Today we’d like to introduce you to Milagros Sombillo.
Hi Milagros, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Milagros Sombillo—Mila for short—and close friends also call me Amour. I’m the founder of MilaARTistique LLC—a venture born from passion, shaped by resilience, and anchored in a deep desire to inspire healing through art. I’m a Filipino artist, a breast cancer survivor, and a wellness advocate who uses creativity to uplift others.
I was born in Manila, Philippines, in 1969. My father, from Nueva Ecija, was an OFW, and my mother, from Iloilo, was an artist who trained me from childhood. I inherited her gift and have passed it on to my 15-year-old son, Matthew. I studied from elementary to high school at Colegio del Hospicio de San Jose, and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Adamson University.
In 2000, my mother suffered a stroke. I left my architecture job to care for her and opened my first art studio in the Philippines—initially Lil’ Hand Print for Kids, later renamed Amour’s Creative Hand Art Center. There, I taught cartooning, painting, and crafts, led workshops in schools and companies, and offered free art sessions for orphanages and persons with disabilities (PWDs). My long-term dream has been to create a foundation dedicated to healing through art.
In 2009, I married Enrique Torres from Puerto Rico. While living there, I discovered my gift for caricature when a couple asked me to sketch them on the beach. This new direction led me to rebrand my business as MilaARTistique LLC after moving to Colorado. I also studied photography online and began offering creative services beyond caricature.
Later, we moved to Florida, where I worked as an independent caricature artist at Disney World and Universal Studios. These opportunities refined my skills and opened doors for me as an art blogger and content creator.
In June 2024, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. After months of treatment, prayer, and faith, I was declared healed on December 13, 2024. That experience deepened my mission. Soon after, I launched Brush & Brew by MilaARTistique – Art with a Mission in collaboration with Foxtail Coffee Co. at UCF Orlando, offering creative, non-clinical art therapy sessions designed to bring healing, hope, and connection to the community.
Before that, on March 4, 2022, I created Facial EGGspression, a playful character I used to teach my son facial expressions and life lessons through comic art rooted in faith.
Another meaningful milestone came on November 24, 2023, when the children’s book “Benny & the Kindness Squad”, authored by Faith Schwalbach of Beverly’s Angels Foundation, was published. Faith and I met in February 2022, and she invited me to illustrate Benny the Bear. That collaboration brought my storytelling art to life in a new way.
Today, MilaARTistique LLC offers custom portraits, caricatures, mobile art workshops, and events that combine creativity with healing. A portion of all proceeds supports Filipino American Cancer Care (FACC), which stood by me during chemotherapy and remains close to my heart.
At MilaARTistique, we believe art is a powerful tool for transformation—and we are here to help others rediscover hope, strength, and joy through the creative journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has certainly not been without its challenges. In 2000, I made the difficult decision to leave my architectural career to care for my mother following her stroke. This pivotal moment redirected my focus entirely toward art, transforming it from a passion into a purposeful vocation.
Relocating across multiple countries and states—from the Philippines to Puerto Rico, Colorado, and Florida—required me to rebuild my career and establish my business anew each time. These transitions were demanding but invaluable for my growth as an artist and entrepreneur.
Perhaps the most significant challenge came in June 2024 when I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. It was a physically and emotionally taxing period, but through faith, medical treatment, and the support of my community, I was declared healed by December 2024. This experience deepened my mission and inspired the creation of Brush & Brew by MilaARTistique, where I blend creativity with healing.
While the path has been far from smooth, each obstacle has contributed to shaping the heart and purpose behind my work today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ever since I was a child, I aspired to become an architect. That passion shaped my educational path—I earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Adamson University. I chose this field not only because I was fascinated by design, but also because it provided a foundation flexible enough to lead into related creative careers such as fine arts, graphic design, or architectural illustration. Throughout the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with both international and local firms, gaining valuable professional experience. Eventually, I transitioned into the arts more fully, turning my lifelong passion into a business that merges creativity with purpose.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is using my God-given talents to uplift others and make a meaningful impact—especially through creativity, compassion, and purpose. Art has always been more than a skill; it’s a language of healing, connection, and hope. After surviving breast cancer in 2024, this truth became even more real to me. I realized that life is too precious not to live it with intention. That’s why every project I pursue—whether it’s a caricature, a children’s book, or a Brush & Brew session—is anchored in the desire to bring joy, inspire resilience, and remind people that healing can happen in the most colorful, unexpected ways. Empowering others through art is my way of giving back.
Pricing:
- Caricature Price •Black & White: Face/per person $30.00
- •Black & White: Face and Body/per person $35.00
- •Pastel: Colored Face/ per Person or Pet $80.00
- •Pastel: Colored Face & Body/ per Person or Pet $ 90.00
- •Airbrush-Mix Media: Face and body/per person or Pet $95.00 •Airbrush-Mix Media: Face and body/per person or Pet $100.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.milaartistique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milaartistique
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Milaartistique
- TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@Milaartistique
- Other: https://linktr.ee/milaartistique
