From Sketch to Oil Paint
The second chapter of my GSIS National Art Competition journey was all about persistence, trial, and transformation. After the initial excitement of conceptualizing my entry, I faced the daunting task of bringing it to life through oil paint. What began as a simple sketch soon evolved into a daily ritual of layering, correcting, and refining.
Day 0 - Sketch
I sat before the blank page, pencil trembling in my hand. The idea was clear: people weaving together the threads of our nation. But even in this first sketch, doubt whispered—can I really pull this off? Still, I pressed on, mapping every figure, every line of the loom, knowing this was the seed of something bigger.
Day 1 - First Stroke
The canvas stared back at me like a challenge. I dipped into oil for the first time, painting the doctor in white. My hands shook. The rest of the canvas was nothing but reddish underpainting, and I wondered if I was in over my head. The smell of paint filled the room, but so did the thought: what if I fail?
Day 3 - Guides and Doubts
I added the DPWH worker in blue, helmet perched on his head. Washi tape crisscrossed the canvas, my desperate attempt to keep proportions in check. It felt clumsy, like scaffolding holding up a fragile dream. I wanted to rip it all down, but I knew I had to keep building.
Day 7 - Wrestling with Vision
More figures emerged, professions side by side. The loom grew crowded, and so did my mind. I painted, erased, and repainted. Each mistake felt heavier than the last. I stared at the unfinished faces and wondered if they were staring back, asking me why I hadn’t given up yet.
Day 11 - Clash of Styles
The figures multiplied, men and women in varied attire. The geometric overlays clashed with realism, and I questioned if the painting was becoming a mess. I sat in silence, staring at the canvas, fighting the urge to destroy it. But I forced myself to keep layering, keep breathing.
Day 12 - A Flicker of Hope
The loom grew clearer, the textile more defined. For the first time, I saw cohesion. The dark background made the figures glow, and I felt a flicker of hope. It wasn’t perfect, but it was alive. I clung to that spark.
Day 13 - Breakthrough
The textile transformed into the Philippine flag. My heart raced as the red, blue, and yellow sun emerged. Suddenly, the painting wasn’t just about weaving—it was about nationhood. I cried, realizing the canvas had finally spoken back to me.
Day 14 - Refinement
I refined the flag, each stroke deliberate. The figures stood proud, professions united around the loom. For the first time, I felt the weight of my vision lifting. The painting was no longer just mine—it belonged to everyone it represented.
Day 15 - Unity in Fabric
Two fabrics intertwined: the flag and another striped textile. It was a metaphor I hadn’t planned, but it felt right—unity across differences. My exhaustion was immense, but so was my resolve. I knew I was close.
Day 18 - Obsession and Completion
Final refinements consumed me. Faces, textures, highlights—every detail mattered. I barely slept, but I couldn’t stop. The canvas demanded everything, and I gave it.
At last, it was done. I stood before the finished piece, drained yet triumphant. Submitting it to GSIS felt surreal. The canvas carried not just paint, but my doubts, my battles, my resilience. I had wanted to quit countless times, but I didn’t. And that, more than anything, was the victory.
Reflection
This journey was not just about art—it was about endurance. The canvas became my mirror, showing me my fears, my failures, and my strength. I confronted it day after day, and in the end, it confronted me back with hope.
But I did not walk this path alone. Through every sleepless night, every moment of exhaustion, and every time I felt drained beyond measure, my wife Danica was there. She held me when I was too tired to hold myself, reminded me why I started when I wanted to quit, and gave me the courage to keep painting when my hands felt heavy. Her full support carried me through the hardest days—I cannot imagine finishing this journey without her.
And then there was Georgie, our loyal dog, who sat quietly by my side, offering comfort in her own way. Her presence reminded me to breathe, to pause, to find joy even in the struggle.
This is the end of my GSIS National Art journey. A chapter closed, but the lessons of patience, persistence, and courage will stay with me forever. To Danica and Georgie—thank you. This victory is ours.