By: JOSEPHINE M. MENDOZA
Photos: Calbayog Journal
Photos: Calbayog Journal
“Our elders associate ‘gutom’ with painting and creative writing. Parents become worried when their children aspire for this kind of work. This popular notion, however, has become my challenge. Or maybe I was in denial of the idea of “gutom” in art because I have so much passion that fueled my determination to pursue my art. . . It has been years and too many efforts exerted and spent since then. . . Now, I can always say that arts pay off.” These are the words of Raul Isidro during his visit to celebrate the National Arts Month with his fellow Calbayognons.
Named by one of the art galleries as the first Filipino contemporary artist to recognize and document our indigenous designs and symbols, Raul Isidro, hails from Calbayog City where culture and the arts are serious business. His works appeal to the senses, especially the art connoisseurs.
Having devoted over five decades of propagating his talents and skills in the arts field, his nomination for the National Artist Award is endorsed by the Calbayog City Sangguniang Panglunsod thru a Resolution passed and approved in one of its regular sessions, recognized therefor as a true-blooded Calbayognon and a multi-warded visual artist.
At the age of 26, Isidro had his first exhibit at a bookstore. That was in 1969 when the foundations of his practice were laid. He soon became known as a formidable absractionist. Eventually, and to name a few of his accolades, he garnered multiple awards - one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 1979, and the Outstanding Thomasian Award in 2006; the Cultural Grant Award from the Australian Government in 1981; First Prize Awardee at the Printmakers Association of the Philippines Annual Competition in 1971.
Having devoted over five decades of propagating his talents and skills in the arts field, his nomination for the National Artist Award is endorsed by the Calbayog City Sangguniang Panglunsod thru a Resolution passed and approved in one of its regular sessions, recognized therefor as a true-blooded Calbayognon and a multi-warded visual artist.
At the age of 26, Isidro had his first exhibit at a bookstore. That was in 1969 when the foundations of his practice were laid. He soon became known as a formidable absractionist. Eventually, and to name a few of his accolades, he garnered multiple awards - one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 1979, and the Outstanding Thomasian Award in 2006; the Cultural Grant Award from the Australian Government in 1981; First Prize Awardee at the Printmakers Association of the Philippines Annual Competition in 1971.
Discipline and dedication is how he hones his craft by painting seven-days-a-week. He has done oil and acrylic on canvas, watercolors on print, gold leaf, ceramics and produced monoprints which is combined painting and printmaking.
The artist, Raul, now 81, still works everyday creating pieces of art work with paint-and-brush if not entertaining guests and colleagues in his art studio and gallery. Generally, most time of his daily routine at home is spent in his studio that starts after breakfast and reading the newspapers.
Prolific and innovative as he is, Isidro still actively participates in artistic activities, art workshops, sketching sessions, judging art contests and showing in solo or group exhibitions. He is also a favorite speaker in symposia for culture and the arts.
The artist, Raul, now 81, still works everyday creating pieces of art work with paint-and-brush if not entertaining guests and colleagues in his art studio and gallery. Generally, most time of his daily routine at home is spent in his studio that starts after breakfast and reading the newspapers.
Prolific and innovative as he is, Isidro still actively participates in artistic activities, art workshops, sketching sessions, judging art contests and showing in solo or group exhibitions. He is also a favorite speaker in symposia for culture and the arts.
His presence and active participation in artmaking for over five decades now can make Calbayognons claim that Isidro is one of the most senior living Filipino visual artists of our time.
In his speeches or casual conversations, he always reminds the artists about sharing their time, skill and experience to hone talents of the next-generation-artists.
Isidro, now a multi-awarded abstractionist and contemporary artist never forgets home. As a Calbayognon, he celebrated the National Arts Month (February 2024) with his fellows in the city by gracing 2 events.
In his speeches or casual conversations, he always reminds the artists about sharing their time, skill and experience to hone talents of the next-generation-artists.
Isidro, now a multi-awarded abstractionist and contemporary artist never forgets home. As a Calbayognon, he celebrated the National Arts Month (February 2024) with his fellows in the city by gracing 2 events.
He was speaker in the Artists Kolektib event hosted by the local government of Calbayog City. Isidro spoke to an assembly of artists, cultural workers and the academe coming from different areas of Samar island on February 27, 2024 at the city’s Convention Center. In this event, and as a gesture of sharing, Isidro showed his never waning prowess in his art. He painted a 4’x 6’ canvas using acrylic as medium.
In less than an hour he filled the canvas with colors. He called the work “Yellow Sky.”
On the second day of his stay in the city, Isidro spent the whole morning with 63 students of the Calbayog City Arts and Design School of Eastern Visayas (CADSEV). He conducted a workshop in sketching. Afterwhich, the participants presented him respective artworks on canvass displayed at the school’s gallery. At the request of the students, Isidro graciously affixed his signature at the back of each paintings.
An artist knows one when he sees one. Perhaps, in appreciation or to give inspiration Isidro bought one of the student’s work that was presented and offered to him for sale - a painting of Apo Wang Od (The Legendary Filipino tattoo artist). The student-artist admit having downloaded a photo and copied it as painting on his canvas.
In less than an hour he filled the canvas with colors. He called the work “Yellow Sky.”
On the second day of his stay in the city, Isidro spent the whole morning with 63 students of the Calbayog City Arts and Design School of Eastern Visayas (CADSEV). He conducted a workshop in sketching. Afterwhich, the participants presented him respective artworks on canvass displayed at the school’s gallery. At the request of the students, Isidro graciously affixed his signature at the back of each paintings.
An artist knows one when he sees one. Perhaps, in appreciation or to give inspiration Isidro bought one of the student’s work that was presented and offered to him for sale - a painting of Apo Wang Od (The Legendary Filipino tattoo artist). The student-artist admit having downloaded a photo and copied it as painting on his canvas.
In both of his appearances, Isidro consistently reminds his audience about discipline and determination as basic tools and to never stop experimenting and venturing into new techniques and ideas believing that constant development produces exciting and fresh concepts.
“For art must be felt to be fully enjoyed. “Never worry about style. Just paint and you will see it develop,” says the artists.
“Our elders associate ‘gutom’ with painting and creative writing. Parents become worried when their children aspire for this kind of work. This popular notion, however, has become my challenge. Or maybe I was in denial of the idea of “gutom” in art because I have so much passion that fueled my determination to pursue my art. . . It has been years now since I started. . . Now, I can always say that arts pay off.” These are the words of Raul Isidro during his visit to celebrate the National Arts Month with his fellow Calbayognons.
“For art must be felt to be fully enjoyed. “Never worry about style. Just paint and you will see it develop,” says the artists.
“Our elders associate ‘gutom’ with painting and creative writing. Parents become worried when their children aspire for this kind of work. This popular notion, however, has become my challenge. Or maybe I was in denial of the idea of “gutom” in art because I have so much passion that fueled my determination to pursue my art. . . It has been years now since I started. . . Now, I can always say that arts pay off.” These are the words of Raul Isidro during his visit to celebrate the National Arts Month with his fellow Calbayognons.
Isidro admits having to sign what he calls IOUs to pay for his own tuition. Not only once. But several times when his allowance was cut-off because he shifted to Fine Arts from Architecture that his father wanted. Even with his part-time jobs from his teacher’s advertisement agencies there were times when money was short. Sharing he had to go through the complications just to pursue his art.
“Arts pay off! Really it does! I am now earning Php1.5M every month in sales from my artworks. All these come from my never-ending passion for my art,” Isidro shares.
A 10-square-inch of his work is bought for Php50,000.00, it was learned.
The Artist, Raul Isidro, a true blooded Calbayognon, now maintains his own art gallery. Maria Olivia H. Tripon, in her article describes the gallery as an impressive array of his works are on display - sculptures, prints, and portraits that show the range of his art from realism to abstraction.(CJ/JMM)
“Arts pay off! Really it does! I am now earning Php1.5M every month in sales from my artworks. All these come from my never-ending passion for my art,” Isidro shares.
A 10-square-inch of his work is bought for Php50,000.00, it was learned.
The Artist, Raul Isidro, a true blooded Calbayognon, now maintains his own art gallery. Maria Olivia H. Tripon, in her article describes the gallery as an impressive array of his works are on display - sculptures, prints, and portraits that show the range of his art from realism to abstraction.(CJ/JMM)
