Island Artists of the Philippines

ART CONTESTS

2011-05-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

Art contests are gateways to explore new challenges. As artists and photographers,we are looking for avenues where our talents can be recognized and tested. It is a chance to grow and evolve as an artist. Island Artists of the Philippines updates you with coming art contests and competitions.

Art is You

2011-05-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

by Muffet Dolar Villegas

Art is always within us. Everything that we do is about art.Waking up in the morning is an art of welcoming another day. Watching the orange skies as the sun bursts into millions of rays is art itself. Looking at your face in the mirror is staring at the most exquisite work of God, you. You are made in His image. As you prepare breakfast, the smell of the flowers as you open the windows entice you to walk in the meadows and gather some fresh bunch for your vase.

You watch the fried eggs turning brown in its edges, with the yellows staring at you like perfect daffodils. You watch your figure as your carefully planned attire of the day enhance your beauty. Your skin tones are flawless. You are beautiful.

That's on the outside. Inside, your beauty radiates, from the goodness of your heart, to the sparkle of hope in your eyes. You are a wonderful work of art.

PAINT IT WITH ANY COLOR YOU LIKE....

2011-04-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

Today is a new day, paint it with any color you want…
By Muffet Dolar Villegas

A new day is like an inviting pristine white canvas, primed with expectations and excitement. A canvas has no life, yet through the artist’s passionate strokes it becomes vividly alive with meaning and colors.
We have unlimited choices to paint our day or year. We can paint it with darker, more subdued tones which is an expression of longing or emptiness. We can paint it with vibrant, brilliant hues which signify joy, faith and hope. A painting needs a patient hand with a heart and a soul. A day likewise needs someone who decides whether to make it a beautiful gift from God or just another falling leaf.
A cancer patient like me fights for life each day. I am grateful for today, and I grab it with vigor and enthusiasm like I have never done before. I have stopped teaching this semester, and I spend most of my time in my small cluttered studio, (I can’t work when everything is in order) which is filled with old but firm paintbrushes, oils, acrylics, and watercolor tubes and primed canvasses. Some unframed and unfinished works are discreetly leaning on the walls. This is where I create my own world. They could be a profusion of colors of a garden filled with flowers or a lonely cottage in the woods. The freedom of expression in this small corner is more exhilarating than the freedom of the press.
Here, I pour out my soul, my thoughts, experiences and hopes, even the exact time of the day is reflected on each leaf. A painting is an expression of the soul like an open book for all the world to enjoy. It is a lonely profession since the artist works with lifeless objects like paints, brushes and a canvas. Yet life springs out from this inanimate objects as the artist pours his own life and passion into them. The finished work is the product of everything that goes on in the artist’s heart and soul at the precise moment that he or she was in the creative process. Even how simple the painting is, whether it is done just to express a certain feeling, it becomes an extension of the self. A part of the person is recorded in a timeless piece of work, and it becomes a treasure to keep.
The magic started when I was three years old, when my mother would encourage me to draw and paint. When I was in grade school, she would bribe me with a bottle of coke when I was a bit too lazy to do any artwork. She would not mind if I consumed all the blank pages of her lesson plans with drawings of smiling faces, even as I filled all the walls and blank spaces of our rooms with women in long flowing gowns. She would still hug and praise me for what I have done. I was so proud when for the first time when a small piece of my drawing was sold when I was seven years old for five cents. My younger sister Louella, who was barely six years old would sell all my drawings to other kids during our elementary years. The thought that my sister was very bold to sell my works and that others would part with their money to buy something like that was an extremely rewarding and encouraging experience for me. I treasure those times even in later years when I would exhibit and sell my works in my few one-man shows in museums and galleries. My sister and I were so happy that both of us could draw and paint, and until she decided to focus in marine biology and finished her Ph.D in the US.
Like Vincent Van Gogh who had his brother Theo sending him art materials and all kinds of support, I am also doubly blessed by having my sister Louella, and her husband Dr. Bell Perrin, also a scientist, who have been providing me with quality art materials, encouragement, and support. Bill would personally hunt for varied art materials which he would send in his LBC boxes. The sight of these paints and brushes was enough to inspire more pieces of work. I could not ask God for more wonderful people than I already have.
Even if cancer is unpredictable, I don’t want to waste today’s blessings because of tomorrow’s fear. Today is a beautiful gift. I can paint this new day with any color I want. You too, can choose your colors for the day.

Red Roses

2011-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

Minda Luz Badon is a budding artist. She studies Architecture at Foundation University. She is a fast learner student and has a natural gift in watercolor rendering. This is among her first watercolor works and she already feels at home with the difficult medium.

Art as Part of Life

2009-10-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

Magenta D. Villegas paints in oil and acrylic but prefers the first as she has been painting in oil since she learned how to write. She is now exhibiting her works at the Galleria Susana at the Spanish Heritage building , Sta Catalina Street in Dumaguete City. Her passion is to paint seascapes, landscapes and florals.

As a Mass Communication graduate of Silliman University, she divides her time teaching, writing and painting. She had her first art exhibit with her mother and artist Muffet Dolar Villegas at the Hibbard Hall few years ago.

At twenty four, she takes her time honing her talents, sharing God'a word as a Sunday school teacher and a working girl. She is presently connected with People to Outsource, P2O, an outsourcing company, as a trainor and facilitator for call center applicants.

She considers art as part of everyday life. As a child, she had been doing underpainting for her mother's large canvasses, as part of her training and apprenticeship. You can email her at mamdvillegas@yahoo.com

Tropical Artists's Journey

2009-08-14T00:12:00.000-07:00

Influenced by living in a tropical island like Dumaguete, Paul Adrian Orbeta is a young budding artist who would like to express himself in different medium and subjects.
He has been painting for the past ten years, describing himself as a late bloomer. He wants to paint tropical sceneries depicting the life of local people and beaches.
His favorite medium is oil, although he has been experimenting on different medium in the past.
To pursue his dreams to become a fine artist, Paul is presently taking up Fine Arts at Foundation University.
To know more about the artist and his art, you may contact him at pauladrian_13@lycos.com

Janine as an Artist

2009-08-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

Janine Gonzaga has been painting since eight years old, honing her talent through various art workshops. She is a multi awarded artist during her high school and college days, joining various contests. Janine also won internationally sponsored online logo design contests.
A self supporting student of Fine Arts in Foundation University, she continues to improve her talent through spending more time in her art.
In her childhood days, Janine hoped to become a successful animator. But as she becomes more exposed to fine arts she thinks twice whether to become an animator or a fine artist.
An ardent student, she pursues her art with a passion, spending more time inside the studio.
Janine defines art as life itself. She wants to become a full time artist. You can contact her through her email address jan9_gonz@yahoo.com.ph .

Corals

2009-05-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Painting Corals
by Muffet D. Villegas

Painting from memory or painting from references can produce wonderful artwroks. But painting from what you see, makes a lot of difference.
Susan Canoy and myself, recently took snorkeling at the Antulang Beach Resort which is close to the vicinity of world famous Apo island diving site. The site took us to another level of understanding how the awesome beauty of the underwater world works in terms of light and shadows.
The wide array of colorful coral beds evoke the beauty of the ancient times. Their varied shapes and colors can inspire a painters' palette.
Corals are primitive animals which can't see or think. They don't have eyes and brains, yet they know exactly when it is full moon, and responds to its blue light with an intense urge to reproduce.
Their romance can make the sea sticky with eggs and sperms. A wonderful promise that the corals will be with us forever.

2009-05-02T01:54:00.000-07:00

Art and Coffee
BY MUFFET VILLEGAS

I like painting with a cup of coffee to perk me up. But Coffee and art actually do mix literally.
A noted artist from Dumaguete city, Jutsze Pamate opened a one man show entitled "Colors and Coffee Stains" last February 14-28 at the Foyer Gallery, Luce Auditorium, Silliman University.
His latest pieces play around the art concept of the Painter as Historian.
Pamate said," By using local landmarks of historical significance into painting, I try to capture the visual history of Dumaguete by incorporating them to my art making. In this exhibit, history can be elevated to the levels of fine arts when historical subjects are created to become art forms."
Dr. Earl Jude Cleope, of Silliman University, in his inspiring speech during the opening of the exhibit, said that, “These artworks, are not the usual personal expressions and views of the artist , but are actual documentations which have been properly researched and could be used as tools for learning local history.”
Cleope further reiterated that the historical nature of the exhibit is so timely with the current thrust of promoting tourism through history and culture. He believes that every town has a story to tell, and a culture to share.

The old Dumaguete Port which used to be a lonely strip of land stretching out to welcome visitors, is now a bustling pier of passenger and cargo ships. At night, the dancing reflections of shimmering lights coming from the sea vessels are part of the main attraction at the Rizal Boulevard.

Pamate’s works evoke nostalgic memories to the viewer. Looking at these works, I feel like being transported to another place and time.

In his painting of the old Dumaguete scene from the shorelines that he had meticulously researched from the church records, one can see the old Silliman Hall at the background. The foreground is still the vast expanse of sand, with "tartanilla" and some nipa huts in the background, which is now occupied by concrete buildings, restaurants catering to international guests as well as the local residents.

Jutsze Pamate has made 55 exhibitions and five individual shows. He finished his Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science in Silliman University in 1995 and completed his Masters Degree in the graduate studies Department of Silliman University in the year 2000.
In his book, Pamate covered a thesis on local art history. His passion on art and history materialized as he made a study of the life and paintings of Jose Laspinas from 1913-1986.

Inspite of his busy schedule, Pamate is currently teaching at both Fine Arts and History Department of Foundation University.

Pamate has been active in the art scene since early nineties. His art evolved from figurative paintings focusing on social issues, to a peaceful, magical sceneries of the past.
He became the regional coordinator for the fourth Visayan Islands Visual Arts -Exhibition/Conference (VIVA EXCON) held in Iloilo city in 1997 and has been consistent exhibitor for the VIVA exhibition module. Pamate also participates in various art workshops as an instructor; helping adults and children alike develop their interests in their respective medium and their appreciation for the arts.

He became the acting curator for the Spanish Heritage Art Center ca. 2002-03 and the Museum Vicente , Foundation University ca. 2007. Aside from his consultative work he also helped organize group shows in the city both with local art scenes and other NCCA sponsored activities in the past years.
Among his other accomplishments and recognitions were ; he was the recipient of Sovereign Art Awards in Hongkong in 2006, Certificate of Recognition as Most Outstanding Resident Brother for great leadership and academic excellence, APO International 2002; A certificate of Appreciation for the Public Mural Art Project. A joint project with the city government of Dumaguete City through Mayor Agustin Perdices in 1998. Certificate of Service, Rotary Club of Dumaguete North in 1996 and a Certificate of Appreciation Dumaguete Child and Family Program in 1996.

He is versatile in using different medium from acrylics, watercolor to oils, and his latest which he is concentrating with great passion is using the ancient coffee beans stains as his medium to bring back the past in his captivating landscapes.
The coffee stains become the time machine which does not only promote the ancient feeling of the theme, but it becomes the color that spells magical memories to the young and the old.

Pamate has found the perfect medium for his subjects. This quiet, softspoken, humble and hardworking artist is an example to his students who are discovering the world of art and the artist himself.

2009-05-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

Bhoy Imbo is a prolific young artist in Negros Island, whose passion for painting is remarkable. True to his calling, he paints different subjects through different medium.
One subject which he is very good at is painting old people in a heavily textured canvas laden with leaves.
The texture of the canvas itself lends to the real characteristics of a wrinkled skin.
His talent is manifested in the detailed renderings of his subjects.
More of this promising artist in the future articles.

Art for Life

2009-05-01T23:13:00.000-07:00

Muffet Dolar Villegas started her passion in drawing and painting in watercolor at the age of three. She finished her Mass Communication Degree in Silliman University where she also took fine arts lessons from American artists Louise Oxtoby Carey and Filipino artist Efren Garcellano.
Muffet honed her talent as an artist under the close supervision and guidance of Dr. Albert Faurot, a noted international figure in art and music who taught in Silliman University for many years. She had her first painting exhibition at the Silliman Library in 1979. It was followed by numerous group and one-man-show exhibitions locally, nationwide and abroad.
She taught and organized art workshops which started with street children in 1984 and now, she also includes children with cancer and other kids.
Muffet had spent time learning art from American contemporary artists and visiting noted art museums in the United States in the Summers of 2001 and 2004.
Currently, she divides her time painting, writing a weekly newspaper column in Negros Chronicle, teaching and radio broadcasting at Foundation University Greyhound 101 FM radio where she trains young communicators. She considers interaction as a vital need for inspiration.
Married to Pastor Andrew Villegas with three children, Joaquin, Magenta and Dan Paul, she considers being a mother and wife as her first and foremost roles.
She paints in oil and acrylic but her favorite medium is watercolor that she finds very challenging and expressive medium.
She sees painting as a unique gift from God where the painter pours his own life into inanimate objects like paints, brushes and canvasses to transform God’s creation into a lively, joyful and meaningful experience. She used painting as a therapy while she was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer three years ago. Instead of counting sheep to sleep, she chooses a riotous journey through colors while others are sleeping. Her colors convey hope,joy and peace.
She stressed that even a negative experience like cancer can be turned positive if one can use it as a force to fuel our imagination and share with others, when we realize that life can be short and fleeting.
As a result of that experience she became a cancer advocate. Driven by pain and passion, she recently held a one woman show “Art for Life” and another art exhibit “Pink October”, for the benefit of a local cancer support group Flame of Hope.

The Artist with a Song

2009-05-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

True artists are born, and not bred, and Cornelito Aro is living proof of this adage. Lito’s fondest memories as a young child of 6 was making sand sketches in between chores, at their home’s front yard. Lito went on to win several awards during his elementary and high school years, both in the regional and provincial level. One of his works was ultimately adjudged the winner in the national category of the Philippine Motors Association in 1978.
A Dumagueteño to the core, Lito honed his craft working on billboards, backdrops and murals for local establishments in the city. As early as 1981, he then started to explore the art of stone-craft and began developing different mediums and styles. Eventually, Lito found his niche with NOAH (Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage), one of the country’s most prestigious players in the international stone-craft industry. As head of NOAH’s Product and Research Development Department for 20 years, Lito’s intricate designs have graced the desks of Philippine presidents and countless foreign dignitaries.
Of late, Lito has been allied with local furniture and architecture firm Arte de Negros, but he continues to do commissioned historical and cultural artwork for banks and private collectors. On his downtime, Lito continues to paint, and paint well it seems—among his latest awards was the first prize for the esteemed Gregorio Alano Memorial in 2005.
Lito Aro is also the resident artist of Antulang Beach Resort, where he enjoys painting by day and expresses himself in another medium which is singing at night. He continues to mesmerize audiences with his painting and voice.

Susan Canoy as an artist by Muffet Villegas

2009-05-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

Susan Canoy is a Dumaguete artist who is known for her arts and crafts. As a single mother, she relentlessly pursues her art to express herself and to provide for her family.
She has been exhibiting her artworks for more than two decades now. Her subjects are as varied as the medium she has been using. As a mother, her themes focus on women about their dreams, aspirations, family and frustrations. She also paints the lighter side of life like florals, landscapes, marine life and other subjects.
Susan was chosen as one of the finalists in the prestigious Philip Morris Art Competition nationwide among her other awards.
Her day is not complete without art. She paints on anything from canvasses, papers, bottles, textiles and other indigenous materials like processed bamboo leaves. Her two children are the apple of her eyes. They are her inspirations.
She owns a framing shop which helps the needs of local artists and those who need her services.
Her innate love for nature and living beside the boulevard, propels her to create more subjects which are not only a joy to have but they convey a feeling of peace,sadness and life’s challenges.
She has been exhibiting her works locally, around the Philippines and her works were also displayed in Spain.
Everyday is a constant inspiration for Susan Canoy.’
She is also a member of producers of crafts in Negros Oriental.

Island Artists Hub

2009-05-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Island Artists' hub. A site for artists and art afficionados. An array of artworks inspired by exotic paradise islands anywhere in the world.
You are free to view paintings, be updated in the artworld, and interact with artists themselves. If you are an art lover who would like to purchase an artwork from the artists, you can contact the artists themselves. Relax and enjoy.