Deovir Chronicles

Ah, my regular site of pilgrimage (the SM Megamall branch, particularly). I have been buying materials from National Book Store for the longest time, but Deovir was definitely the one where I learned the most; especially when it comes to artist grade materials.

I first came across their SM Megamall branch in 2014, after I heard from someone that there was an art supply store there (could not remember who) and it happened that I come to the fifth floor of SM Megamall bldg. A frequently to check the music stores there. I was getting back into drawing at that time and I wanted to replenish my stock of pencils and supplies that were nearly ten years old.

I was more into guitars and effects back then and only sketched as a hobby. The materials seemed interesting but the high cost of artist grade materials, which I did not fully understand, was just too much for me and I would rather spend my cash on guitar related stuff. I only bought a few woodless graphite sticks and sketch pads and went home.

When I watched Heather Rooney’s colored pencil demos on YouTube and learned that she was using Prismacolor, Deovir was the first store that I called to inquire. I went there and bought the 36-color set, my biggest art purchase at that time, and eventually came back to buy more sketch pads and the battery-powered eraser that Rooney used in her videos. Each time I went there I always asked many questions. I did not know much about art materials, especially the difference between student and artist grades, the different brands, etc., and I did not know whom to ask except the shopkeepers there.

Most of my knowledge on art materials came from the shopkeepers, who always patiently took the time and effort to show me their stocks, to open the catalogs and books to show me what they meant, answered my never-ending thread of questions, and dealt with my woolliness before buying. Sometimes I would visit there just to ask questions and marvel at the sight of their merchandise. The shopkeepers were also very honest about their goods, they told me which was good or better, had greater value, who uses specific products, even their experiences in using them! It was a true place of learning for me.

At first I only bought student grade materials. I had been buying student grade stuff from NBS before and the results always seemed good enough for me, and I was too broke and stingy to splurge at that time. My purchase of Prismacolor pencils from them however taught me that quality indeed came with a price and that there was a huge difference between cheap student grade materials and professional, artist grade ones.

Eventually my involvement in different art groups and events opened my eyes regarding the need to buy better materials. It was in Deovir where I bought my first artist grade variants of all media that I use (acrylic, oil, pastel, watercolor, and gouache). It took me many years to get the materials because they were indeed expensive. The shopkeepers there were kind and gracious enough to help me get started and build up my collection. I learned more with each visit and purchase and the items I bought from them really helped me improve the quality of my works.

What I like best about their shop aside from the nice people is that they have a large selection of art materials, from student to artist grade. They also carry several brands that offer excellent quality at great value. Over the years I was able to buy a lot of items from them, such as the following:

• Acrylics – I use Chroma Atelier Acrylics for my serious works and commissions. I also love their Royal Talens Amsterdam and Nevskaya Palitra Sonnet acrylics. I also got a number of Marie’s acrylics from them too.

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• Oils – I bought my first set of oils from them, and it consisted mostly of Talens (China) and Marie’s, Grumbacher Academy, and Royal Talens Amsterdam. I sold all of my student grade oils and now use Gamblin, Koh-i-Noor Prague, Nevskaya Palitra Masterclass, and Holbein artist grade paints, which I also bought from them. I am still saving up for those dang expensive Old Holland tubes.

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• Oil painting mediums and solvents – I love their Gamblin Gamsol and Archival Oils Fat and Lean mediums, as well as their Winsor and Newton Liquin.

• Watercolor – I rarely use this medium. My main palette consists of paints I bought from them, such as Nevskaya Palitra White Knights, Rembrandt, and Holbein. They are all very rich and vibrant.

• Gouache – I have tubs of Royal Talens artist grade gouache that I bought from them recently.

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• Pastels – Deovir is the only store where one can buy Royal Talens Rembrandt medium soft pastels, my favorite and main workhorse. They have sets and open stocks. I also bought sets and open stocks of Koh-i-Noor Toison D’Or extra soft pastels and its variant the Gioconda pastel pencils that complement the Rembrandts really well. I also have their Royal Talens Van Gogh and Holbein oil pastels that I really love, especially for portraits.

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• Colored pencils – I bought my first set of Prismacolor pencils from them, as well as some Koh-i-Noor Polycolor and Faber Castell Polychromos (that they used to have). I have shifted to a different brand of colored pencils but I still keep the pencils I bought from them and use them for studies and other pesonal stuff.
• Fixatives and Varnishes – I have their Grumbacher workable and final fixatives as well as their Golden archival varnish spray with UVLS.
• Papers and pads – I love their Strathmore Toned series (tan, gray, and blue) and other pads (bristol vellum and pastel), as well as their Hahnemuhle Lana, Velour (both for pastel), Cezanne, and Harmony (both for watercolor).

• Brushes – I bought most of my best quality brushes from them, and this goes for acrylic, oil, gouache, and watercolor.
• Other tools and accessories – my wooden studio and aluminum travel easels, erasers, color shapers, paper stumps, carrying cases, and so much more!

When the quarantine restrictions were downgraded and shops reopened in May of this year, it was the first shop I visited. It was around four kilometers away from our home, and I took the risk of getting there on foot! Thank God I came across an electric bike driver who gave me a ride. I was really happy to see them again.

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I will continue buying from their shop for as long as they remain open. Though I use other brands and buy from other stores too, the materials I bought from them constitute the very foundation of my working process.  Their SM Megamall branch in particular feels like home, and I will always cherish that place as a very important part of my roots, of my art career itself. The continuous learning, the awesome materials and great value, and the very nice people are just some of the reasons why I would keep coming back. I never would have known and accomplished everything in my art career without Deovir, and neither would I get anywhere without their help, too. And no,  this ain’t a paid ad.