CJ is determined to bridge the gap between the deaf and the hearing with his instructional FSL illustrations.
MANILA, Philippines – Being a freelance artist in the Philippines is a challenge. Standing out from the crowd and making a name for yourself without institutional support is a daunting hurdle, no matter how talented you may be. And if we go by Deaf LGBTQ+ illustrator CJ Reynaldo’s example, leaning into who you are and creating from a place of authenticity is the key.
Fast forward to today, and the 25-year-old from Antipolo has achieved much respect by using his art to advocate for Deaf awareness as well as LGBTQ+ rights – oftentimes merging both, like in his illustrations on how to say queer terms using Filipino Sign Language .CJ first realized he was gay when he was a freshman in high school, when it occurred to him that he didn’t behave in stereotypically masculine ways.
This positive outlook and determination to be himself despite the odds is reflected clearly in CJ’s art. When visiting his social media accounts – under the name Caldatelier, a merging of his first name Caldwell and “atelier” or studio – one is treated to art that not only endears, with its cheery, wide-eyed characters and creamy color palette, but also educates.
Besides championing the Deaf and the LGBTQ+, CJ also advocates for other minorities such as people with autism, and is also quite passionate about local folklore and modern Filipino culture. “After graduation, I tried to be an employee, first as a graphic designer for paper products and then as an assistant marketer for an animation studio. But then I realized I would be more happy and satisfied working as a freelancer, since I could explore other opportunities and work with different people,” CJ recounted.
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