Classical drawings and paintings

CEBU, Philippines -  "Cebuano visual artists are not yet that good enough, thus the need to put up an avenue for deeper understanding of portraiture and drawings," according to Romulo "Molong" Galicano, chairman of the Portrait Artists Society of the Philippines, Inc.

Of course, no artist would say he is not yet ready. There's always that ego to nurture and defend. "Wa man gyoy artist nga moangkon nga di siya kamao, so we have to deal with that attitude or he/she will never succeed elsewhere, or even sustain his/her presence here," he added. "To be recognized everywhere you go does not only involve passion. It is more on the attitude!"

This is the goal the "Classical Drawings and Paintings" Exhibit hopes to achieve. It opened on November 23 at the SM City Cebu Art Center and will run until December 6.

Cebu is the bastion of portrait realism in the country, but local artists are not yet prepared globally, according to Galicano's observation."This is because that much-needed professional training in the country has not been institutionalized yet, unlike in the US for example which has schools specifically for the visual arts, and of course since grade school the discipline is already embedded in their school curricula," Galicano added.

He emphasized that drawing is the foundation of visual arts. "If the house has no solid foundation, it would collapse. Mao sad na sa painting, if dili solid ang foundation sa drawing, it will bring the entire house down."

Galicano, who hails from Carcar City but is now based in Manila, graced the event to support co-members by way of further mentoring. "Before we reach out to the public to appreciate our works, we have to make sure that we have established camaraderie among us. Mas priority namo nga maka-establish og rapport sa grupo and to leave behind our egos," he also said.

It was further learned that this is PASPI's first major exhibit as a group in Cebu and in the Philippines, though they have been recently invited by the Provincial Government for the One Cebu Expo 2012 event wherein they presented "Figures and Landscapes" to highlight "artistic integrity as the essential process of excellent portrait painting."

It has already established a strong 50-member team featuring the works of Darby Alcoseba, Artemio Anga Jr.; Dondon Bayawa, Karby Beloy, Felix Catarata, Drego Cavalida, Adeste Deguilmo, Audie Estrellada, Carly Florido, Luther Galicano, Romulo Galicano, Bobby Gonzales, Jun Impas, Cris Java, Boy Kiamko, Henrietta Hermoso, Elroy Managbanag, Malvin Lim, Maxcel Migallos, Gigi Ocampo, Jose Mari Picornell, Lito Torremucha, Antonio Vidal, Marlowe Villagonzalo, Kimsoy Yap, Marlon Ylanan, and a roster of youngbloods, among others.

They eye to sustain one to two shows annually. An auction is also on the drawing table, for early next year, to kick off 2013 with a bigger convergence of artists, patrons, and critics.