How Paulina Constancia Weaves Whimsy and Wisdom in Her Art
Paulina Constancia is a Filipino artist now living in Vancouver, Canada. Her art is full of color, warmth, and playful storytelling, inspired by her childhood in the tropics, her travels, and her love for animals. In this interview, she shares how her life experiences shape her creativity—from growing up surrounded by nature to using found materials in her work. She also talks about how she helps people heal through art and blends fun, lighthearted visuals with more profound messages about life and society. Through her words, we see how art can unite people, start meaningful conversations, and help us look at the world in new and thoughtful ways.
Paulina Constancia is a multidisciplinary naïf artist hailing from the vibrant landscapes of Cebu, Philippines, and currently drawing inspiration from the creative hub of Vancouver, BC, Canada. Her artistic expression is rooted in color, humor, empathy, love, and a childlike perspective. Her experience in design and music and her educational background in communications and languages developed her into a visual storyteller who finds form, rhythm, and a story waiting to be told wherever she goes. “Naïve art is an extremely personal vision of the world,” reflects Paulina Constancia, whose works are deeply intertwined with her own experiences. Each collection and series represents a chapter of her life, delving into intimate topics that hold a special place in her heart.
This personal connection defines her as a naïf artist, bringing forth a genuine and heartfelt exploration of the human experience through her visual and literary art. Paulina primarily paints on canvas, sometimes incorporating stitching, but works with textiles and found materials, imbuing each piece with the vibrant colors of her childhood spent in the tropics and her serendipitous encounters while traveling abroad. Her works often feature a smiling sun or curious humans looking out at you, usually accompanied by animal companions, weaving life metaphors and social commentaries beneath her whimsical treatment of everyday themes. Paulina has exhibited her art globally, including in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, The Netherlands, Mexico, and various cities in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Her art finds homes in permanent public and private collections, including esteemed institutions such as the Musée International d’art naïf de Magog, Telus SPARK Science Centre-Creative Kids Museum, BC Children’s Hospital, and Alberta Children’s Hospital in Canada, as well as the Galerija likovnih samorastnikov Trebnje (Gallery of Naive Artists Trebnje) in Slovenia, and the Haarlemmermeer City Hall in the Netherlands.
1. Your art is vibrant and whimsical, often featuring curious humans and animals. What inspires these recurring themes and symbols?
I grew up surrounded by animals—our home was always filled with dogs, and summers spent in a coastal town brought close encounters with carabaos (water buffalo), crabs, and fish. Later, I spent some of my most creative studio years on a rural farm, constantly in the company of goats, cows, chickens, monitor lizards, dogs, and cats. Naturally, these creatures regularly appear in my work because they’ve been an integral part of my world!
Inspired by countless hours of childhood hide-and-seek, I love to weave life metaphors and social commentaries between layers of color and whimsy.
Paulina Constancia
2. Growing up in the tropics and traveling abroad influences your palette and materials. How do these experiences shape your storytelling through art?
I’ve realized how similar we all are through the people and cultures I’ve encountered. While accents and customs may vary, the core human desires remain universal: a chance to love, connect, grow, contribute, and witness each other’s journey. This realization profoundly influences the way I tell stories through my art. I enjoy diving into what things are made of and exploring their connections. I also love creating connections where none may seem to exist—it’s about finding common threads or looking at things from a fresh perspective to see how they fit together.
3. As an expressive arts facilitator, how do you use art to inspire healing and transformation in your workshops?
Different groups come with unique needs and focus points. For instance, I facilitated a workshop for Japanese students visiting my hometown for the first time. They were unaware of the atrocities suffered by Filipinos during the Japanese occupation. In wartime Cebu, the warning cry ‘Naanang mga Hapon!’ (The Japanese are here!) meant you needed to run for your life to avoid torture, rape, or death. For the ‘PANYONG PUTI’ (The White Handkerchief Project), I invited the students of Kindai University to create individual peace offerings to the Filipino people. Waving a white handkerchief during wartime signified a plea for peace. By the workshop’s end, these students illustrated on the white handkerchiefs provided: ‘We bring peace; we wish to make friends.’
Today, we say, ‘The Japanese are here,’ but there is no need for fear. As an expressive arts facilitator, I aim to make people feel at home, reassuring them that anything made with sincerity and from the heart is beautiful because it’s truly their own. This encourages participants to reconnect with the child within—whether joyful, scared, or adventurous—allowing them to play freely. I ensure many materials are available for this exploration, keeping it simple and accessible so that participants can feel the freedom of play without the pressure of expensive materials.
When people first encounter my work, the color and whimsy draw them in. This approach mirrors real life: if you want to be heard, it’s better to speak with kindness and respect rather than anger. The same principle applies in art—an inviting, playful visual opens up the space for deeper engagement. I tailor the visuals and subtle delivery accordingly, depending on the message I want to communicate. Take my piece, ‘Cokeconuts,’ for example. It plays on words and features a seemingly lighthearted scene, but beneath that surface, it tackles an important issue: nutrition. In the piece, a vendor sells fresh coconuts—a symbol of healthy food—while her child is on their third bottle of Coke. This juxtaposition comments on parents’ nutritional choices for their children, an issue not only in the Philippines but globally. Despite having access to wholesome, natural food, many still choose the unhealthier options, and this irony is something I wanted to highlight in the work.
Art becomes a window for self-discovery and a bridge connecting us—with ourselves, with others, and with everything in between.
Paulina Constancia
5. Your art is part of prestigious collections worldwide. How does being recognized by these institutions impact your creative journey?
Having my work included in prestigious collections is an honor and privilege. I prefer my art to be accessible to the public rather than kept in private quarters or stashed away in an art patron’s collection, gathering dust. When there is a message I want to share, or that needs to be heard, I am thrilled when my art can engage a broader audience and spark conversation.
6. Stitching and found materials feature in your work. What draws you to these techniques, and how do they enhance your storytelling?
My affinity for textiles, stitching, and repurposing found materials goes way back. Before I ventured into painting and other visual art forms, I was a fashion designer. Growing up, I had access to surplus materials from construction and renovation projects from our family business, and I was always thinking about creative ways to repurpose them. Since immigrating to Canada, I’ve discovered the treasure trove of materials available in thrift shops, which has only fueled my creative process. These places are a goldmine for a creative mind, offering endless possibilities to transform what might otherwise be discarded into something meaningful. For example, I recently created a textile art piece about the recent fires in Los Angeles. I used a thrifted silk scarf with chili and bell pepper patterns to depict the fires, which worked beautifully to evoke the fire imagery. The thrifted materials become my palette, and finding the right texture and pattern is rewarding. The medium truly helps deliver the message.
Paulina Constancia’s art is more than just bright colors and fun shapes—it’s about sharing stories, feelings, and memories. She puts meaning into everything she creates, whether painting, sewing, or using found objects. Her journey as an artist and teacher shows how art can heal, inspire, and unite people. She encourages us all to embrace creativity and find beauty in the little things through her work. To learn more about Paulina, click the following links to visit her profile.
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