howdy

Its been almost three years, after checking again this blog of mine.
Many things happened in those 3 years of living a life-as artist, islander inhabitant.
Blame it on facebook. Honestly, fb mesmerized me I was drawn to it everyday, checking for messages and posts for updates, announcements, inquiries on my artworks, sales and exhibitions.
I boost my career as painter. I won many friends and collectors.
Many things did happenened. I just had my first solo show in the capital city of Manila. on September 12-24, 2015 in Art Galileia in Serendra, Bonofacio Global City in Taguig.

The show was blessed, my baptism of fire, through heavy downpour. The Diskurso Team, an independent art magazine online from the Philippines, covered my show. Here's the link to their page and the video:

http://www.diskurso.com/2015-09-18-decentralizing-nature.html#sthash.rVvPSA9S.dpbs


Many things have changed, I learned so many things about life, my path, and direction. My post will be different this time. I completely abandoned my previous styles. I am now expressing art that will define me as a person. I am driven now to create art that excites and engages my viewers by offering a different viewpoint. I will not create boring art again.

I'll br posting my new images in my next postings.

meanwhile

I cannot traverse the ocean, the sea is rough.The case is always like this, when the tropical typhoon is leaving the country, its tail will always hit this part of southern Philippines.Upon exit, the island suffer a heavy downpour.The moon should be bright tonight, but ominous clouds covered the midnight sky.

Helen's Garden, acrylic on canvas, 70 x 70 inches

In the ocean when its full moon, all marine creatures are blazing with beautiful colors.The rays of the moon are blanket of light to all species.

Turtle Song, acrylic on canvas, 34 x 26 inches, private collection

Easterly Wind

In the onset of ber,..months, the season in the Philippines started to shift. From the hot windless afternoon, it would slowly change to calm mornings, but after mid day the wind from the east would slowly arrive blowing its way towards the south.

The deep blue colors of the ocean would now be splattered with sea waves. The situation will be heightened until 4 o'clock. We call this ocean temperament as "amihan" or easterly wind.

This natural phenomenon stayed till  the months of December or sometimes till February. In between this months typhoons are expected.

 During the fair weather, amihan wind heightened the festive atmosphere of Christmas.  It causes the leaves of the trees to constantly sway while the cold mist of the morning greets us and accompany us till the evenings.This is the pleasant time for bonfires  on the beach or in plains, for star gazing, while the Christmas songs were played in the air.

boat decoration

I was commissioned to decorate the boats hull, the designs reflect the island's living creatures, here's the images of the preparations..

preliminary sketches

sketch on the other panel

colors and under paintings..

halfway through the process

The finished two pieces works on panels to be installed on the passenger boat's facade (sorry, not familiar with boat architecture terms!). Done in enamel on panels, it will be installed when its dried..

this will be installed on the right side..

previous work

good day, everyone..
I saw a whale shark again yesterday while aboard  a pump boat going for swimming with my friends.
You could tell easily if there's one ,-there's this flock of seabirds, going around in this area of water.
The creature feeds on krills- a tiny organism that look like shrimps,when its around its color is reddish brown.There are also other fishes like jack fish, scud and small tuna, all are participating in the feast.
So I jump into the water and found this 80 foot long gentle creature

Unfortunately I don't have an underwater camera, but same excitement are expressed in this acrylic painting I did 3 years ago:

the link below is my painting posted in an art website fineartamerica.com
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/whale-shark-morning-jonathan-benitez.html

whale shark morning, acrylic on canvas, 34x26 inches

whale shark dawn, 36x24 inches, acrylic on canvas

art blogs, travel blogs about Palawan art

here's the blogs that mention the art scene of Palawan artists

http://travelkage.blogspot.com/2002/12/of-art-and-aritsans-puerto-princesa.html

this blog is almost complete in updating the contemporary Philippine Art scene:

http://philvisualarts.blogspot.com/

previous acrylics

these works were done in the year 1999-2003..

portrait, 34x26 inches, sand and acrylic on canvas 1999

Dodong, 34x26 inches,  acrylic on canvas 1999

coral reef,  36x48 inches, paper collage and acrylic on canvas 2003

still life , 21x18 inches, acrylic on canvas 2012

instead of the typical flowers or immobile objects, my still life are ordinary thrown away everyday objects found floating or awashed in the beach..

fisherman's wife, 34x40inches, acrylic on canvas 2009

my portraits were not poignant, but ordinary persons I see everyday.Sun burned skin from daily toils are my kind of beauty, beauty from everyday struggle, to cope living in the sea.

fishclouds, 30x30 inches,  acrylic on board 2012

fisherman's wife, 36x48 inches, acrylic on canvas 2012