I was born in a small town of Angono, known as the art capital of the Philippines. I was always surrounded by artists. As a child, my mother brought me along to countless galleries and art workshops. Art has always been a part of me. Here in the US, where I’m proud to be a citizen, I received my Bachelors in Fine Arts at Hunter College, City University of New York. At Hunter College I studied with Robert Swain, and developed a close friendship with a fellow artist, Eleanor Gilpatrick. She became a very close friend and something of a mentor. I found that we both share a love of Contemporary Realism, painting moments in time and place, often times based on our own photographs. I have three children and many nieces and nephews, so painting with them came natural. After some years, I decided to open my doors and share my love of painting with others. My idea is to show that anyone can start with a blank canvas and turn it into something beautiful. So began my home-based classes, featuring prints of classical and contemporary artists. Children and adults learn from models of varied styles and subjects. They learn how the artists work by trying to re-create the paintings they are copying and making them their own. In class they learn color theory and composition, as well as how to mix the colors they want to use. Students learn to be comfortable working with high quality materials and techniques. Children have a natural desire to create. As I watch them paint, I see excitement, focus, determination, and most importantly, the sheer joy of being in the moment. I think that while adults can get caught up in the mundane responsibilities of every day, the classes help them get back to their inner child and experience the joy one feels in the moment of creating art. I hope that children and adults will feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence that they can take into their every-day lives. I hope I help them achieve their goals while expanding their appreciation for the arts.
