We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Crawford recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My “Let’s Learn Bisaya” flash card deck is the most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far. It all started during the pandemic—our family had planned a trip to visit relatives in the Philippines in 2020, but when travel was no longer an option, I was motivated to find other ways to connect with my heritage. I began taking Zoom lessons with my cousin Rina to improve my toddler-level Bisaya skills. From there, I started a daily drawing practice to help me remember new words.
I began posting my drawings on Instagram to hold myself accountable, and felt so encouraged by the response from other Fil-Ams who reached out, sharing that they grew up speaking Bisaya/Cebuano. While many people outside the Philippines are familiar with Tagalog, the country is home to many other distinct languages, and finding engaging, artistic resources for learning these languages can be difficult. I thought back to how my parents used to practice Bisaya with us by writing words on index cards. That inspired me to turn my illustrations into a flash card deck, hoping to help others in the diaspora learn and stay connected to their mother tongue.

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 Lisa Crawford, a Filipino-American illustrator based in Austin, Texas. I create vibrant, cheerful art, stickers, and paper goods, including my Bisaya flash card deck! My work is primarily inspired by childhood memories of the Philippines, with an extra helping of food, cats & quirky creatures.

I’ve been doodling and making art since I was a kid, but I really reconnected with drawing during the pandemic. I love how a simple illustration can convey so much more under its surface. While I share my own story through my work, I hope it also sparks your own memories and stories.

While most of my projects are personally driven, I also enjoy collaborating with others in the Fil-Am community. Some of my favorite projects include a custom illustration & mural I created for Sari-Sari Supper Club in San Antonio, and designing TAYO NA, a local magazine (by photographer Joi Conti) that celebrates Filipino creatives in the Austin area.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Connection and community are definitely the most rewarding aspects for me. I’ve been participating in art markets for about two years now, and through that, I’ve met so many customers and fellow vendors who I now consider good friends.

I especially love when I get to chat with other Fil-Ams who have their own connections to my work—whether it’s sharing a laugh over our mutual Barrel Man trauma (IYKYK) or reminiscing about the snacks you can only find at a Sari-Sari store.

I’ve also made so many great friends just by getting involved in the community and following my creative interests. I’m naturally introverted, but I think the time spent at home during the pandemic emboldened me to get out and do things that interest me—even if that means going alone and making friends when I get there, which would’ve been terrifying for my younger self.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Haha, I feel a bit unqualified to give advice on this, but maybe my experience will be relatable. I don’t consider myself particularly good at social media—I post sporadically and don’t promote my shop as often as I should! In addition to my creative work, I’m also a mom with a full time day job so I try to give myself grace on this.

A lot of my growth comes from making connections in real life—whether it’s through community events, markets/festivals, or larger creative conferences like Alt Summit.

I think building a habit of sharing your work regularly and not overthinking it too much is the best way to start. Also, take the time to engage with others & build real connections – the way you would if you were mingling at a party!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lisalisa.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisalisa.co/

Image Credits

Photography by: JoiConti.com / Joi Conti Photography, LLC
Instagram: @Joi.Conti