, graphics, and mural work for their spaces. I also see my own personal work creating new mediums in the near future to share my Filipinx culture and give back to the homeland/community.
Learn more about Beatriz Lugtu at her LinkedIn, Personal and Business Instagram, and website.
