Conversations with Gabby Baluyot

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabby Baluyot.

Hi Gabby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve probably given up on drawing like three times haha. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I loved to draw, especially making up my own characters. When I was about seven, my biggest influence came from watching anime and reading manga. I spent a lot of time at the bookstore and would just flip through the pages admiring the art.

I loved the art style, the characters, and the story. I wanted to create something like that and call it my own. I would study the way my favorite characters were drawn and practice. I soon created my own characters and my own stories. As I grew older, I began to lose passion for my art. I was so busy with school and focusing on relationships that I just stopped drawing altogether. I think from high school until a few years in college, I hardly drew for myself. I’m an art major so I was required to take art classes, however it wasn’t the same as drawing for fun. I used to have this urge to create, I would get an idea or be inspired by something and I needed to create a visual, but I didn’t get that feeling for a long time. One semester I needed to take an oil painting class. I was not looking forward to it, I’ve never been a fan. But my professor, he was so encouraging and supportive, I learned to appreciate this medium and it eventually rekindled my passion to pursue art.

During that time, I decided to get an iPad and learn digital art. Procreate was the program everyone used and I was not very good at it. I made an Instagram for my art and posted my artwork anyway. I got some attention and I took on a commission. This commission did not go very well and I lost confidence in my work. I ended up taking another year off from drawing. Fast forward, I remember I was having dinner with my boyfriend and he received anime stickers from a friend. She had made them herself and I was so amazed. I wanted to do that too. My boyfriend convinced me to do something about it, so I did. I began to draw my favorite anime characters again. However this time, I added a provocative twist. I started to post my raunchy fanart on my Instagram and people were enjoying it. Then I impulsively bought a cutting machine and a new printer and went to work. It was the most stressful few weeks, staying up until 6am, just trying to figure out what I’m doing. I finally make stickers of my artwork and I love the process of it. I’m still learning and creating new things but I’m so happy I can finally create and share my artwork. I have been doing custom sticker commissions for people in my anime-lewd art style and people love it!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Oh man. So my first month selling stickers was going great. However in that same month, my cutting machine just stopped working. It wouldn’t turn on. This was during the first months of quarantine so customer support was too busy to get a hold of. I had orders that needed to be filled so I impulsively bought another cutting machine. I was able to fulfill the rest of my sticker orders, but then after two weeks that machine broke on me too. I was devastated. This all happened in about a month. So I went on a sticker making hiatus for about three months. I think the biggest issue was just doing the research and learning all on my own, and accepting that some things are just out of my control so I have to find ways to work around it. It’s all trial and error. My next challenge is setting up a website!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I make and sell stickers/decals and pretty soon t-shirts. Right now, I am doing my custom sticker commissions. I am known for turning people into sexually suggestive anime characters haha. The female form is beautiful, so I specialize in drawing women. My artwork embraces sexuality and I like making people feel confident and sexy. People want to see themselves turned into another version of themselves and I feel like I have the perfect vision to animate that. Also, it has been very popular with couples. I make everything myself because it’s more fun that way!

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My boyfriend Jay is a huge influence who got me where I am today. If he didn’t push me to do something about my art and his own ideas fueling my creativity, I would never think people would enjoy my artwork as much as they do. He is my biggest supporter and loves anime just as much as I do! All my friends, co-workers, classmates who have been supporting and buying my artwork from the beginning, I owe them the biggest thanks for sharing my work and spreading the word! Really, they are my motivation to keep creating. I don’t make art to sell stickers, I make stickers to sell my art.

Pricing:

• 2.5″ Stickers $3
• Charger Stickers $3-$5
• Commisions $45-$90

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: HoneyGlazeArt.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/honeyglaze.shop
• Other: www.instagram.com/honeyglaze.art