AA APPRECIATING ART INTERVIEWS
By OP Monzon
Eusebio Meneses Picardal aka, Limboy Picardal was born in 1947 in the province of Samar. At an early age of 15 he was courageous enough to travel to Manila to look for opportunities in the big city. At 17, he was exposed to art as he becomes an apprentice to Cesar Buenaventura in Mabini, Manila. He worked as an artist in an advertising company but it did not last as he wanted to seek an independent life as an artist. He returned to Mabini and began a career as a full-time artist. He worked as a visual artist for 25 years and sold more than a thousand paintings in Manila and abroad. He became a member of the Mabini Artist Association.
He left the art scene in 1989 to join an NGO mission to help people with HIV/AIDS. In July 2015, he retired from missionary work to go back to his former love: painting. He started to paint again, trying to make a comeback in the art scene. Picardal is an ordained pastor who now lives in Montalban, Rizal where he is a Pastor in a community church.
LIMBOY PICARDAL answers our questions:
You are very good at painting, what seems to be the secret of your being passionate in your art? The secret I guess is, I am enjoying what I am doing. I do not pressure myself to sell my work. I just paint what I love to paint on my canvas.
Could you give a brief background on how you started painting? I started to paint at a young age. I arrived in Manila at the age of 15 with nowhere to go. I stayed in Mabini and tried to learn to paint so that I can support myself. At the age of 17, I became an apprentice to Cesar Buenaventura.
Why are you most attracted to paint landscapes? I love to paint landscapes and seascapes because I grew up in the province of Samar where I see a lot of sceneries. I paint landscapes and seascapes to remember my hometown.
Who are the artists who have influenced you in your art? The artist who has a big influence in my life and art is Cesar Buenaventura. I learned a lot from him.
Have you met difficulties? During my younger days as an artist, I’ve met so many difficulties. I arrived in Manila at a young age with no relatives to stay. I studied to paint as I saw a lot of artists in Manila who earn their living by painting. Most of the times I trade my painting for a meal.
It was a most difficult time of my life. Then, I met Cesar Buenaventura who taught and guided me how to paint.
How did you become a pastor? When we settled in Montalban, Rizal, we attended a church where my son chose to attend because he has friends there. We decided to stay in that church. Some few months after, the founding pastor talked to me if I wanted to serve as a pastor since I came from missionary work. I accepted the offer. I know it is my calling to serve. I have been a pastor of this church for more than 20 years.
Have you had a solo/group exhibits? Which one is a most remembering exhibit experience? In my long journey as an artist I haven’t launch a solo exhibit yet, But I have numerous group exhibit.
How do you look at the present state of Philippine Art? The way I see it, I think Philippine art has a potential to be recognized in the world. We have plenty of talented artists who is yet to be recognized.
What message or advises would you like to leave to our young artists? They should continue to do what they love to do. Paint. Continue to learn. Painting is a long and hard process, it is a dream.
Do you have a "wish list"? The only wish that I have as an artist is to have a solo exhibit.
After a long haul, LIMBOY PICARDAL comes home to something dear to him, work on his canvas and paint.
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