ERIC MANUEL PRESADO

from Filipino Artists Magazine Vol 5 Issue 23 " A Symphony of Luminance" The Art Of Remy Boquiren

THE MUSEUM AND GALLERY

Have you ever heard of Super - Kulayeros? They have been in the limelight for transforming some obscure walls of Metro Manila and the whole country into mini-colorful murals. Actually, they are artistic expressions of school children. One of the man behind this massive movement is Eric H. Presado, a special art teacher for ten long years of specially inclined pupils at Mabini Elementary School in Quiapo, Manila. This is not the only nationwide task Presado and his group have undertaken. The members of the Philippine Art Educators of which he is board member, organized Likha National and International Arts held annually at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. They also initiated Lakbay Sining throughout the country. This is a mobile group that hops from place to place every summer throughout the country and gives special art classes and activities to school children. Sining Bata is another brainchild of Presado’s group. This organization opens the road for friendly national art competitions among elementary school children.

Sometime ago in connection with the celebration of the year of the child, he made possible the representation of the Philippines in the children’s arts competition in New York. He got a reward for all his efforts when two of his boys brought home two gold medals for winning in the 21st World Children’s Art Exhibition and Competition held in Korea. All these attempts are not without compensation. In the recognition of his efforts, MEC considered him for Guro Award for 1980.

Unselfish, this artist-educator is. What he knows and what he has acquired through the years he passes onto his proteges. He derives unexplained gratification in student’s creativity. He frowns on students who remain copycats of tutors and old masters and who exert no effort in exploring the depth of their potentials. For example, his students at PWU came up on time with an entirely new innovation in art ... painting on kites. Have you ever heard of it? Here, scrutiny of brush strokes is beyond reproach from the analytical eyes of critics as the paintings soar in the sky, but then there’s another thing to marvel at . . . how was the idea born? 30 ERIC MANUEL PRESADO | FILIPINO ARTISTS MAGAZINE

Presado believes that teaching arts involves involvement of the students, so they must be taken out to on-the-spot sessions to get the feel of the subject. This is what he does to his college students at Philippine Women’s University. To recreate life on canvas, the subject must have life. “There’s no life in buildings.” he said. “But there is so much in the scenes ... the rustic ones especially. Peace is there. It’s paradise to me. I even inhale its exhilarating aroma as if I would not be there again. I feel happiest when I am with nature. I feel God is there with me. When I am out in the country, I squint my eyes and throw them as far as the horizon and even beyond. There are also rare moments that my thoughts travel to eternity. Then I would get my canvas to register my meditative spirit. Even when I was a little boy, I was like this.” He is very fortunate for being born in Bicol, a place abounding in scenic beauty.

Unlike other artists who discipline themselves to work with time, Presado is one of the very few who paints only when the right mood comes. He stops when the zest is gone even if it means leaving his work unfinished. He returns to it only when he regains the same feelings. Don’t be surprised if you will see in his studio several unfinished works. Commissioned works are his last consideration, for to him, they contradict the spontaneity of expression. Yet there are collectors who wait in line to possess his realistic paintings which are living pictures of the serene country side. His compositions, simple and uncluttered, incontestably hold the eyes at the point of emphasis which vibrates in precision with his tiny, yes, very tiny brush strokes. His three-hair brush labors with love on the whole canvas for many days, sometimes months. This maybe is the reason why this artist breaks his heart to part with his paintings. He hates to sell them away, but he is forced to sometimes, because he has to buy art materials. Keenly he remembers all those who took his works in collection he wished he could take them back again.

Analyzing Presado’s play of colors, a critic will wonder how he can keep the warmth in yellow (his present color scheme) vibrant and unusually cool, his greens and blues even cooler.

Interview with Eric Manuel Presado

1. Anong age po kayo nagsimula gumawa ng artwork? “ I started at 7 years old”.

2. Ano po ang naging inspiration nyo? “ Children and students are my inspirations. Because it is in the art teachings that brought me to travel around the world except Russia and China. And become ambassador of goodwill through the arts.”

3. Bakit niyo po pinili ang maging artist? “ It is just incidental that my professors in arts discovered my talent and encouraged me to pursue my career. They are impressed because I can work innovatively. One time in UP a weird professor in art history who was a clairvoyant told me, “ Son you will be traveling around the world through the arts”. And I realized I was traveling already. Hehehe. I can’t forget that.”

4. Brief story po ng pagiging artist nyo. “ Brief story of being artist, it started as hobby and just doing them for the love of it, I work for the upliftment of arts in our country which I introduced community art development initiated by school children and students all over the Philippines.”

5. What is your best artwork? “ I’ve no particular best work cause all my works in painting are best work for me, especially those my work of watercolors. And all my creations are best, because I worked them with love.”

6. If magkaroon po kayo ng chance magpapalit po ba ng profession? Why and why not? “ If I have to change my profession it would be in the line of arts also. Like major in fashion designing. I love the spontaneous of lines and distortions of figures. For short it has the softness of lines and has feminine touch.”

7. Ano po ang message nyo po para sa mga young artist ngayon? “ Every artist who aspires to become famous and would be great if they would learn to work hard with passion to achieve their dreams.”