This
year, we had started really early in commissioning our Christmas card
artwork. Soon after the New Year, we had
already zeroed in on the artwork. In
truth, we had contacted him the year before, but previous commissions had made
it difficult for him to accept one for us in time for Christmas 2013. Thus, an early start in time for Christmas
2014 was essential.
I
had first seen one of his artworks online some years back, appropriately
enough, also a Christmas subject.
I
thought, what a beautiful work, if rather melancholy, which in fact appealed to
me. And very Filipino too. Later, I located other artworks of his
online, on diverse subjects such as a typical market scene,
an oil lamp,
laundry
women,
Christmas
lantern makers,
the head of Christ,
even
a portrait of “Sister Vicky.”
Clearly,
the artist had sharpened his technique over time to achieve a near-perfect
photorealistic style. I therefore made a
mental note to look up the artist one day.
And so, in early 2013, I did.
By
mid-2013, when it was clear that any commissioned artwork from him would not
make it in time, we agreed to at least think about possible subjects for the
following year. By October 2013, he had
sent me some very interesting sketches.
And soon after that, we had come to a consensus as to our 2014 Christmas
artwork.
In
catechism back in primary school, we were taught that gifts are given on
Christmas day to emulate the fabled Three Kings – or the Three Wise Men –
actually Magi (literally, “Wise Men”) of indeterminate number, who happened to
be bringing along three gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh, respectively symbolizing
the three aspects of the gift-recipient Christ-Child: His Kingship (gold for
kings), His Deity-ship (frankincense for worship in the temple), and His humanity
(myrrh for embalming the dead).
While
we don’t give each other gold, frankincense, and myrrh for Christmas (although you
may still send me you gifts of gold – always welcome, no matter how late!), we
still do expend plenty of time, energy, and money on finding the right present
for each of the people on our list. And
Christmas mornings are particularly awaited, especially by children, expecting gifts from their godparents, parents, Santa Claus, or each other.
With
this agreed theme in mind, our methodical artist gathered some of the neighbourhood
children, staged them out-of-season, and photographed them thus:
This
then became the basis of the actual oil-on-canvas artwork, seen here in
progress in March 2014, just missing a few more important details, such as what
should hang in the wide-open window:
By
April 1st, the artist could happily pose with the finished artwork.
And a
few days later, it was enroute to us,
ready
for professional photographing and eventual preparation for printing as
Christmas cards.
There
was a bit of a challenge at the printers’ as to how to adjust the artwork’s
original colors, as initial print runs would come out too pale, too dark, or
otherwise unappealing. In the end,
slightly more magenta seemed to work.
And so here is how the final printed card came out, more or less:
Walter
Vestil
“EXCHANGING GIFTS”
Oil
on canvas
24” x
32”
2014
* * * * *
And
now, more about our heretofore unnamed artist:
Born
in 1988, Walter Vestil is a native of Carcar City, Cebu. He began his artistic apprenticeship at the
age of twelve with master artists Stanley Cui Señires and Facundo Galicano
Tallo. From 2003, he participated in
several group exhibits in various venues in Cebu, and was a regular finalist of
the annual Martino Abellana Painting Competition beginning that same year,
winning the Grand Prize in 2008.
Walter’s
appealing photorealistic style has gained him numerous commissions, including
several portraits, from regular art patrons, mainly in Cebu. “Exchanging Gifts” is only his
second commission from outside Cebu. Email: vanrijn_386@yahoo.com
* * * * *
And
so, on this day the Feast of the Epiphany, (i.e., the Feast of the
gifts-bearing Magi, on which day gifts were actually exchanged in times past, only
to be supplanted later on by Christmas Day itself due to overly-eager
gift-exchangers), my family and I would like to greet you and yours a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Maligayang Paskó at Manigong Bagong Taón!
And all our prayers and best wishes for an excellent 2015 and beyond.
Originally published on 4 January 2015. All text and photos (except where attributed otherwise) copyright ©2015 Leo D Cloma. The moral right of Leo D Cloma to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted.
