In the world of art, few stories are as compelling and inspiring as that of Bryan Jay Glorioso Espiritu, a Filipino artist who has carved a niche for himself in the realm of shoe customization. A 40-year-old customization specialist at Sand & Sands Sports LLC, he shared his remarkable journey with The Globa Filipino Magazine as an artist.
Bryan’s artistic journey commenced in 2013 as a tattoo artist, eventually leading him to the niche of shoe customization.
“I started to draw on my friends’ shoes,” the OFW with 15 years of experience abroad recalls.
This exploration opened doors to a significant opportunity – working with Nike Yas Mall, facilitated by his Sri Lankan friend Maddy.
Bryan’s partnership with Nike at Yas Mall, under the guidance of his managers including Mr. Urfan and Mr. Ragab, where he was hired as a customization specialist eight months ago, marked a pivotal moment in his career.
“It’s a big help for my growth as an artist,” he says, emphasizing the exposure and connections this collaboration brought.
Drawing inspiration from his Filipino heritage and his life in the UAE, Bryan infuses his creations with vibrant colors – red, blue, and yellow – symbolizing the hardworking Filipinos in the UAE.
He mentions, “Yung mural ko na air force 1 nilagyan ko ng pula asul dilaw na kulay to represent the Filipino who work hard here in UAE.”
The process of shoe customization for Bryan is a collaborative endeavor. He engages deeply with his clients, understanding their preferences, favorite colors, and desired characters or themes. The meticulous process involves shoe preparation, deglazing, and applying multiple layers of premium leather paint.
Bryan’s dedication to detail is evident as he describes, “I used fine point brushes for details and flat and rounds brushes for larger areas.”
Bryan’s career hasn’t been without challenges. He recounts the daunting task of customizing a pair of shoes with a Michael Jordan portrait.
“The customer said, ‘make it your own,’ and I chose Jordan,” he shares. This project turned out to be a testament to his commitment, as it led to another similar request, pushing him to constantly improve and add to his skill set.
His work space, provided by his manager Mr. Ragab, became a canvas for his cultural expression. He painted a large Air Force 1 with the colors of the Philippine flag in the background.
“It gives me more inspiration to push more as an OFW, as an artist, and as a Filipino,” he asserts.
Looking ahead, Bryan aspires to make a mark in the field of hyper-realism in custom shoe art.
“Makilala sa ganitong larangan ang Pinoy and to make a hyper-realism portrait sa custom shoes,” he envisions.
To aspiring artists in custom shoe art, Bryan offers sage advice, rooted in his own experiences: “Wag matakot magkamali, always give your 100% sa lahat ng ginagawa nyo. Explore the art and keep on learning.”
Read the e-Magazine below:
This article has been published in Volume 4, Issue 7 of The Global Filipino Magazine. If you have a unique life story or know someone who does, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at eic@theglobalfilipinomagazine.com. If you’re interested in obtaining a print copy of the magazine, please contact Mr. JP Cosico at +971 54 482 0661.
