Comic book illustration @ UV New School

CEBU, Philippines - There is no such thing as an original. Everything is a copy of reality.

This was how Harvey Montecillo Tolibao’s father, Jesus, would guide his children in their journey into the visual arts. Knowing that all of his five children were following his path, the elder Tolibao made sure his successors won’t be harried by the complexities of treading that path.

“It was alright for him if we copy initially from our favorite comic legends like Jim Lee and other Filipino greats; as long as we practice and practice more. My mother would support him by telling us ‘patience is virtue,’ so we just have to draw more. Wala pa gani ko’y idea what it all means, basta nag-draw lang gyud ko till my hands bled. Tinuod gyud na. I thought some other person’s blood stained my pencil, pero ako diay fingers nasamad na,” he recalled while conducting a Comic Book Illustration lecture for the summer workshop courses offered at the University of the Visayas New School of Art and Design last May 24-26.

When he opened the session, he reminded the 13 participants (ages nine years old to 25 years old; two female) how his father would point out in that drawing is for all as the principles can be learned. “He said that all people have hope. We can all draw because ang drawing maoy nangita nato. Some may just have dropped the idea by looking at it as the most painstaking endeavor.”

“This is because drawing is a step-by-step process. There are no shortcuts. But it has been made easy by fundamentals,” he noted.

Harvey showed that box forms, as utilized by renowned illustrators George Bridgman and Andrew Loonis, can represent major masses of figures. “Makita ra na nato karon unsa diay kasayon mag-drawing because basically drawings are just made of circles, of spheres and squares,” he shared.

And so the fruitful sharing of ideas opened with the human anatomy. “Kids, don’t ever consider this topic as bastos ha? Because when we draw the human body we have to be true to form, mag-start ta sa walay sinina,” he addressed the minors in class.

Harvey began pointing out the difference between the human form and the superhero form, how to put details on basic bones and muscles. While he was doing this, an interactive class also began to pencil their own sketches on their pads.

The session moved to the head anatomy, anatomy of hands, feet, legs and torso, and anatomy in actions. “Anatomy is the backbone of human structure, so it is important that you study forms closer to reality. Later on na lang ta mag-exaggerate if we have already mastered the basics.”

The lecture moved on to tackle perspective, the technique in illustrating dimensions under point perspective for background location scenery. He differentiated the appearance of the head from a bird’s eye view and from an earthworm’s view, the normal or ideal proportion of drawings by using the eight head units; emphasized weight and volume in drawings, the difference between female and male lips; as well as the influences of Joe Madureira – one of great illustrators of the anatomy of the hands (one of the most expressive parts of the human body).

Tolibao was born in June 1981 and raised in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Prior to breaking into comics, he was a furniture designer, cartoonist, graphic artist, illustrator, web designer, tattoo artist, and messenger. He was initially inspired by the art of both Jim Lee and local Filipino comics.

He finally received his big break in 2007 from Marvel Comics with an Iron Man Annual. Since then, Harvey has worked on the following: What If?: Civil War, Young Avengers: Hulkling, Ultimate X-Men, Secret Invasion Avengers: The Initiative Tie Up, Darkhawk, Snowbird, Nation X, Psylocke Mini Series, Heroes for Hire, Silver Surfer, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Avengers The Initiative, War of Kings, and Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time.

Harvey has been involved in DC’s New 52 relaunch, working initially on Green Lantern New Guardians and the Green Arrow Series. Now, he is currently working on the Zenescope covers.

He graduated with an Associate Degree in Information Technology at the then Cebu Institute of Technology.

Harvey will be preoccupied soon with his “Payong Man” creation to represent the Filipino community as he is set to work with an equally brilliant Filipino writer.  (FREEMAN)