by OP Monzon
True to Joel Masaya acronym, he paints happy people - a gathering of women selling flowers, fruits, and vegetables, jars; people at the rice field harvesting, or playing musical instruments. His subjects are pleasant, warm, cheerful and exuberant.
For Masaya’s surname means happy or a picture of happiness. It seems he is living up to his name. How could he have a surname like it, if he is down, discontent and desolate? Who would ever think of life’s negativity and pessimism? Certainly, not an artist called Joel Masaya.
Joel recalls a happy childhood. He started to draw and paint at a young age. It is true that at this age, he already realized the sadness of what life offers, but he recalls with optimism that he was born to paint. He was raised in Pililla, in the province of Rizal. Again, this province offers an artistic environment which has influenced many persons to pursue their artistic career in life. Joel Masaya was no exception.
A throwback to the time when he was a student under Martin Catolos provided big opportunities for budding artists like him. As a matter of fact, may aspiring artists started with Catolos wanting to pursue a life in the arts. But Joel was uprooted, replanted and pruned. He was like a dwarfed tree wired to grow and assume a disciplined life to paint and to paint unhurriedly to his best, a trait he carried with his present life. For even as a young boy, he understood how and what to learn, to discern colors and to achieve the drama of light and shadows in a painting.
Tam Austria founded the Tanay Artist Group and young Joel attended several art workshops under him. Catolos and Austria became the people who have influenced much in his art life - his style, his charm and the bravura of his paintings.
Joel Masaya answers our questions in a happy mood.
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APPRECIATING ARTS: What kind of painting style do you practise?
JOEL MASAYA: I don't have any particular defined style of painting, but I combine different styles. I play to paint traditional to modern art like art nouveau, the luminist style of the 19th-century artists who applied their kind of art in their landscapes. I do the same style in landscapes and in human figures, which we may call a neo-luminism type of art which is concerned with the glowing effect of light, a feeling of tranquility. Of peace and calmness.
AA: Are you a full-time or a part-time artist, or do you still have a full-time job which could be the source of your daily bread? How would you balance yourself between work and family?
JM: I am a full-time artist, which means I earn our daily bread through my job as an artist. It is hard to have a full-time job and at the same time be a part time artist. I have given a full reward to where I’d be happy and that is to be an artist: where my soul and interest lie. In this way, I can fully concentrate to do my art not leisurely, but also with a responsibility to do good and have a disciplined life: to make beautiful art, my produce for where I could gather sustenance for my family’s needs and education of my children. As my family is very supportive of my art career, I also support my family spiritually, emotionally and materially. The children are our priority. A healthy lifestyle contributes to a healthy family life.
As an artist, we also need a balanced life.
AA: What is your secret as an artist? JM: As an artist, that I know that I could be apathetic, or indifferent at times. It is a common knowledge that artists are moody people. There are dry periods in an artist’s life. In order to fill the struggle, I often find ideas in my sketchbook, maybe a work in the past that I may have overlooked or forgotten which could offer as an interesting reference for a painting. Many times I would review my favorite artists from art books which I have kept and cherished through the years; or old postcards, some magazine clippings which may sparkle a curiosity to paint a fresh subject. My life as an artist is my first love and passion.
Artists are passionate people. I think that is the secret, not to lose the love and passion for painting now and forever. We should never be defeated by a miserable and sad discontent, we should be continuous in our struggle to be a better person and a better artist.
AA: Who are the artists, or the people in your life who have influenced your painting style?JM: I am indebted to my earliest mentor Martin Catolos, but I have been strongly influenced by the painting style of Tam Austria. I take particular inspiration from the works of Gustav Klimt and Alphonse Mucha.
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Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) is an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, sketches, and other objets d'art. Klimt's primary subject was the female body and his works are marked by a frank eroticism. In addition to his figurative works, which include allegories and portraits, he painted landscapes. Among the artists of the Vienna Secession, Klimt was the most influenced by Japanese art and its methods (Wikipedia)
Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) is a Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist, known best for his distinct style. He produced many paintings, illustrations, advertisements, postcards, and designs (Wikipedia)
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AA: What do you think was your best exhibit and best experience so far?
JM: I have joined several art exhibits, but the most memorable one so far was our 1986 Art Exhibit where all my paintings were sold. It was a mixed experience of happiness, thrill, and self-confidence that I could sell. To think that people appreciate my work is the dream of every artist. I felt my artwork is wanted, appreciated and treasured. It’s a different experience when people value my work. I feel proud when people talk about my kind of art when they bring my paintings and hang it in their residence and workplace.
The real test of people’s appreciation is when they buy your artwork. Artists need to sell.
Having a solo art exhibit has been a lifelong dream of mine.
AA: What was your most difficult time as an artist?
JM: I worked as textile hand painter for almost 20 years, a full-time job before I decided to be on my own. At the same time that I was working, I peddled my paintings from door to door in Manila. Finding someone to buy was a difficult life, but it has contributed significantly to my learning tree not only in my artistic career but also in my personal life and family life.
AA: What are your strengths and weaknesses as an artist?
JM: My persistence in my art, my continuous interest to improve my work and the support of my loved ones, family, friends are the strengths that I keep and cherish. People who have collected my work and people and friends who come to our exhibit. Our artist friends who are near and far who render support. And the bountiful blessing that the Lord gives.
But nobody is perfect in every field including art, we all have weaknesses. The best way to perceive weakness is to evaluate yourself as an artist and turn these weaknesses into opportunities to improve. I work to overcome these weaknesses and expand my horizons. I found out that the secret is loving my work, my obra.
AA: How do artists help one another to learn and improve themselves?
JM: Artists have different style and preferences and we respect these differences. We celebrate each other’s work and successes. We come to support other artists in their exhibits as they come to support us in ours. We encourage a brother artist for being productive, for producing a stunning and exceptional work. We also give advises for artists how they could make a progress of their work. We give and accept constructive criticism to improve our art.
AA: How do you look at the present state of Philippine Art?
JM: The art scene is the Philippines continue to flourish. There are so many opportunities for young, struggling and established artists. Artworks are displayed in art museums and galleries, art fairs, art in the park, University-driven art exhibits, among others which offer plenty of opportunities for the local artists. There are art lessons, workshops, talks and write ups in the local spreadsheets, magazines, and coffee table books where we learn and expand our knowledge about art.
With all these new environs conducive for the seed to grow and with the help of social media connectivity, there is no reason why Philippine visual art scene should not emerge as a frontrunner.
The artist is already a winner.
AA: Would you encourage your children to be artists as well?
JM: Yes, in fact, art is already my children’s bread and butter. My two sons Carlo, 26 and Reuben, 25 are Platinum Graphic Designers in a Worldwide Online Graphics Website. My only daughter, Jorizel, 19, is a hobbyist abstract painter who also earns on the side for her work.
AA: Future plans for 2017 and beyond?
JM: I have plans to set goals for 2017 and the forthcoming years, to create more artworks and to have ideas to develop a new style of painting. As I have said, one of the list in my bucket says, and I will mention it again: A solo art exhibit has been a lifelong dream of mine.
My advice for the young artist is to nurture their artistic passion and never to lose that aspiration to pursue their art career. Be persistent, 2 P’s: pray and practice. Pray that it will become your Vocation and Practice Painting to become One Good Artist.
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Orestes P. Monzon is a physician in the field of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. He chairs the Department of Nuclear Medicine and works as member of the Board of Radiologic Technology at the Professional Regulation Commission. He paints, collects art and dabbles in hobby photography. He had several group art exhibits the past year, including 5 Two-Man Art Exhibit with artist Jo Florendo on Trees, Landscapes, and the Environment. He supports the Filipino artist as part of his advocacy by facilitating AA Appreciating Art and Ordinary Artists.
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