Beauty Queen, Artist
At a young age, our featured artist was fascinated with colors and started doodling the inherent beauty of nature having grown up in the bucolic setting of farmlands in Arayat, Pampanga. AP San Pedro of iOrbitNews had the chance to talk with this exceptional beauty queen who dabbled into realism. Architect Marinel Timoteo Tungol has already joined countless art exhibits and also involved in some murals aside from indulging in the art of realism which is more difficult because the discipline requires attention to details and exact depiction of her subjects. Arch. Marinela says “artists are like vessels that amplify the country’s current situation.” She furthered that “art feeds the soul.” Excerpts from the interview with the beauty queen artist.
1. When did you start to paint? I always knew I love colors and at a very young age, I am very fascinated with paint, paintbrushes and design. It was during my high school years when I started to push myself further when it comes to my painting skills. During summer vacation, I use my time in practicing. I usually keep a sketchpad and draw anything that inspires me in nature, like trees and flowers.
2. Who are your influences among local and international painters? – I always drew inspiration to the renowned artists like Michael Angelo and Leonardo Da Vinci as I see their art as a mixture of history, science, religion and anything in between. Locally, I always admire the works of Fernando Amorsolo, as I see the farm life and Filipino culture reflected in his pieces, because I grew up in Arayat, which composed of farmland mostly, and where the majestic Mt. Arayat is located.
3. How did you find out your artistic inclination? – It was instilled in me that I might be good in the arts because my mother is also an artist. She taught me in my early years how to use color pastels and that first step paved the way for me to discover more about colors and more of my artistic endeavors.
4. What inspires you to do an artwork? –What inspires me to do an artwork is to promote our culture, may it be kapampangan or Filipino Culture. I also do artworks that hopes to empower women and also highlight the beauty of the feminine gender. My other inspiration are nature, religion and anything about symbolism. My favorite medium in painting is oil paint, but I also use acrylic paint once in a while. –Aside from the exhibits, what inspires me to do an artwork is to see my progress and to hopefully see my full potential one day because I know that my best work will always be the next one. I know that it may take a while before I have the level of confidence I want when producing a work, but I am willing to go through the process and be patient. I am very lucky indeed to have a passion in the art and be able to earn from it, and I am grateful for this opportunity because very few are blessed to have this kind of platform. With every artwork that I am able to produce, I aim to capture an emotion, an idea or a message that somehow may influence someone who views my work today and in the coming years in a positive way.
5. What do you think are the crucial roles of an artist in the Philippine society? The artists in the Philippines are the vessels that amplify the society’s current situation. The artists of today portray the world based on their life experiences, which is also a way of preserving our time, culture and tradition just like the artists before us. An artist has the power to share their ideas in their own perception, and have the capability to influence others, to wake them from the truth and might as well inspire others to think, dream and go beyond what the naked eyes cannot see.
6. Do you think artists have the power to influence our society? Definitely. Art is an integral part of the society. It feeds the soul and is a necessity in everyday life. May it be through music, painting, movies or writing, artists are the movers that influence our society because “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable” (Cesar A. Cruz).
7. What do you think are the qualities of a good artist? A good artist is good in observing and listening. I believe in the saying that “you cannot give what you do not have”. As an artist, I learned along the way that I must be good in gathering information so I can create my own interpretation based on my own understanding and experiences.
8. What is your first painting? Can you please describe it? I cannot recall my first painting but I can remember my first drawing. In my memory, I was about three at the time when I see myself drawing a human stick figure. In that picture, I can say that all of us are artists in our own way. That we can create anything through our basic senses by using the most basic materials. In art, you do not need to have the most expensive and lavish materials, all you need to do is to pick up that brush or pen and start doing.
9. We can see that you painted the Madonna and Child, and The Passion of Christ, do you have deep spirituality? One of my recent painting is entitled “INDU,” a 24-inch diameter acrylic painting that is currently displayed at Swissotel Clark until June 2, 2024. Our theme is Mother’s Love and Flores de Mayo because we are celebrating Mother’s day and Santa Cruzan this month of May. I thought of something that both resonates with the topic and I thought of Mary. Flores de Mayo is dedicated to her and she is the mother of our Savior Jesus Christ. That is how I came up with the idea. The passion of the Christ is entitled “Ing Lugud ampo ing Sacripisyu ning Apung Ginu,” a 15 inches x 20 inches acrylic painting that I created exactly ten years ago in April of 2014 during the holy week. It is in a frame showing Christ’s unconditional love for us by going through all that suffering, represented by the blood dripping from the frame showing that his love for us is real and true. Spirituality plays a big role in my upbringing. Going through Catholic schools, having a religious family especially my grandmother and living here in Pampanga that shows our deep devotion to our patron saints through celebration of fiestas, festivals and Holidays, I am always looking up to God as a higher being that guides us through life and who will never forsake us as long as we have faith.
10. What sort of advises will you give to the youth who wishes to engage in art? All of us are artists. It is up to us on how deep and how far can we go through in pursuing this venture. Learn to keep your foundation intact because it is easy to be influenced by others in these times because of technology and tons if information available. Keep only the ones that speaks to you to keep your authentic self. Most of all, the important thing to be an artist today is to find your own voice, or better yet create one because you are unique. There is no one like you, you are like no other, and the world needs to see that.
11. For those who want to commission an artwork, how can they reach you? I do commission works — from paintings, portraits, mural etc. You can follow me on my social media platforms, ig:marinelart fb:marinelart or email me at [email protected].