yes, i've gone artsy

having worked in publishing for quite a long time, and owning a (small) creative firm, i've been exposed to the arts one way or another. also, being a very visual person, i've always admired photos and paintings but never really had the moolah to acquire nice and expensive pieces. so, to satisfy my wants, i would buy prints (yes, at one point ikea pa!), copies of master's paintings, or some inexpensive pieces of whoever artist i come across.

i even remember a few years ago, in one of my trips to bacolod, we were having coffee and cake at calea (who serves the yummiest chocolate cake ever!), i came across an art piece in an art gallery just next door. i really really loved it. the theme was whimsical and had colorful clowns as it's subjects. it was by charlie co. and at that time, i think we was just starting out. curious, i asked how much. but being so ignorant about the art world, i passed up on his offer to purchase his piece for just P30-40 grand. you see, at that time, i did not have P30 or P40 grand to spare. are you kidding! even if maybe i had, but being young as i was then, i would rather buy more shoes or bags, or a new computer (which i think i was then saving up for). well, tough. in hindsight, if i had just closed my eyes, and bought it—my P30 or P40 grand then would be ten times more. what's more sad is, now that i do have P30 or P40 grand to spare, his works have now gone up a hundred folds.

now i know: art is really serious business and worth investing in. i'm so lucky and happy i am part of that business now... being surrounded by the art world (since i helped out galerie joaquin, here last december), is just so fun. not only am i promoting filipino art, but i get to meet all these creative geniuses -- the artists themselves -- who comes up with all these awesome ideas and splatter them on canvas.

another story: for awhile now, i had these water color artwork, which i bought, so cheap, from my ex-mother in law's friend. it's such a beautiful piece but was badly framed so i decided not to hang it when i moved here. it was signed V. AVIADO. i really didn't know who he was, or if he was famous or not. all i knew then was i liked it, so i got it. then last month, as part of my sort-of-gallery-research, i was asked to attend an art exhibit in china town, which was featuring a filipino artist. so i did. as i was looking at the pieces displayed, it was all signed, V. AVIADO. hey! i remember that name! and quickly told the maid to dig out my watercolor painting kept atop my cabinet. luck of all luck, what i had kept hidden felt like a gold mine to me. i was so happy that i invested on something right :-)

so lately, if i do have a little moolah stashed somewhere---i don't have the urge to buy a bag (don't get me wrong, i still am a bag person & salivate when i see a nice one); but instead try to invest in a piece. grabe nakaka addict! checking websites, going to galleries and attending auctions lately is so my thing. plus i'm lucky that i share this artsy passion (aside from a bottle of wine) with my singapore-best-buddy, sis M. it makes us, not feel old, but important (ha!). parang--we have arrived--kind of thing (a double ha! ha!)

well my pieces or should i say my little collection is not as high-up-there as sis M's but i'm getting there. what's important is: when i like it, i research on the artist and if i can afford it, i'll buy it.

so far, here are the pieces i have....... (more to come...)


1. tribute to the masters -leah divino samson-acrylic on canvas
2. stallion - karina baluyot-mixed media
3. untitled watercolor - pandy aviado -water color on paper


5. horse latitude - pandy aviado-hand paint print
6. early times = dominic rubio-oil on canvas
7. untitled nude- olan ventura-oil on canvas



8. yakap (series)- emmanuel garibay-oil on special paper


PS. it's a good thing my hub is slowly drawn into my luho; with results from the past auctions i've attended, he is actually convinced that my purchases are investments, rather than an expenses. hay salamat. so, as early as now, i'm enticing him that this december, we should invest in my dream piece: an ALCUAZ :-)