Marylyn like me started joining artist groups. In the beginning, she would just like all the art works until she started painting. A self-taught artist, guided by her Master artist friends from 4S Group Style Stroke Sketches Society made her more confident to pursue arts.

I came across Marilyn Santos-De Lima @ AFKN Filipino Art Community and viewed her albums and said to myself, she can be an inspiration to all Pinays here and abroad. So I asked her if I can feature her art journey in my blog, and she happily obliged.

Now this feature is in Tagalog and English (The same as my Featured Artist: Lord Ahzrin Bacalla post.). I try to keep the artist insights as original as possible with accompanying English translation for non-Tagalog readers. I’d like to be fair on the featured artist part, as he or she took the time out to answer their artist insights from the bottom of their hearts art journey.

A Bulaquena and a former overseas worker, who found solace in the arts, shared her art journey to me and to my blog. Enjoy!

When did you decide that you wanted to become an artist? At what age did you start? Who influenced you? What inspired you?

Ako ay isang batang laki sa iskwater at hirap sa buhay na nahihilig sa Art. Bata pa lang po ako ay mahilig na po akong magdrowing basta nakakakita ako ng lapis at papel. Mahilig din ako mag ekperimento sa larangan ng mga kraft. May kapit bahay kaming. Artist magaling siyang artist. Nauubos ang  oras ko at hindi naibebenta ang nilalako ko na paninda sa kapapanood sa kanya.

(I grew up in the slums yet I like art. I always drew when I got hold of paper and pencil. I like to experiment in crafts. We had a neighbor who was an artist back then and I would get distracted me from making sales as a street vendor when I see him paints.)

What do you specialize in when it comes to painting? Are there other art forms that you do?

Lahat ng klase ng midyum pinag-aaralan ko. Sa ngayon ay nasa oil painting na ako at sumusubok na rin sa canvas.

Pero nang napasok ako ng 4S at kinausap ng head admin, sinabihan ako na magpokus muna sa isang midyum at karamihan ng nagawa ko sa ngayon ay gawa sa pastel at colored pencil.

Sa mga gawa ko ring ‘yon ay nanalo ako bilang 1st runner-up at finalist. Nakapag-eksibit na rin sa Japan, nakapag-komisyon na rin.

Portrait ang nakakahiligan ko sa ngayon pero ang balak ko ngayong 2015 ay harapin ko na ang takot ko sa malalaking canvas at sa pintura at uumpisahan ko nang gumawa ng landscape at still-life oil man o acrylic.

(I study different kind of art mediums. I’m trying oil paintings on canvas now. Since I joined 4s, I was advised by the head admin to focus on one medium first. Prior to oil, I would use paste and colored pencil. I’ve won 1^st Runner-Up and became finalist for it. I’ve also gone on exhibit in Japan and was commissioned. I like doing portraits but this 2015, I plan to face my fear of big canvases. I will start painting landscapes and still-life, in oil or acrylic.)

You worked as an OFW and then you became a businesswoman. Where did art come into the picture? How did it make it to your plans?

Nag-aabrod ako at ‘pag umuuwi ako ng Pinas, hindi nawawala sa akin pagiging crafty. Madalas ako mag-sketch, (I go abroad and when I go home to the Philippines, I don’t lose being crafty. I often sketch) mostly charcoal, at ipa-freym kong mga iyon (and I have those framed).

Mahilig din ako sa (I also like) cross-stitch.

May mga gawa ako na (I have creations of) cross-stitch, 1997-1999.

Mahilig din akong mag-ayos ng bahay, simula sa kurtina (I also like to do interior design, from the curtains), center table, flower arrangement at ‘pag may handaan ay mahilig ako mag-ayos ng mga buffet settings (at parties, I also like to set the tables), simula sa (from the) table arrangement flowers, balloons, etc.

Hanggang sa nagtayo rin ako ng (Until I put up a) flower, gift shop & catering service dahil mahilig din ako sa food arts (because I’m also fond of culinary arts), hindi nga lang pinalad dahil salat sa kaalaman (it failed though because I lacked the knowledge).

Nag-aral din akong gumawa ng kandila sa (I also studied candle making at) Negoskwela at ang mentor ko ay si (where I was mentored by) Merlin Gepte anak ni (son of) Merlito Gepte, a sculpture artist.

Nagpokus naman ako sa paggawa ng kandila as sculpture at paggawa ng mga molde (I also focused on doing wax work).

Naging hanapbuhay ko rin siya sa loob ng tatlong taon pero nabuntis ako at natigil ko iyon dahil masama sa buntis ang amoy ng wax ‘pag niluluto pero patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-ukit ng wax at paggawa ng mga molde para sa mga design.

(It became my job for three years until I got pregnant and had to quit because the fumes were bad for the baby but I did it again after giving birth).

2013, nakita ko sa (I saw here on) Facebook si Maestro Merlito Gepte. Naging friends kami (We became friends).

Sumunod naman si (Next were) Maestro Fernando Sena at (and) Julius Legaspi, mga artist sa pagpipinta (all artists who paint).

Taga-like lang ako ng mga gawa nila at simula noon (I was simply a liker of the works they posted then and from then on), unti-unti na rumami ang mga friends ko na artist painter, mga kinikilala sa larangan ng sining biswal (slowly, my painter friends multiplied until even those prominent names in the visual arts too made my friends list).

Taong ito, nakapasok na rin ako sa mga art group pero tagahanga lang nila ako at taga-like. (This year, I joined art groups but only as a fun and avid liker).

Early this year, nagdro ako at inaplowd ko sa (I drew and uploaded it on) Facebook. May mga nag-like at nag-comment (There were people who liked and commented).

Sabi ng isang artist, “Sabi ko na nga, marunong ka rin  eh.” (One of the artists said, “I knew it that you had it in you.”)

Doon ako nag-umpisang ma-encourage at magpatuloy sa paggagawa hanggang sa dumami ang mga friend kong artist at naaya akong pumasok sa isang (It was then that I got encouraged, my artist friends grew in numbers and I was persuaded to join an) Artist Group, 4S.

Napasubo akong gumawa.

Sobra pa akong takot noon sa mga kulay dahil (I was pressured. I was scared of colors because) pencil at (and) charcoal palang mga nagagawa ko (was what I only knew) pero sa tuloy-tuloy kong paggawa ay nakagawa ako ng isang obra na nagpanalo sa akin bilang (but I just went on creating until I made a masterpiece that won for me) 1st runner-up sa  (at the) tournament ng (of) 4S.

Doon na nagsimula ang lahat hanggang sa weekly na iinterbyu na ako at nirerepresent ko na ang mga artist sa grupo ko hanggang sa nagulat na lang ako at ginawa nila akong admin ng (It all started from there until I got a weekly interview {on AM radio} representing the) 4S group ni (of) Pops Noel David na (the) founder ng (of) 4S Style Stroke Sketches Society.

Nasorpresa ako nang gawin nila akong admin ng (I was surprised when they hired me as admin of) 4S.

Is there anyone else besides you in your family who is into art?

Gumuguhit din ang tatay ng nanay ko, kaya lang sa hirap ng buhay at kailangan niyang maghanap buhay nasaisang tabi niya ang (My mother’s father also drew but because he had to support the family, he had less time for the) arts.

Ang mga tiyo at tiya ko ay mahilig din. Maging tatay ko at mga kapatid ko. (My uncles, aunts, my father and my siblings are into art too).

May pamangkin din ako na nakakasabayan ko na rin sa pagguhit at pagpinta (The child of my sibling was also into drawing and painting).

Ipinasok ko siya sa (I entered the child as member of) 4S para lalo pa niyang mapagbuti (for further talent development).

Ang mga anak, ko ay mga musikero naman (My children on the other hand are into music).

They like playing instruments and vocals sa banda (in a band).

Ang pinakabata kong anak na lalake ay (My youngest son is a) dancer. Ang bunso ko na nag-iisang babae na (My youngest child and only daughter who is) six years old ay nagiging (is growing up to be a) singer, dancer, at pintor (and painter).

Artistik talaga ang pamilya namin. Iba-iba lang (Everyone in my family is an artist, only in different ways).  <Tumatawa – laughs>

Are there any regrets in your life in the path you chose now?

Wala naman akong (I don’t have any) regrets kasi lahat naman ng nangyayari sa buhay natin ay may rason, may kanya-kanyang (because everything happens for a reason and a) purpose.

Pero kung mayroon man, hayun siguro ay ang maaga akong nagkaanak dahil hindi ko na-enjoy ang kabataan ko dahil sa hirap. Lahat ng puwede kong gawing source of income ko para makaahon ang pamilya ko, ginawa ko.

(If there was, that would be my becoming a mother at an early age. I didn’t enjoy my childhood because I needed to work extra hard to address my family’s needs and lift us all from poverty).

Kaya ‘di ko naipagpatuloy pag-aaral ko (That’s why I wasn’t able to finish school). Panganay kasi ako (I am the eldest child of my parents).

Although may trabaho si Tatay (my Dad had work), malaki ang pamilya namin, hindi sumasapat (but we have a big family and what he earned wasn’t enough).

Masalimuot ang kabataan ko subalit kailangan nating mag-(I had a rough childhood but we all must) move on to live in this world na makabuluhan (with meaning).

How does art make you feel?

Malaking bagay ang art sa akin (Art means a lot to me).

Nagiging masaya ako nakakalimutan ko ang mga problema ko ‘pag nakakatapos ako ng Obra ko at na uplowd ko na siya sa (It makes me happy and forget my problems especially when I finish a Masterpiece of mine and I upload it on) Facebook.

Nakikita ko ang mga (When I see the likes at (and) comments, sobrang saya ko na (that gives me much joy already).

Kapag may nagtitiwala sa akin at nagpapagawa ng (When someone trusts me to do their) portrait nila, sobrang saya ko (that gives me so much joy).

What is your best work? Favorite work? Most acclaimed/awarded work? You’re best achievement?

Sa ngayon po, baguhan pa lang po kasi ako. Ang masasabi ko lang na (I’m just new to all this that’s why I can say that my) best para sa akin ay ’yong pagkapanalo ko bilang (is when I won) 1st runner-up, ‘yong mga (my) exhibits ko sa (in) Japan at ‘yong (and my) portrait ng (of the) first family na gawa ko (that I did).

You do PR work now. How is it so far?

Nakakatuwa (I feel happy).

Naging (I became) PR  Admin ako agad sa (in a short time to our) group namin sa 4S.

Eto kasi si (All because) Pops natuwa sa akin kasi daw (believes I am the group’s) lucky charm ako. <laughs>

Hindi ko inisip ‘yon kasi para sa akin kung ano man ang tagumpay na mayroon ako ngayon ay tinatanaw kong malaking utang na loob kay (I don’t let it get to my head because whatever success I enjoy now, I owe it all to) Pops Noel David at sa mga (and to the) members ng (of) 4S, lalo na kay (especially to) Sir Norberto Villez, Tani Santos, Maryrose Soriano, Armar Ramirez, Marko Bello, Fher Mission, kasi sila ang nag-ga-(because they) guide sa akin (me) ‘pag may mga (when I have a) question ako.

Sa totoo lang, wala talaga akong kaalam-alam.

Basta guhit lang ako ng guhit (In truth, I don’t know anything. I just draw and draw). ‘Yong mga (All those) terms na (such as) medium grid, freehand, etc. <laughs>

Sa labas naman ng grupo namin, lubos akong (Outside the group, I’m also very) thankful kasi napasok din ako ng (because I also got to be a member of) ArtPhil.

Kina (To) Buhay Mendoza, Budz Convocar, Arturo Cruz, Joel Ferraris, Fidel Sarmiento, Matthius Garcia, na sinabihan akong ituloy ko lang ang paggawa ko kasi walang mali sa art, lahat tama basta galing sa puso (who advised me to continue my craft because there is no wrong or right in art, as long as it comes from the heart).

Sa (To) foreign artist na si Jesse Quintanilla na (who) step-by-step tinuruan din ako (taught me too), si (to) Sir Lito Ballaran na nagtiyagang mag-crop ng work ko (who had the patience to crop my work), kay (to) Mestro Rafael Maniago na napaka-(who’s very) down to earth sa kabila ng kasikatan niya (even if he’s famous) managed to guide and teach me, kay (to) Aubrey Pabuhat Yano, para sa mga (for her) artist na connections niya sa (in) Japan sa (for the) commercial ng mga gawa naming (of our art works), kay (to) Ma’am Nitz Cea na (a fellow) art enthusiast  na nag-(who did) encourage me na mag-(to do a) weekly DJ job on Radio Net Japan Tokyo Raydio Filipino, that got me appointed by Pops Noel David as Public Relations officer  kasi madaldal daw ako at mahilig daw makipag–(because they say I am talkative and love to) communicate <laughs>.

Mahirap ang PR work (is hard) sa grupo namin na (in our group) 4S kasi may mga baguhang papasok (because there are newbies who join).

Need mo silang i-(to) guide (them), Minsan personal works ko nabibitin gawin kasi need kong gawin ang task ko as PR pero masaya kasi marami akong nakikilalang bagong kaibigan (Sometimes I sacrifice my time to finish my paintings just to attend to the needs of my PR job but it’s fun because I get to meet many new friends).

Do you get to travel? As an OFW, have your experiences in foreign soil influenced your art? What countries have you been to? Did you do any painting while there?

Sa pag-aabrod (When I was) in 90s, naikot namin ang (was able to travel around) Asia like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong as group at mahilig akong bumili ng mga (and I loved to buy) art works.

From 1999 to 2002, I was as an Overseas Performing Artist or OPA in Japan.

Mahilig pa rin akong mag-(I still loved to) sketch at mag-(and to) design doon (there).

I did Design ‘pag may (at every) event ang (of our) company.

Minsan may isang (Once there was a) Japanese na natuwa sa akin dahil sa (who liked my) sketch ko sa (on) table napkin.

My works were requested and then I was invited to an exhibit where I saw works of D’ Vinci Monet Picasso etc.

Nagulat talaga ako at sobrang tuwa ko (I was really surprised and overjoyed).

The Japanese offered if I wanted to pursue further studies on painting but it was not on my itinerary and so I forgot about it.

What are your future plans for the next five years? Any upcoming significant event to you that you would like to promote?

Gusto ko makagawa ng isang Obra na kikilalanin talaga at makakatulong sa mga kapwa ko (Filipino Artist) para sa Bansa natin (I want to create something that will really be big internationally and will benefit our fellow Filipino Artists and the Philippines).

Sa (On) January 10,zd may (we have an) exhibit, 4S Group Artists entitled “Abbygale in Style Stroke Sketches Society” at Four Seasons, Tokyo, Japan.

Panoorin ninyo rin po sana kami tuwing Sabado (Please also tune in to watch us every Saturday), 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Raydio Filipino Tokyo Radio net where I am co-DJ, sa paghahangad na maipakilala ang sining nating mga Filipino sa buong mundo (who aims to promote our Filipino art worldwide).

 

All images are courtesy of Marilyn Santos-De Lima unless noted otherwise.

Feel free to contact Marilyn (Apple D Apps) via Facebook.