During her time at UP, in the early 1930s and after World War II, Saguil created impressionistic and naturalistic figurative works, including landscapes and still lifes. She also became enamored with the work of Pablo Picasso and painted "surrealistic and cubistic compositions of Philippine scenes". In taking up a more abstract style after 1950, Saguil experimented with many techniques to achieve various shapes, textures, and relief. These techniques included employing syringes to paint her famous circular forms and dots, rubbing coffee grounds on her works, and fashioning circular canvases.