Self Portrait, Blue Room with a Violin Painting

As a teenager, I was introduced to renowned Filipino contemporary and modern artist Ibarra de la Rosa (1943-1998) at the FEATI University College of Fine Arts who taught my sisters and me oil and acrylic painting techniques. This began my journey and joy of painting. De la Rosa’s style of impressionism, pointillist-like brushstrokes and abstract images are some of my early influences. Growing up ​in Vancouver, British Columbia has also influenced the way I see things. I’d like to think that my positive energy, imagination, love of bold colours and ethnicity as a Filipina-Canadian artist bring a unique perspective to my work. I've been painting almost my entire life, and each time I put paint on canvas, I evolve; I grow. Each painting is like a beginning and an evolution. When you look at my paintings, there isn't a true, systematic organized way or technique that I use as a constant. Rather, it is a way of thought and expression. Depending on what my mood is, and the time of day, the painting comes to life with how I feel at that moment. I use a lot of colours; and my preference is bold, primary colours. I feel my emotions resonate with each painting, taking time to meticulously engage with my inner self and expressing that in form. I have always been an optimistic person, seeing the glass as more than half full! Lastly, I paint for myself. I paint what I'd like to see on my walls, and seeing them hanging in my living room and hallway, gives me great happiness of accomplishment. If someone else likes my painting, all the better! Over the years, I’ve had many group and solo exhibitions with acquisitions which include: the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, the Richmond Art Gallery, the UBC Art Gallery and acquisition by the Richmond Art Gallery, and the Vancouver Folk Festival. I was also a grant recipient for ArtStarts in Schools, a not-for-profit organization bringing professional artists to the classroom and have volunteered at Garden City Elementary to teach art. In 2017, in honour of Canada's 150th birthday, I wrote and illustrated two children's picture books titled, "Luisa and the Magic Star" and "Luisa and the Star Thief"​, available at the Larkin Kerwin Library located at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as well as public libraries throughout Canada. The story is set in the picturesque backdrop of Vancouver, British Columbia Canada and the illustrations of the picture book show my love of colours, music and Canadian landscape.