President Corazon Aquino once said, "With his understated, disciplined lines, Edwin really made me look beautiful." Sion’s portrait of Cory hangs in the Aquino home beside Sion’s rendering of Ninoy Aquino.
The sense of serenity in his art can well be attributed to the fact that he captures the soul of his subjects by emphasizing their eyes. Sion pours his talent into sketching eyes that seem to literally put life into the portrait.
"Before starting a portrait, I try to look at my subject from all angles whether in person or in a good photograph," Sion says. "I then strive to go beyond the physical appearance while I observe his traits, mannerisms and personality up close or by coordinating with the person who commissioned the work."
The Philippine STAR’s founder, the late Betty Go Belmonte, was an avid fan who encouraged the artist. Sion has since been commissioned to do the portraits of all the country’s House Speakers (past and present), which proudly grace the walls of Congress.
As the official portrait artist during the Aquino Administration, Sion drew portraits of US First Lady Hillary Clinton, Japanese Prime Minister Noburo Nakshita, Taiwanese President Li Teng Hui, and US Secretary of State George Shultz, which were all given as gifts by Malacañang.
For inquiries on Edwin Sion’s portraits, call Thess Sion at 455-6263 or 0917-9486494.