We recently connected with Jalysa Leva and have shared our conversation below.
Jalysa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is one I actually have to continually learn. Every time our shop has low sales at an event, it’s a humbling moment that forces me to evaluate not just the numbers, but the full experience, and reprioritize the joy. At our worst, we made five dollars in sales. The initial sting is always there when something like that happens, especially when the hours are late. But we also found a local baker with some of my new favorite cookies, listened to incredible music, and got to witness a niche community come together and celebrate their common interests. There’s a lot of humanity in what we do, especially since it is art/creatively focused. So I’m thankful that we “fail” and are given the opportunity to sit back and savor everything else in that moment.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Jalysa Leva, the creator/owner of TOTO-O, a Filipino-American character brand that shares our culture through cute and colorful gifts. I’m also the creator of Jelly, Ben & Pogo, a PBS Kids animated shorts series featuring two Filipino-American siblings and their sea monster neighbor as they solve problems and help friends.
I got into this industry in a very typical way. I drew a lot as a kid, ended up going to SCAD Atlanta to study animation, then joined a studio after I graduated. I started TOTO-O during the pandemic and have been growing it ever since. It’s definitely a passion project of mine, born from the need to see kawaii representation for Filipinos.
I’m most proud of the connection we have made with the Fil-Am community, and the pure fulfillment that has brought me. Not only is it gratifying to see people connect with my art, it’s especially amazing when they understand the inside jokes, nuances, and references I make to our specific experiences as Filipinos. Sometimes, the people that come up to our booth are feeling seen for the very first time, and I truly treasure those moments. It’s an honor to serve my community with my art.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
With so many discussions around AI art floating around, I think it’s important to reiterate what it means to be an artist and to support artists. While I appreciate finding ways to be more efficient with certain parts of the design process, ultimately, the joy is in everything but the final product. It’s in all the things AI skips over. It’s in the ideation, the sketching, the coloring, the printing, the displaying, and in the conversations we eventually have with our audience. The sale is the smallest aspect of the whole business for me. And while that seems counterproductive in a capitalistic society, it’s important to remember that we create because we love it. Art is here to serve our collective humanity, whether it can line our pockets or not.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Value the art and the process. Value what it means to take the time to create. Because at least for me, certain pieces are meditative to work on. It takes the time it takes, so it’s conducive for pondering what the work means to me, for my community, why I’m creating it, and more. Understand that when you hold one of my pieces, you hold a part of me that I’ve embedded into everything I make. Take the time to just truly internalize that. That’s all I really wish for as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://totoo.store
- Instagram: instagram.com/totoo_sarisari_store
- Other: Tiktok: @jollysaw