Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Bantug.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I found myself interested in art at an early age – may be as young as five years old. I can still remember the first time someone acknowledged my drawings in grade school, which in turn, made me realize that I had a pretty good knack at it. I grew up in the 90’s so I tried drawing a bunch of cartoon characters from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, such as Spongebob and Courage the Cowardly Dog – and even had classmates asking me to draw certain characters for them. Fast-forward to my teens, I took art classes that had me explore other types of mediums such as paint and charcoal. For a time, I was painting a bit – such as portraits, landscapes, abstract stuff – but have yet to dive back into that (although I really hope to in the near future).
After high school, I went to college on and off, attempting some art classes here and there but never could stay put. Eventually, in my mid-20’s I took a leap and signed up for classes at a local graphic design college: San Diego Platt College. Here, I learned the in’s and out’s of what graphic design was about and how to utilize the programs needed to be a professional in this field. That was in 2019, and come 2020, the pandemic hit and the restaurant I worked at closed because of it. I was stuck at home, bored, and unsure of what’s to come considering the major events. I wasn’t doing too much freelance design then except for a project or two. I then made a decision to invest in an iPad to start digitally drawing using the drawing app, Procreate – I think I used it as a form of escape during those weird times. I did find myself drawing again, and enjoying it, and practicing day-by-day. Long story short, I opened up my first Etsy shop, selling an eclectic variety of my art and designs printed on merchandise such as prints, mugs, clothing, and blankets. Not too soon after opening that shop, I decided to shift gears and started selling surrealism photo collage prints, renaming my shop Dreamworld Aesthetics. I hope to re-open that shop soon, but at the moment that’s on pause because as of late, I’ve been heavily focusing on establishing my freelance graphic design business: IMGTIN.
To elaborate, ‘IMGTIN’ is a play on words, using the abbreviation for ‘image’ and a shortened version of my name ‘Tina,’ referring to my name and a physical container, such as a tin can. In short, it means a collective of imagery. My main goal with IMGTIN is to provide graphic design services to small businesses or to anyone else looking for design services. I hope to deliver any client’s intended message through my skill of creating bright and bold digital content. I’m excited for the growth in my design skills, as well as the growth of IMGTIN, Dreamworld Aesthetics, and any other future entrepreneurial ventures.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been the smoothest road getting to where I am now. Honestly, it hasn’t always been clear as to what I ultimately want to focus on in art or design (and in plenty of cases, it still isn’t clear) but I think there’s also beauty in the not knowing. These ‘struggles’ create backbone and experience. All the trial-and-errors and learning curves that come along with being an artist or a graphic designer pays off in the end. It’s all about trusting the process and consistently developing your skill and range.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well, as a graphic designer, I’ve been keeping focus on creating logo designs, branding, vector illustrations, and surreal collages – but I believe that the art of experimentation in art and design never ends. I think that’s what sets me apart too, is that I don’t want to completely limit my skillset to one niche. I think this allows for a variation of fun and interesting projects down the line. With that being said, I’m proud of the fact that I have a desire to challenge myself in learning new styles and techniques to better serve my clients and ultimately, myself.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Being my authentic self matters a lot to me. I’ve experienced years of self-doubt, and although this is a feeling that somehow continues to linger, I’ve made it a promise to not lose sight of who I am and the morals I have. My work requires a lot of time on social media, and it’s unfortunate how easy it is these days to fall in the traps of trendy personas. I just want to stay true to myself as much as possible, with room to grow organically rather than molding myself into whatever society deems ‘in.’ And of course, my loved ones and my free time matter a great deal too.
Contact Info:
- Email: tinabantugart@gmail.com
- Website: https://imgtin.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/imgtin
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/imgtin_
