Distraction

I got distracted from working on the roofscape painting at the moment.  Since the areas I needed to work on were still “wet” and I needed to take reference images of scrawny kids first, I decided to start work on this mountain scape that I have in mind.  It will be part of a three-part series which I will call Guiting-Guiting.

The dimension of the frame was intended really for a somewhat mannerist painting of a woman, but the person that will pose for that had a falling out with me and that planned painting will no longer be feasible.  That falling out had some serious personal ramification for me, and as usual, I revert to the mountains for solace.

Gunning for GSIS

I've finally remembered that there is such a thing as a GSIS Art Competition and the due date for this year's competition hasn't passed yet.

The theme is “Makabagong Kinabukasan” (A New Kind of Future).

I have been contemplating a particular composition, but not for the theme above. However, having a theme allowed me to crystallized the work in my head in no time, and led me in this direction. The moment my lead touched paper, all the elements came together without a fuss. I was pretty amused by the speed in which I arranged my elements.

I wanted to show a landscape of haphazardly built structures – a squatter roofscape. It has come to symbolize in my head everything that has gone wrong with the Philippines. It is a patchwork of temporary and flimsy attempts to build a community. It serves it's purpose marginally, but it simply is wanting of so many things: justice, order, direction.

I didn't want to show a living person amid the squalor. You will not see a single Filipino in the picture because this landscape is not Filipino. It is not what we are. It is just a predicament we have found ourselves in. It is a mere situation. There is even what appears to be a classical structure of sorts, but you will find it almost built over by the corrugated sheet iron structures surrounding it. A person should wonder what else is underneath all that rusted corrugated iron sheets. Will it reveal our true selves?

The only human form in the roofscape is the image of a construction worker wielding a sledgehammer in a tarpaulin banner. I'm just suggesting it, but in my opinion, the only way to move forward is to rid ourselves of things we have become comfortable with. We have been so used to the dysfunctions, that we are bewildered by reactions of visitors to our shores.

I gave the painting horizon gaps which should make the viewer feel that beyond the roofs, is a large open space - perhaps a beach of sorts. You should notice that the sky seems overly “nice” for the scene at the foreground. I just what the viewer to see my idea of hope. Beyond all that mess, is what we've all been working for. We just have to wield that sledgehammer with the conviction that it will demand.

The image above is about 60% complete.  It's not that easy to render rusted corrugated iron sheets without making it look like an absolute mess. 

This is my first painting after a year's hiatus!  Rock climbing had messed up my hands.  I can't control them as well as before.  It forced me to feather my brush strokes and I am mystified by the results.

UPDATE:

The new GSIS Painting Competition size requirement is 4 feet by 5 feet.  Last year it was 3x4 and I assumed wrong or perhaps read wrong.  I will not have any entry this year.  What a let down.

Now that the theme doesn't apply anymore, I feel that I may have to rethink the elements in my frame and go back to my original concept of having a thin kid balancing on the rooftops - a play on juxtaposition.

What's that?

Do you know what this is?

  

Not my finger!  I was talking about what I was pointing at.  Yup.  A blank canvas.  And I have two for that matter.

I had the frames for these custom-made by Sunga.  Cost me a thousand pesos for the two.  A bit pricey, but I can't really complain given the weight of the wood and the quality of the workmanship.  I use to make my own frames but my skills in carpentry can't overcome my usual problems: warping, usual flimsy construction and the ever annoying trapezoidal shape I end up with.

We're trying to work out a solution to bring down the price of the frame.  Some of the cheaper wood are just not workable as frames.  I told the people at Sunga if they can bring my 3x4s to P300, then we're dandy.

Yes, I do my own stretching, priming, sanding and whatever else that is necessary to come up with a nice consistent bite on the surface.  I think of it as part of the creative process.  Before you can paint anything, you have to create space for your other creations to exist in.

Wonder what's going to be pulled out of the air and plastered on these white surfaces?  Well, do come back every now and then to find out.  One of them is due on May 7!  I may have to use those spray on varnish for that.  Damn!