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Home Filipino Artists Ray Esguerra’s passion for art

Ray Esguerra’s passion for art

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Ray Esguerra Ray, a passionate painter of his time, focuses on expressing the simplest form of life into an artwork, full of spirit and emotions. A genuine Batangueno, born and raised in Marikina is the third amongst 5 siblings that was captivated by the life and colors of art.

His elementary life gave him the opportunity to discover his interest to draw and do collage projects. High School gave him the opportunity to explore his artwork even further. But it was in college that he was given the chance to find his own voice, thru art.

Though at first, his mother wanted him to be an engineer; Ray obliged and took engineering classes during the first semester of his college life. But his heart is strong and decided to take Fine arts the rest of his college years.

College made him experience the different forms and mediums of art. He continually trained himself by joining various contests. Though he never won, he was able to study the artworks of his competitors and learn from it.

He focused himself to constant trainings, research, reading, and patience (as he has learned) is the main key. Still in the process of finding his own style, he came across the artworks of Jorge Roualt, a French abstract expressionist painter that emphasizes brown lines in his artworks.

With this influence, he created an artwork and joined a contest where he was able to get second place. But that also made him realize one thing; that he still has to come up with something of his own, his own style and expression in art.

Another artist influenced Ray during his college years, his professor Mr. Ben Lao, which focuses on collage and assemblance, using string, wood and any found objects. Ray then started to make his artwork but want to focus on maintaining the flatness of the art.

Ray created his first artwork entitled “Unang Likha” which he donated to the Philippine National Museum. But when people look at his artworks, they will say, it is Lao’s work, instead of his…, still the search for his identity as an artist remains.

After college, Ray and his group called “the Katipuneros” often held exhibits. Ray enjoyed his life during this time because he was able to paint everyday to be able to have artworks displayed for these exhibits… but, because during those times, they are still young, they were not able to sell any artworks. Ray saw that he will not be able to have a life with painting, so he had to look for work.

He started to work as a photographer for the National Museum; able to establish a photography lab, when the Spanish government sponsored them and sent him to Thailand to study and attend a seminar about restoring paintings. After 2 years, he was certified to restore paintings by the Spanish government.

Though Ray’s passion is to work and create his own art, he continued to restore paintings up to this time due to two reasons, one, to support his son for college, and two, “if nobody will restore and take care of the old paintings, I pity the younger generation because there will be nothing left for them to see and appreciate”. Said Ray. Since 2001, Ray has been working to restore the different paintings in the country.

Ray’s wife Evelyn, who is an architect in the National museum, also focuses on restoring historical sites such as churches and other movable objects or places declared as a national heritage.

Though restoration of paintings is Ray’s bread and butter, he still takes the time to paint when he is at home during weekends. “Painting is my passion, this is what I really want to do” said Ray.

Finding his voice and his own style in painting is what he is focused to do all his life… til now.  “Back then when we were young, art is very complex, but when you grow old, painting becomes simpler.” Cited Ray, “My painting is a simplification of an object, something that is not seen but is felt, heard or seen but cannot touch… like the light, sound of wind, sound under the water, and the likes”

Five years from now, Ray sees himself to be having the time to concentrate in his painting.

Ray’s message to his fellow artists, “The masters already exist. Continue to look for your own forte, individuality and style. You just have the guts because it’s hard to be an artist. You have to work hard, continue studying and continue painting. Have a lot of patience, eventually, you will be able to come up with your own style and expression in art.”

 

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