Chelony was born and raised in San Jose, Lipa City, Batangas. She’s the eldest of 11 siblings, a mother of two, and is currently residing in Oosterhout, The Netherlands. Chelony pursued traditional/classical art under Marc Kennes in Koninklike Academie voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp, Belgium. She was also able to study Digital Filmmaking in SAE Creative Media Education in Rotterdam,The Netherlands
But her love and passion for art runs deep in the family with her mother, being the creative one that greatly influenced her at a young age, and her father that served as her number one critic.. made it possible for Chelony to push herself to develop the skills she needed and find her identity in the world of art. “I never stopped learning, and I could say that being at school makes me impatient but learning with someone I admire helped make my art better. I experimented with different materials and styles, and when I am not satisfied with my work, I make sure I create something better onto the next one that comes along. I guess I am my own critic.” cited Chelony Aside from her parents, her cousin Architect Manolito Mercado sparked her interest in a cartoony art style when he gave her a fairytale book; and her late uncle Ramiro Baldorado who taught her to sketch, which she continues to do so up to this time.
Chelony considers herself as a self-taught artist, until she chance upon meeting Mr. Mike Bernardo Manuzon who, entrusted her 19 year old self, with his art brush and let her work with oil paint. It was because of this encounter that Chelony came to love this medium on her artworks and never stopped using them since.
CHELONY’S ARTWORK
Her artwork evolves around realism, hyperrealism and symbolism in the form of portraiture, still-life and landscape.
Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Peter Paul Reubens, Andrew Tischler, Nina Pelirroja , Margarette Keane, Marco Bello, Julius Legaspi & Grandier Gil Bella, are some of the artists that influenced Chelony’s artwork, one way or the other.
“When people look into my art, I want them to see that life is beautiful. I want them to smile when they see my art. To feel hope and joy. I want them to see the beauty of nature or reminisce a beautiful memory.”
Chelony wants to instill a positive energy whenever people look at her works. Giving hope to people that have lost a loved one, to encourage people who are afraid to touch a paint brush, and to simply make everyone happy.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHELONY?
She is currently busy creating more artworks to prepare for her upcoming shows. She has also opened up in receiving more commission artworks, and is writing a book for amazon. She has an art biography book that is targeted to be released this year; as she looks forward working with Direk Tony Reyes with her biography documentary and art related films.
UPCOMING ART EXHIBIT
Possible Exhibits in June and October 2022 ( Netherlands / Europe / USA )
Art & Wine Events – in March , April , May & June ( Netherlands / Belgium )
Niewe Veste & Footprint events in Breda
Exhibit of Philippine Embassy In The Hague this year
Affiliated art groups and organizations
OTSAA , LAPIS , BPNFT , NIEUWE VESTE & ONLINE ART GROUPS
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2nd best Artist ( OTSAA – ART Olympics– Quezon City 2004)
2nd over-all best city ( Lipa City on OTSAA- ART Olympics- Queszon City – 2004 )
World’s Longest Painting ( Co-Organizer/ Coordinator in Batangas via OTSAA-2009)
CAWATS ( painting exhibit & competion 2008)
SOLO AND GROUP ART EXHIBITS
- Art & Music ( Tiendesitas – Group Show 2009)
Sining sa Silong ( Group Show – Greenhills 2009)
31 Beginnings ( SM Lipa 2009- First Solo )
I am a Woman – Chelony ( SM City Lipa – Second Solo 2010 )
Art Market ( group exhibit and art demo- Schoten Belgium 2010)
Mother & Child Exhibit 1 ( Me and my son MichaelAngelo Fiesta World Mall 2010)
Mother & Child Exhibit 2 ( Me and my son Michaelangelo – De Wieuw Antwerp Belgium 2010 )
Mother & Child Exhibit 3 ( Me and my Son Michaelangelo – CultuurProjecten Schoten Antwerp Belgium
2010)
Two Arts / Two Worlds ( Group Exhibit – Brugge Belgium – 2013)
Art & Music ( Group Exhibit – Brugges Belgium 2013 )
The Coffee Art Project – London ( Art Competition & Group Show 2014)
BITAW ANNIVERSARY ( solo – Breda , The Netherlands 2014)
BITAW BREDA ( 2014) Artist Recognition
Halloween Exhibit at Queen Bee ( Solo – Eindhoven The Netherlands 2014)
Holland Expat Center ( Art Talk & Exhibit MOTI Breda , The Netherlands-2015)
Best Use of Props ( 48 hours film – Nijmegen The Netherlands 2015) - 40 – Life of Chelony (Solo- Breda-The Netherlands 2018 )
- Zomerpareltjes ( Group Exhibit – Breda , The Netherlands 2021 )
FootPrints Events & Niuwe Veste ( Guest Painting Facilitator- Breda The Netherlands 2021)
Sip & Paint ( Saro Community Anniversary – Art Facilitator – The Hague , Netherlands 2021)
Art & Wine with Breda Expat Ladies ( Host – Niewe Veste – Breda The Netherlands 2022 )