Felix Catarata lives to paint

CEBU, Philippines - This year’s GSIS painting tilt grand winner in the representational category, Felix Catarata of Bogo City, continues to seek a deeper sense of expression focusing on subjects that reflect the Filipinos’ way of life, having that wisdom of finding the beauty and joy in every situation that life provides.

His works, in contemporary realism, are reflections of his love and passion for market scenes, rural sceneries and other subjects that capture his fertile imagination.

What identifies his painting from the rest is his distinct brushwork. Catarata shared he paints in a “very loose and confident manner.” His style is akin to calligraphic handling technique.

The year 1998 was a turning point having decided to be an artist for the rest of his life. His background in the furniture industry while working for Maitland at the Mactan Export Processing Zone molded his path to fine arts.

Focusing mainly in the oil medium, he’s created a style of application using bold strokes. He said he has particular interest in figural painting, but that he too exhibits his landscapes.

Having no formal training in the fine arts (he is a teacher by profession), Catarata recalls having an early interest and inclination in drawing in his youth. He started as a self-taught artist, honing his drawing techniques and doing on-the-spot painting.

In 2001, he surprised the art community because this unknown new kid on the scene won the first prize in the Martino Abellana on-the-spot contest in Carcar defeating more than a hundred painters in participation, many of whom were seasoned artists.

Later, Catarata reinforced his skills by enrolling for two months at the Cebu Art Academy under the tutelage of distinguished Cebuano painter Jose “Kimsoy” Yap. He joined the Cebu Art Association and became an active member and participant in group exhibitions both local and national.

He credits American painters Scott Burdick and Daniel Gerhatz as an influence in his work and admires Fernando Amorsolo most.

He includes as well the celebrated Cebuano painter Romulo Galicano as among those who influences and inspires him as an artist.

Catarata’s works win because, though, boldly made are true to form. Content-wise his paintings portray the very essence of Filipino art. Local sceneries in his landscapes and seascapes turn ablaze with his confident handling and work technique. The figure paintings he makes are “distinct in his own character portrayal of Filipinos in their daily work routine and environment.”

This month would be a busy one again for Catarata with an exhibit lined up at the Museo Sugbo. As member of the Nueves Artists or nine visual artists who converge every Hueves (Thursday) at the Loy King Gallery in Barangay Tisa, Catarata announced of an exhibition at the Museo Sugbo with the recent opening of a gallery intended for painters (in what used to be the jailhouse).

The exhibit from October 9 to the end of this month showcases 30 paintings – best of the best works of Catarata and the rest of the members: Luis “Loy” King, Jose “Kimsoy” Yap, Jr.; Jose “Pepe” Villadolid, Randy Plarisan, CrispinVillavito Bobier, Ariel Caratao and Eloi Alferez. Profile of the last member, however, isn’t mentioned in the list handed over to this writer by Mr. King.

It is expected that with this show, Catarata’s paintings will become bolder, more intense and captivating being driven by the guiding principle in his work and practice: “Paint to live. Live to paint.” (FREEMAN)