July 16, 2016 started as a typical Saturday. After leaving the office at around 2:00 PM, I went to the EDSA – Shaw Boulevard area to buy a new backpack. After hours of looking around in SM Megamall, I could not find anything that seemed like a good replacement for my five-year-old Hawk bag that broke down due to years of abuse. I felt somewhat nostalgic and empty, as if I was searching for something I did not know. There were a lot of good stuff there, but somehow I did not like any of them.
Not wanting to go home empty handed, I decided to check the other malls. I ended up in Toby’s Shangri-la Plaza, where I found a black Deuter Giga backpack that somewhat caught my interest (I still use it to this day). It was not the best, but perhaps because I did not want to go back to SM Megamall I decided to buy it.
Normally, I would head straight home, but upon leaving the store, I felt this urge to stroll a bit, as if something was prompting me to explore the area. It was the same feeling of restlessness and nostalgia that I had earlier, which seemed odd because I had already found what I was looking for. I decided to obey that prompting.
I soon found myself on the mall’s fourth floor. I did not know that Shangri-la had an Art Plaza before. Curious, I checked out the galleries and the artworks therein.
I first entered the Summit Art Gallery and asked the curator, Miss Eugene, if they accept consignments, among other things. She kindly answered my questions and told me to submit my profile. Since things seemed to go well on the first gallery, I decided to push my luck further by checking the other galleries, too.
The gallery on the opposite side of the hallway caught my attention. It seemed dimly lit, unlike the others. There were some fine gentlemen seated as they conversed outside. As I entered the gallery’s door, I looked up and read its name, Bangerahan. It turned out that they were not only selling paintings, but antiques too. Talk about a good way to satiate that nostalgic feeling I had earlier.
A man approached me and asked what I was looking for. I introduced myself as an artist and said that I would like to know if they were accepting consignments. Upon learning that I was an artist, he introduced me to the gentlemen conversing outside the gallery.
I met the gentlemen who would eventually become my mentors – Mr. Jeffrey “JeffCon” Consumo, whom they introduced as former President Cory Aquino’s painting teacher (of course I was starstruck), Mr. Abelardo Lovendino, and Mr. Romeo Montes. It turned out that they were planning to hold sketching sessions there. Of course, I said I would like to join, even though I was such a noob. They said it was fine and asked me if I was free on Sundays. I said no, and politely explained that I have Church duties. When they asked me what my religion was, I said I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The gentleman with the moustache (Bro. Abe, as I call him now) suddenly raised his hand, as if he was offering to shake mine. He told me that he was a member of the Church too and that he won its global art competition years ago; he was even commissioned by the Church to paint the Garden of Eden on the lobby / reception area of the Manila Philippine Temple and other works that were featured on conference messages! I was astonished. It turned out that I was right to follow the prompting. Kuya Jeff (as I call him now) said that what was happening at that time was no coincidence – it was destiny. As a fan of numerology, he noted how the numbers seemed “lucky,” it was July 16, 2016, which in a way forms 777 (7, 1+6, 1+6). I was never fan of numerology but it really struck me, 777 was my favorite three-digit number (blame it one Steve Vai).
The meeting was quick. I was tired and overwhelmed by the events. They told me to prepare oil pastels and felt paper, it would be our medium and support on our sessions. I went home excited. It was the beginning of something new.
The next Saturday, July 23, we had our first session. I did not know how to do on-the-spot portraits, especially when using oil pastels on felt paper! I only resumed painting the previous year (2015) and I was pretty much dependent on a white surface and my palette of acrylic paints. The last time I used oil pastel was in 2004, when I was a college freshman, and I did not even know that it was possible to do it on a colored support, especially on felt! Kuya Jeff challenged me to a “duel,” we would sketch each other in real time. I took his challenge head on and realized how much of a noob I was. I never struggled like that while drawing in my entire life! I just did not know how to make it work. The odd colors, the unfamiliar texture of the felt, the pressure of “dueling” with an accomplished artist swept me off my feet. He was able to make my portrait in a matter of minutes. I struggled and kept on apologizing as I finished his.
Kuya Jeff, Bro. Abe, and Kuya Moyo Montes were really kind, they encouraged me to continue and helped me figure out how to do it. It turned out that they were more into impressionism, a method I only knew by its textbook definition. They taught me many things, from capturing the sitter’s character to using the medium effectively. I was not a fine arts graduate and I could not easily understand the tips, and there was just too much information for my mind to process. I could not believe that it was fine to use light blue on the cheeks, to use purples for shadows, and allow parts of the colored felt to show through. To them it seemed so easy, I felt this immense pressure that I may not be able to keep up. However, their encouragement and kindness helped me believe that perhaps someday, I would learn how to do it too.
While waiting for the sitter, we made Kuya Emeng, an art and antique broker, a quick portrait. This time I used graphite on my sketchbook. I tried to match Kuya Jeff’s speed. Man, he was really quick! And to think he used oil pastel on felt.
Soon our sitter arrived and it was time for the session to begin. All I could think of was redeeming myself.
Their words really helped me overcome my struggles earlier. It was not easy, but I was able to complete my sketch and it seemed much better than the first one. They said I was able to capture the sitter’s character and that I had my own style (which I did not fully understand at that time). I had this intense feeling of happiness and gratitude. I survived!
My first session with the group was fruitful; an experience I would always cherish. It was a day of many firsts: My first on the spot portrait, my first time to use oil pastel on felt, my first live portrait session, and my first time to learn under the tutelage of accomplished, professional artists. I went home exhausted yet somewhat relieved, I was pushed far beyond my limits. I realized that I still had too much to learn (I still do to this day), good thing my mentors were there to guide me.
I have confirmed that the fateful meeting we had a week ago was no mere coincidence indeed. It would direct my activities in the succeeding years and change my life forever.
Sining ni Sing 