Masters at Work: An Exhibit of Greatness

Since time immemorial, art has been around as long as humanity has. Art surrounds our lives and everyone from all walks of life; it has the influence and the power to educate everyone about everything. Art presents all sorts of information and creates awareness and deeper understanding of our various cultures, politics, history, and emotions.

Art, unlike literal words, provides a vast range of ideas with meanings that are determined by the artist through forms and symbols. Art is an extremely powerful catalyst for social change. It is a form of communication, which can influence society by instilling values, translating experiences across time and space, and transforming opinions.

Without art, we would exist in a dull and thoughtless blank slate. We must remember this: without creativity there is no individuality, and without individuality there is no true human being. Just imagine if Van Gogh, Chagall, Kahlo, O’Keeffe, de Lempicka, Picasso, Monet, Matisse, and other great artists never existed. Can you imagine if Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia didn’t exist? Or Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel was never created? What if Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel was never born? What if Julia Morgan’s famous Hearst Castle was never built?

To quote author Barbara Januszkiewicz,  “Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change.“

Every artist paints their own nature into their work and dips their brush in their own soul. Let us get to know these revered and top Filipino artists both in the Philippines and in Canada and their masterpieces. For a moment, let us forget about COVID-19 and give ourselves the message of hope that better days are on the near horizon. Let us discover man’s greatness through art. Amidst the din, chaos, and precarious times we’re all in, let’s pretend that we’re viewing these paintings in a museum — let’s lose ourselves in the splendour and beauty of all these creations by the Masters at work:

Lorenzo “Larry” Leviste: Manila’s High Society Expressionist Master. Larry Leviste is a one-of-a-kind Expressionist Portraitist. That’s an understatement actually. His works evoke passion, deep intensity, and raw sexuality. His bold colours complement his impulsive, expressive, and dramatic brushstrokes. His works are not limited to portraits and self-portraits — he does landscapes and still life. 

Born Lorenzo Pineda Leviste, Larry’s earliest memory of painting was that of smeared oatmeal on their kitchen wall much to the delight of his nanny! Little Larry graduated from smeared oatmeal on kitchen walls to smeared squid ink on his bedroom wall. His mother was utterly horrified and bought him his first crayons from Alemars — an art shop in Manila.

At 5-years-old, Larry learned impasto (thickly applied paint for texture) and India ink. In grade 3, he was invited to join an art club in his school, De La Salle in Taft Avenue. There, he won numerous gold awards for Artistic Excellence, and the coveted Top Prize in India’s Shankar Children’s Art Competition. It was in grade 7, when the multi-awarded young genius stopped painting, threw away his art supplies, and burned his best works. He was angry with his parents — Larry felt unappreciated when his parents brought home his older brother’s painting of Nativity and put the painting on display in their living room. Larry never confronted his parents and instead chose to bottle up his resentment.

As a freshman in De la Salle Greenhills, Larry came out of his closet. Just like the many real creative geniuses before him, Larry went down the road less traveled by — he experimented with cigarettes, drugs, tranquilizers, sex, and champagne. He was the quintessential Art Nouveau butterfly. At 16 and at 6’ feet tall, he was (and still is) strikingly beautiful; he was crowned Miss Universe at the hip and trendy gay bar in town, Jade Vine at United Nations. 

In his early and late 20s, he became a fashion designer, a movie actor (he was directed by no less than the great creative genius, Director Lino Brocka), a stage celebrity, and a high society priestess. He was a regular fixture and a part of the fashionable crowd at the legendary Coco Banana. In his 30s, he left Manila for a more sobered lifestyle, ironically, in a place where dreams are made of: Hollywood. 

When he returned to Manila in his 40s, a more focused Larry was ready to settle down and repair his relationship with his family. Upon attending a Sunday Mass, he had an Epiphany. Larry sat there intently as he listened about the familiar story of the Master who gave his three servants talents. Larry identified with the last servant, who exclaimed, “Master, the one talent you gave me, I have buried that talent beneath my house so it won’t be lost.” After mass, Larry spent all his money on art supplies and started painting again to make up for the four decades of burying his talent. 

Today, Larry is a double threat powerhouse juggling between painting and being a style editor for Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) newspaper. When asked about his forte, “I do portraits because they are commissioned so it’s a deal right there. You know it will be displayed prominently and kept by the family for a long time,” Larry declared. 

As for his creative style, “My art represents the Expressionist style. I use non-traditional contrasting colors. For instance the skin tone may be green and the hair purple. It’s not my impression but my expression of the sitter. Frankly, they love it.” Larry further elaborates, “Mother nature inspires me. Flora and fauna have such compelling colors.”

Does Manila’s foremost Expressionist Master ever get stuck in a creative rut? “Never. Living your life is like painting. It is creative every single day. If I don’t paint, I am cooking and gardening,” Larry said. He also confided, “The real Lorenzo is private. Loves to laugh. He is prayerful and likes to help others. The artist is bold. I like fierce fashion as I have been a style editor for 25 years with PDI.”

What I love and admire about Manila’s High Society Expressionist Master is his love of life, his passion for arts and culture, his sense of style and humour, and above all, his kindness. Larry is not only a survivor of bipolar mental condition; he is a true winner — in every sense of the word.

Francis Marte. Multi-awarded Filipino-Canadian Watercolourist. Francis started his exploration of art when he was in preschool. He started attending art school when he was 12, learning figurative and landscape drawing in pencil and ink, and painting using poster colours and pastels. After receiving consistent praise from instructors and also being consistently chosen as the school’s representative at art contests during his grade school years, he decided that creating visual art is for him. 

Francis has always had a meticulous fascination for images, how the world is represented in the eye of others, and what makes beautiful scenarios and objects eye-catching. Francis decided to pursue interior design, since he thought that becoming a full time painter was unrealistic at that time. During this time, he studied art history, architecture, mechanical and freehand drawing, and colour rendering. 

After receiving a certificate in interior design, Francis delved into a career creating beautiful residential and commercial spaces – evident in interior and architecture scenes of some of his works. But this was the time he discovered his natural talent in watercolours, creating rendered perspectives of interior design spaces and still life. Francis also worked in the hospitality industry prior to his move to Canada. I also had the pleasure of working with Francis at The Peninsula Manila. I consider him a wonderful personal friend and colleague. 

Having lived in Jasper, Alberta, Canada in 2007 and eventually moving to Edmonton in 2010, Francis’ love for both the outdoors and the city grew tremendously. In 2015, after a long hiatus from the art world, he attended watercolour workshops in Edmonton and rediscovered his love and mastery of the medium, with a newly found inspiration – scenes of Canadian landscapes and architecture. 

He also specializes in dramatic portraits and still life. His works have been awarded in international watercolour competitions such as the San Diego Watercolour Society (SDWS), Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC), Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), Global Association of Watercolour Artists (GAWA), Abu Rawash Prize amongst others. He has also been featured in several art publications such as Watercolor Artist magazine, Art of Watercolour magazine, Pratique des Arts and Hyperrealism Magazine.

Besides his specialized commission works and constant practice, he also teaches workshops and classes at The Paint Spot in Edmonton. Most of his free time is spent painting at his home studio, hoping never to retire being a watercolourist.

Francis speaks about his style of art as realism, “I have dabbled in art, using different mediums since childhood. I’ve discovered that my best works are when brushes and transparent mediums are used. When I attended interior design school, I worked on realistic illustrations and was introduced to watercolour. I was fascinated. I quickly understood how the medium behaved. Painting realism in watercolours is challenging, but I certainly had the patience for it. I also knew that I had a knack for realism. That has always stuck with me. I am so curious on how to achieve different textures that teaches me how to paint with flow and freedom. It is therapeutic. I think watercolour is something incredibly different and special — something I don’t experience in other mediums,” Francis said.

Further, Francis talks about his artwork representation, “I have come to a period of time that I am given the opportunity to engage in the original instinct I had to create art in the first place — simply to create beautiful, frameable art. For me, that has meant thinking more about the storytelling aspect of my work – what it is I have to say as an artist, what my voice is,” said Francis. “I once had a career in illustrating for designers and architects, now I make paintings for myself, and for whoever sees my vision and wants to own them. My art represents how I see beauty in a setting and tell the story of that special experience through realistic paintings,” Francis added.

When asked about what or who inspires him, “Textures and colours are the main inspiration of my paintings. When I see something visually inspiring, I take photos, a lot of them. I then choose the best ones to paint, while assessing my ability and resources. I ask a lot of questions. It is a long process, but an essential part and rewarding at the end. I have learned to love the process. Award-winning watercolourists also inspire me. I largely attribute my drive to paint difficult, detailed subjects by observing how they work and appreciating their art,” Francis divulged.

Does this multi-awarded watercolourist ever get creative dry spells or creative rut? “Of course, I do. Any creative can attest to this. This typically happens when I have too much time on my hands, but that is not often. I’m addicted to creating something, and I’m a good multi-tasker. When I’m in that zone that I have to be constantly doing things, that’s when my mind is the most creative. People say that I’m grumpy when I haven’t been busy with my hands for a while. I feel useless. With that being said, it is also particularly important to have mental breaks from creativity. For me, that happens when I finish a big, detailed painting,” Francis noted. 

Regarding the hardest part of creating a painting, Francis shares, “For me, it is mental preparation. I’ve been a professional watercolourist for many years now, so getting materials ready is second nature. The difficulty is analyzing a reference photo, editing, planning your composition, how to attack the painting using watercolour are just some of the steps that are critical. The process requires a lot of trial and error and also involves changing my vision every now and then. Also, what is difficult for me is when I feel that it is time to pause. When I’m in that zone there is a lot of self teaching and discovery, and when I stop, I feel that hours are passing me by,” explained Francis.

“My still life “Thyme for Tomato Sauce” is a special one. It showcased my skills in painting different textures and layers. I love the element of Chiaroscuro – which is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark values. I entered the painting in several international competitions, and it has received an award in each one. When I was starting some years ago, I didn’t think that my art could be at par with the masterpieces of the artists who I idolize. This painting is the first piece that has been recognized along with theirs. It’s such a gratifying feeling. I am also fortunate that the painting was sold to an avid art collector,” Francis shared.

Pray tell, who is Francis Marte as a person and Francis Marte as the artist? Francis confided, “I think visual artists who are passionate are in general also mostly who they are as a person. As an artist, I am often open-minded and inspired by my surroundings (though not all). That is often true when navigating through my daily activities. I zone out every now and then. My mind ticks a bit differently because it’s moved by different details. It is a constant mental process in that sense. Many would see it as “unusual”, but for a creative, that is inspiration. But that unusual experience can actually make a painting unique in its own ways,” said Francis.

“When I’m in the middle of a painting, I find that I’m most effective isolating. I require freedom from other heavy thoughts. I would avoid every possible interruption. When I’m not painting, I generally have to be more patient and outgoing. Many may find this personality conflicting, acting like an introvert and extrovert at the same time. But these experiences are fuel. It’s a way of cultivating your “insanity”,” Francis reflected.

Reb Belleza. Abstract Artiste Extraordinaire! Who can ever forget that cute little boy in the classic Filipino film “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” with Gloria Diaz and Christopher de Leon in the mid-70s directed by the late National Artist for Film Eddie Romero? Reb Belleza, also known as Dranreb, is the multi-awarded child actor and son of veteran actress, Ms. Divina Valencia. As a young teen heartthrob, Dranreb became one of German Moreno’s mainstays in GMA Network’s “That’s Entertainment” and he also did numerous films.

Fast forward decades later, little Dranreb, a product of De La Salle Greenhills and University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, has evolved into an abstract artiste extraordinaire. He is now the famous artist, Reb Belleza with several successful exhibits in his resume. 

Just like Van Gogh, Reb has been fighting demons most of his life. He has successfully recovered from drug and alcohol addiction. During his addiction, he would take any drug available, from ecstasy to cocaine and to heroin. He also took prescribed pills such as Valium and Dormicum, which are both used to treat anxiety and other mental illnesses. Reb has been cleaned and sober for over a decade now. He continues to live with his bipolar condition and persists on living a healthier lifestyle. He has redeemed himself through his art. 

Not many people know that Reb is multilingual — he speaks French, Spanish, Ilonggo, Tagalog, Waray, and Chavacano! Reb married his childhood friend, Vale dela Riva. He now has four stepchildren, and they all live in an art-filled house. Reb attributes his renewed life with the love and support of his wife and best friend, Vale. 

My curiosity was piqued by seeing Reb’s works and wanted to know more about his style. “That is tough to put a label on. I have no particular style. Every exhibit shows different works. If you look at my works closely, they are all interconnected — similar to different chapters of a book. My works are different chapters telling a story. It’s the same process with my painting, my photography, my videos or my performance and installations. There is a common theme — it is mostly about what I am going through at that time. My works are pages from a diary if you will.”

When asked about what his artwork represents, Reb says, “My artwork represents my humanity. My work represents my influences.”

Reb, you must share what or who influences your body of work? “Coffee! Honestly, everything. Sometimes watching movies or current events. I would get a pen and write an idea or something that moved me like the lyrics of songs. Or the book I am reading. I’m inspired by the life of others, their point of view and what they stand or stood for. Documentaries are goldmines,” shared Reb. 

Reb added, “My dogs are my sources of inspiration. Martha, my German bred French Poodle and her everyday behaviour. And my other dog is a Welsh Pembroke Corgi, Layla. She guards my painting materials and works. No one can touch my things when she is guarding my studio. These two dogs have changed the way I interact with my fellow human beings. Dogs are great teachers. Another source of inspiration is my grandchild, Eva. She’s so adorable!” 

Reb continued, “Another source of inspiration is food. My wife and I are foodies, but lately because of COVID-19  the selection of food is limited, we miss eating out. But delivery of food is somewhat ok, so we can’t really complain! My family, of course, is my source of inspiration. My four daughters are great teachers and their points of views surprise me all the time. I feel young being around them but incredibly old when we have discussions. My wife is my rock. My daily grind inspires me. Everyday, I try to learn something new. Learning never ceases. And yes, fashion inspires me. It’s a great influence, for sure — the colours, the lines, and textures. I am a big fan of sneakers, fragrance and clothes. Do you know what’s ironic? I’m all dressed up and nowhere to go because of COVID-19!”

Does this Abstract Maestro ever get in a creative rut? “I am bipolar and I have PTSD. It is a blessing actually. Mental health challenges make it easier. Creative droughts happen when I have too many errands or distractions. Sometimes the medications I drink dull the mind, so I meditate. I set aside time in the mornings before I drink my coffee fix. I do a deep meditation and the mental light bulb switches on. Then, voila, I attack the blank canvas after the imagery is composed in my head and then rendered by my hands. The whole body is involved and all senses including the sixth or seventh,” enthused Reb.

Regarding the hardest part of painting, Reb said, “The hardest part are the details and making the materials work with you. Also, it’s a choice of either erasing your mistakes or letting them be. Again, since I think visually, I can see the lines or colours I am about to place in the canvas. It is arbitrary — the adding or the subtracting. But like I said, most of the time, the first dab of colour or the first line becomes the beginning of a trance-like experience when you do not have a study or plan. It’s more facile with music.”

Rob said that the above painting is his favourite work. He said, “This red colourfield. Red on red. I listened to “Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak” while painting this. And the context of Red nowadays. This is a 4×5 feet work titled “Kulayan Mo Ng Pula.” Color It Red was also blasting on the stereo. It is layers and layers of all the shades and hues of red oil paint I could get my hands with. The base was Alizarin Crimson, then Rose Madder, Chinese Red, so on and so forth. I love making this. This is very thick — Impasto!”

Lastly, is Reb the person different from Reb, the artist? “I share my life and dreams. My life is an open book. No secrets. Nothing to hide,” said Reb. 

Esmie Gayo McLaren. Vancouver’s Powerful and Influential Watercolourist.

Esmie Gayo McLaren is a powerful force to reckon with. Her watercolour paintings are at par with the world’s five most influential female watercolourists: Georgia O’ Keeffe (American, 1887- 1986), Mary Cassatt (American, 1844-1926), Berthe Morisot (French, Bourges 1841–1895), Fidelia Bridges (American, 1834-1923), and Kate Greenaway (British, 1846–1901). 

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Esmie Gayo McLaren is a prolific Filipino-Canadian artist whose works have garnered awards such as Best Work on Paper, Best of Show, and Excellence in Figurative Work.  She exhibits regularly: solo or in group; juried or by invitation.  Sometimes the lines are blurred between her art and community work as she enjoys bridging cultures and extending help to artists.

Esmie shares artwork that celebrates joy, passion, hope and inspires humanity. Through her masterpieces, she conveys messages of simple pleasures in life, nature, labour, and childish abandon.  Esmie is an avid Flamenco dancer. She incorporates her hobbies into her art. Esmie re-tells and re-lives her daily adventures in life through her works. She reaches out to her audience by embracing subjects that she can identify with as a woman, as an artist, as a partner, as a daughter, and a global citizen. 

Her fluid brushstrokes emphasize plenty of emotion and invigorating motion; Esmie paints stories about lightness of spirit in the whirls of skirts and spontaneous play.  And as if to rekindle her soul with her environment, Esmie paints nature,  flora and fauna.

McLaren works in both oils and watercolours, using either paper or canvas support for the latter.  She enjoys texturing canvas with gesso and grounds which add an element of play, strength, and an extra dimension of movement.

Esmie reflects on her distinct style, “Making representational art enables me to express effectively the beauty and truth of everyday life,” said Esmie. “My art represents optimism and engagement with my surroundings and life as a whole.”

When asked what or who inspires her, Esmie responded, “The designs and quirks of nature and the tenacity and character of people inspire me.  Combine any of those with light, and I’m eager to paint.”

Does Esmie Gayo McLaren ever get creative dry spells or creative rut? “Of course, yes, but not for long because my inspirations are all around me and I don’t have to look hard to find them.  Usually there is a backlog, in my mind, of inspirations and issues that need addressing,” Esmie replied.

Regarding the hardest part of creating a painting, Esmie mentioned, “Self-doubt.  This is crippling if it comes before you begin a painting.  My hesitation is not because I’m short on inspiration: It’s because I’m doubting my ability to express it.”

When it comes to Esmie’s favourite work and why it’s her favourite, without hesitation, Esmie shares, “My current favourite is “Majesty”, a watercolour of a bald eagle flying over the Capilano Lake Reservoir on the North Shore mountains.  COVID-19 has curtailed our freedom, certainly mine. With the eagle, my heart soars in unlimited space, up where the air is fresh and life-giving.”

We’re all curious — who is Esmie as a person and Esmie as the artist? “Esmie as a person loves family, garden, nature, travel, music, poetry, dance, and people,” she answered. “I enjoy being with friends and colleagues, but I treasure solitude and potential for silence.  As a global citizen, I seek to learn about cultures, especially the reason behind specific practices. To me, building community and connecting them is crucial to understanding each other and living in peace together.  I am inquisitive and analytical by nature, usually in search of the scientific or psychological explanation for whatever is in front of me,” added Esmie.

“As an artist, I am most creative when alone and in close proximity with nature. I enjoy painting butterflies and birds, flowers, and landscapes, but people are my favourite subjects.  Portraying their movement and emotions are particularly rewarding because they speak of humanity clearly.  The need to express human condition and bring awareness to social issues dictate what I paint and what exhibits I organize or participate in. I feel blessed to be an artist. Without my art, I have neither eyes to notice nor voice to encourage,” said Esmie.

“In 2018, I created work to empower women and invited other artists to do the same.  The result was “Essence: Art Celebrating Women”. The message is that each viewer must rely on self to create a positive change in how women are viewed and treated.  Essence was exhibited in North Vancouver, then invited to the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa.  To connect with the community there, I asked two local artists to also create, then included their works in the exhibit.  The collection has since been invited to Switzerland and I look forward to more community connections abroad.  In the case of Essence, I am proud to be a catalyst for positive change for women, while collaborating with other artists, and connecting communities,” Esmie shared.

What’s next for Vancouver’s most powerful female watercolourist? “Between commissions, I am currently working on a series of paintings addressing aging in the context of care for elders within the family setting,” volunteered Esmie. 

Lingling Gonzalez. From High Fashion to Modern Art. Maria Theresa Gonzalez known as Lingling, which comes from “darling” started out as a catwalk and print model at the age of twenty in 1980 for both the local and international fashion industry. Lingling was born in the Philippines, but now lives in France over the last 27 years. 

She took a course on Fashion Design and Pattern Making and graduated with a diploma of three years and a year of high fashion both in technical, illustration, concept and realisation at ESMOD Paris and Paris American Academy. Her painting has been influenced by her travels and varied professional career — she has worked as a Fashion Illustrator/fashion forecaster for MBC – Paris; a Directrice de Mis en Page (magazine layout) for MBC Paris; did sales and marketing for Herve Leger in Paris; a freelance fashion consultant in Morocco and Paris; and a Diplômée Modélisme Haute Couture for the Paris American Academy. Whew, what a feat! 

Lingling enjoys a tight-knit relationship with her famille, a family of eight siblings, four brothers and four sisters. Their father, Atty. German Gonzalez  was a graduate of law from UST and their mother, Felisa Gonzalez was a graduate from Adamson University as a Chemist Specialised in Medicine composition.

Lingling, why do you make this type of art? “I do this type of art because there is something inside me  that needs to be expressed. A desire to expound what I feel, to be able to create something of great value to me,” Lingling answered. “I do émotif personages because of my love for people, animals, nature, everything that instills new life. It’s a type of therapy on my emotions that needs to be conveyed through painting,” she said.

When asked about what represents her art, Lingling replied, “My artwork represents myself, my childhood, my family, my experiences, my dreams, and my connection with nature. My artworks represent my life journey.”

With regard to inspiration, “What inspires me in my creativity stems from deep emotions, my innermost feelings, my thoughts, my spirituality, my curiosity to the tangible and intangible meaning of life,” said Lingling. “As I grow in my spirituality, I evolve also in concepts and designs. A gratitude of having both hands to help breathe life to what is already alive inside me,” she added.

Does she ever get creative dry spells or creative rut? “Creative dry spell or creative rut is my constant companion. It can take me more than half a year to pull me out from a creative dry spell. Over reading or over charging one’s mind in quest for new ideas only leads to confusion and loss of the artist’s authenticity. I therefore chose to simplify my art works and focus on what brings joy,” replied Lingling.

When asked about the hardest part of creating a painting, “As I paint directly onto the canvas, the hardest part of creating a painting is the idea or the concept and the story behind that produces a balance of images and spaces. It requires constant change by adding, subtracting, reposition of images. Once the first part is achieved, the second part is putting a harmony of colours unto the canvas. If these two factors aren’t achieved, there is an accumulation of unfinished art pieces. I recharge, put them aside and come back to finish them,” answered Lingling.

Lingling has shared her favourite work, Trinity; “I have some favourites from what I have accumulated as art pieces. The one that moved me was the making of TRINITY: these three women represent the growth in my spirituality. It is about the cleansing of my soul as I stride in life. This painting represents my life journey. A good friend helped me with the title as I described the story behind this art piece. It is my life transitioning from a challenging time, evolving to a much deeper self, slowly seeing the brighter side of life and purging of my soul.”

TRINITÉ quand le ciel et la terre se rencontrent, le mystère de l’esprit, du corps et de l’âme se transforme en transition, ce qui nous amène dans le monde du danger à la fois, la beauté magique qui nous entoure et qui nourrit l’âme. (When heaven and earth meet, the mystery of mind, body and soul transform in transition that brings us in the world of danger at the same time, the magical beauty that surrounds us.)

Who is Lingling as a person and as an artist? “She is a free-spirited individual who is in love with life and what it offers. On the joyous side, she is a person who can laugh at herself when her own frivolity hits her. On the serious and quiet side, she’s just one person who continuously reinvents herself into a meaningful human being,” she said. “Isolation is her best friend, a bohemian lifestyle where she can drown herself to work on her passion in creating ideas and gaining more knowledge in her chosen field,” added Lingling.