We had the good fortune of connecting with Ansherina “Shei” Bohol and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ansherina “Shei”, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I love taking risks! My family, friends & lovers think I’m crazy for doing the things I do, but ultimately, all the risks I’ve taken have brought me where I am today: the first in my family to graduate college in the US, an independent artist + graphic designer, and now a small business owner.

Twice I’ve moved far away from family to have the space and freedom to discover, create and re-create myself. Moving to a new city all by yourself means you’re solely responsible for your own care and survival. The best part of that—you’re in full control of your life! This can be really scary for some people, but I highly encourage it.

The independence of moving out on your own pushes you to make rapid and crucial life-changing decisions on a daily basis. This independence teaches you much about business too. The success of your business comes down to you & your efforts—which is why I love entrepreneurship so much.

There’s no stopping you when it comes to entrepreneurship—there’s no glass ceiling, just endless space. This is another thing I highly encourage. For those who feel like they’re being caged in a box, which is what I was feeling, it’s time to realize your truest and limitless potential. It’s time to fly, baby!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up with creative parents so I think naturally that’s how I was inspired to pursue art. I witnessed my Dad’s success as an artist, and I knew I could do it too. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in 2015 at Cal State Long Beach. I majored in Studio Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design and have been working in the design space while making and selling my art.

My art is centralized on letters, words, and script. Although I love nature and abstract art, I find myself leaning more towards making typographical pieces. My art is philosophical and uplifting, but raw and unapologetic. It serves to inspire, first and foremost, but it also serves as a thought-provoking spark for human connection.

What I bring to the table is a creative + non-conventional perspective. I thrive on education, communication, and affirmations. For example, the quote “Magandang Buhay” is Tagalog for “Beautiful Life,” which is the positive mindset I live by. At our core, I believe we’re all full of love and endless possibility.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take them to all the major beaches here in SD (Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, Torrey Pines, Del Mar), but also take them to see the gorgeous hiking views in the mountains like Santee, Alpine and Escondido! Next we’ll explore downtown SD, get some food in Little Italy or North Park, maybe do some light shopping at Fashion Valley, and go dancing in Hillcrest or Gaslamp District. We’ll definitely be biking or scootering the beach paths. I’d also want them to experience Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and all the cute neighboring cities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This shoutout is for my immigrant parents: Maria and Nelson Bohol. They’ve been the realest examples of what it means to be resilient and successful.

Our family immigrated here from the Philippines in 1996, nearly 27 years ago. My dad was hired by both Fox Animation Studios and then Pixar Animation Studios, which meant we moved around a lot. From Arizona to California, my mom raised 4 immigrant children while my Dad maintained his career at Pixar.

I also want to give my siblings a shoutout because they were the glue holding us together after our parents divorced. They were my rocks despite the emotional rollercoasters we were all on. Now we have a lovely step-mom and 2-year-old little sister added to our growing family.

I mean, just reading that again makes me wanna say, “Wow, what amazing lives they’ve created.” They inspire me to keep creating and pushing boundaries both in my personal life and the creative realm. They are truly the pioneers of our family and future generations to come.

Website: www.sheiscreativ.com

Instagram: sheiscreativ

Image Credits
Profile picture (red top) – Tiffany Kang

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