Meet Katherine Soldevilla | Illustrator and Zinester

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katherine Soldevilla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katherine, how does your business help the community?
I started by making zines (pronounced zeen) which are self published works made in small batches and can be about anything! You can use photographs, drawings, poetry, writing, collage, and so much more to create zines. I made zines to connect with the zine world and artists from different walks of life. I have also used zines as a way to heal and talk about my feelings about jealousy, caregiving, grief and loss. Loss is not something we learn to talk about until we are confronted by it in our own lives. So I felt it was important to put it out there into the world as a zine. It has resonated with so many people and made them feel understood in a time that can often feel so isolating. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what you’re feeling until someone else says it. This is why I continue to do what I do.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think my humor, storytelling, and ability to write about my feelings and couple them with powerful illustrations is what sets me apart from others. I also love creating art inspired by my own culture. I am Filipino American and love creating artwork inspired by Filipino mythology as well as traditional Filipino clothing and giving it a modern twist. I’ve worked in the field of entertainment in games, tech, advertising, and have freelanced quite a bit.

I’d like to think I’m still a work in progress and am currently seeing where my zines are taking me. I’d have to say vending is the most challenging part of running a small business. Setting up and breaking down a table display can be difficult the more often you do it. I’d say having a tasty dinner after every event no matter the outcome is always a good reward to look forward to. Also making good connections with other artists during events helps expand my network a lot.

After running my own business online as well as at in person events, I’ve learned that nothing grows unless you put time into it to grow. I am still learning that haha – sometimes I focus more on the art than the business side. Being on and involved with customers can really make or break your sales. Burning out means taking a step back so you don’t ruin your relationship with vending or art.

I rebranded to Yakapin Studio in 2022 since it felt more like me. Yakapin means to embrace in Tagalog. My mom and I are big into hugs and I wanted to get more in touch with my Filipino roots. I also want to evoke feelings of warmth, security, and the feeling of being seen and held through my art.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would probably want to take them to Komquat Coffee for a Mascarpone Latte or Obette and Del’s for an Ube Affogatto. A lot of my friends are artsy so we’d probably go to Revenge Of, Secret Headquarters, or Gallery Nucleus for some art books. I’d probably check if Vidiots had a good movie playing on one of the days. I really like that they promote movies I’ve never heard of or would find in a regular theater. Either that or we could rent a movie and order some pizza from Town Pizza or Shins. If we gotta go on a scenic boba run, I could take them to Teamorrow and walk around the neighborhood since it’s right next to the railroad tracks and there’s a farmers market there on Thursdays. To finish off, maybe we could do a sandwich at Wax Paper and walk up to the park in Frogtown to use the public work out machines that are a little dangerous and old but fun to use.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom has been my biggest supporter since the beginning. I would not have had the education or tools to be where I am now without her. She in turn, has been my biggest inspiration and motivator to continue to create. She’s inspired 3 of my zines and I’m sure I will have more to write on her as time goes on.

My friends and zine community have always been a great source of encouragement and inspiration for me. I am always learning new ways to create from them and have gotten the chance to travel to different places for zine and comic fests.

Website: https://www.yakapinstudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yakapinstudio/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yakapinstudio

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yakapinstudio