Shekinah D.

Bernal M404 Art Appreciation

Name of the Artist: Mary Joy Carla Diaz

Age: 20

Brief Background:
She lives in Tacloban City and is currently studying in Visayas State University as
Civil Engineering. She started to get interested in art during the pandemic because of
boredom so she tried lots of art styles. In her interest in art, she first applied to architecture at
Eastern Visayas State University but failed to get a slot. Even if her course is not related to
art, she still continues to draw but only focusing on figure drawing and watercolor but
because of her priorities in study, she doesn’t draw that much now but her passion for art still
remains.

Inspiration:
Her inspiration when she creates art is herself and other artworks. Every time she sees
artwork, she gets inspired to do better and try different art styles. Her creativity would spark
every time she wanted to express herself because for her, art can express what she can’t
emotionally.

Creative Process:
She first needs to be in a place with less distraction and play songs that relate to her
mood. The next thing she would do is go to pinterest to look for inspiration from different
artists. When she finally finds one, she would use it as an idea what to draw.

Challenges Faced:
The first thing that she said when I asked about challenges is her environment. She
has toddler nieces that have a lot of energy that every time she tries to draw get immersed in
art, they would bother her. Another thing that she finds challenging is when she looks for
ideas because it would take her a long time before she does until she would lose her interest
in doing art.

Cultural Significance:
She can’t really find any cultural significance in her artwork but if asked for any
significance of her art, she said it would be body positivity as she lies to draw figures and
parts of the body and she wants people to accept everyone no matter what the shape of the
body is. She likes drawing people and figures because for her, everyone is beautiful.

Photo of the Artist:

Photo of artwork/s:

Photo of you interviewing the Artist:

Name of the Artist: Romulo M. Bernal
Age: 47

Brief Background:
He grew up in Sta. Rita, Samar and moved in Abuyog and was married to someone
from Southern, Leyte. After years of living in Abuyog, him and his family moved to
Mahaplag, Leyte where they currently live. He was a high school teacher, but he resigned
after years of teaching to focus on his ministry at church. He actually wanted to be a civil
engineer but due to financial difficulties, he was not able to finish his study in civil
engineering and just took education. Even if he did not achieve his dreams, he continued to
hone his skills in carpentry and became an apprentice a carpenter. After he resigned from
teaching, he continued to work and creates woodcrafts as a way of living.

Inspiration:
As the provider, his family became his inspiration in work and his uncle who he
became an apprentice of. His unachieved dream also became his inspiration that even though
he couldn’t be an engineer, he can still create something from his hand.

Creative Process:
First, he would make a sketch of what he would make with the computed
measurements. Then, he would collect all the materials needed and go to his workstation
where there is less distraction. He would then continue to create his project until don from
building to painting it.

Challenges Faced:
The challenges he faces is time management and juggling of priorities. As the
provider in the family and a pastor, he finds it hard to manage his time as he has other
responsibilities to attend to. Aside from creating cabinets, he also has other works like
plumbing and masonry. When someone asks him to create woodcrafts like cabinet, he has to
make sure that he would make time for it before the deadline.

Cultural Significance:
He couldn’t see any cultural significance in his works but only practical uses for the
owners. As it is his source of income, what is important to him is how his work can pay him
and sustain their needs.
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