Artist Highlight: FREELY ABRIGO and MEL CASIPIT

Two is better than one as they say.  This year's AsiaPop ComiCon 2017 is getting bigger as various new talented local artists surface.

This time, let's focus our attention to two of the emerging best cartoonists of this generation: Freely Abrigo and Mel Casipit.

FREELY ABRIGO

Freely G. Abrigo’s artistic career as a cartoonist began in 2000, when his strip Kulas was syndicated by The Manila Bulletin.

To this day, he continues his work on Kulas while at the same time does other work as a freelance artist. His portfolio includes several productions and illustrations in different tabloids, broadsheets, and magazines.

Eventually, his comic strip Kulas was compiled and sold as a book, nationwide, by Visprint. Other than Kulas, though, he has also produced other comics, specifically, Kapitan Tog, Ang Superherong Laging Nauuntog [Captain Tog, The Superhero that Keeps on Crashing], which is an comedy about a superhero that always bumps and crashes into things while trying to help those in need.

He’s also published other books such as Freely Abrigo’s 100 Pages of Cartoons, and Freely Abrigo’s Artbook Chibi. Freely, personally, likes his comics to embody a more “Less talk, lots of action,” tone. He is also a member, and the former vice president of SKP(Samahang Karturnista ng Pilipinas), and he has also done talks and workshops throughout different colleges in Metro Manila, such as in Philippine Normal University (2012, 2013, and 2015), St Paul’s College (2012), De La Salle University (2013), Philippine Women’s University (2013), and School of the Deaf and Blind (2013).

He likes to keep positive by encouraging young aspiring artists to pursue their dreams and embraced the world of art. You can follow Freely and his work through the following venues: Facebook and Instagram.


MEL CASIPIT

Is a Filipino based freelance artist. He does illustrations, comics, visual arts, designs and caricatures. His independent comics Baboy, Dogstyle and MLU won as Best Entry at Komikons Comics Creation Contest on 2008-2009. His Comics Mukat, Baboy and MLU also won as Best grassroot on Komikon awards, 2011.

A graduate of Industrial Education major in drafting technology, Mel uses different styles of illustrations to fit the need of clients. He can draw well traditionally and digitally on his works. Books that he illustrated are available in Amazon.com.

Mel is very active on local and some international comics conventions. He frequents Komikon and Komiket and some appearances on comics related events in the Philippines. He is also participating regulary on Biskeg Artist Collective a Pangasinan Artist group on their arts activities in the Province of Pangasinan and Metro Manila.

Mel’s dream is to be recognized as one of the great artists in the Philippines. He is presently doing freelance works for both local and international clients. He is also collaborating with local comics creators for comics projects.

Visit Mel's website at The Art of Mel Casipit.

Catch both Freely and Mel's incredible art at BOOTH CC28 from August 25-27 at the SMX Convention Center.