THOMASIAN artist Wilfredo “Yeye” Calderon showcased his artistic evolution in his solo exhibit, “From Fine to Bold,” on Sept. 12 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Calderon, a painting alumnus, exhibited 25 paintings that show a transformation in his approach to watercolor.
For Calderon, the exhibit is a testament to his decades of experience in watercolor and mixed-media pieces that used new methods and techniques.
Calderon recognizes watercolor as the most challenging medium, as once the colors explode on the canvas, they must be dealt with care and consistency.
“May sarili siyang (watercolor) buhay. So bigyan mo siya, pabayaan mo siya, then later tingnan mo kung ano magiging itsura niya, then doon ka magsimula,” he said.
Calderon chose “Water Giver,” a 36×48-in. abstract depiction of how water slides in the environment, as the centerpiece of the exhibit.
For Calderon, painting is a continuous process of ideation, where one continuously creates drafts of a particular image until a new element emerges.
“I told myself, I will paint everyday. [Because of that] these beautiful ideas continue to [grow], until the idea just naturally comes while you’re painting,” he said.
Watercolor is also a medium that has multiple layers, which is why he decided to paint landscapes and cityscapes.
One of the paintings, “Paglubog ng Liwanag sa Bayang Mahirap,” is a 9×11-in. semi-abstract watercolor portrayal of Philippine society, highlighting people living in the slums.
Calderon looked back on his 13 years of living in Singapore, where he saw watercolor as an appropriate medium to explore due to his lack of access to studio spaces.
During this time, the painter became a member of the Singapore Watercolor Society, where he learned the intricacies of watercolor painting.
Calderon urged fellow artists to keep on trying out new creative processes and to continue learning, because painting is an “integral part of an artist’s life.”
“From Fine to Bold” will run from Sept. 9 to Sept. 23. Kirsten Therese C. Barrameda
