By Joseph Pimentel
FEBRUARY 8, 2008
Asianjournal.com
A Pinoy Painting Innovation
THERE are some artists who are content to serves as a world-class museum.
just hone their craft to perfection. Then, there He describes attending school there to
are some, who improve not just their craft as heavenly. He studied painting and drew
but the art itself. FilAm painter Brian Pacana inspiration from the works of legendary artists
belongs to the latter. To honor his exceptional like Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Picasso and
talent, Lancaster’s 23rd Annual Juried All Media more.
Art Exhibition picked Pacana’s The Debut as it “I would often stop to admire them just
stood out among a field of 154 artists and 296 walking between classes,” he said. “Professors
pieces of art. and art teachers can only teach you so much.
Although the award earned for Pacana, a At the museum, it is the artwork that teaches
virtually negligible amount, the win for the you. As a student here, you can’t help but feel
32-year-old Pacana signifies more than the inspired and blown away standing in front of
money or bragging rights. This was the first an original painting by these artists.”
exhibit where he introduced an entry utilizing Pacana finished his formal education at
a painting technique called “blockwash.” the university in 1998. He soon realized what
“I believe this technique has the best many artists discover when they hit the real
potential of being adopted by the mainstream world – that art is not for the weak of heart.
art establishment the way scumbling was He found himself struggling. His paintings,
developed by the Venetian school of painters, mostly abstract with religious overtones,
the way gouache did for watercolor, or the way did not sell. He wanted to work in animation
encaustic and tempera were used in Byzantine but Disney, during that time, was laying off
era art,” said Pacana. workers. For a while, he abandoned his artistic
“There has never been anything like this in ventures just to stay afloat.
the history of art. Winning top honors the first “I took any job I could,” he said.
time it was ever introduced further validates “For the past few years, I’ve been really honing After a few years bouncing around from job
this statement. Welcome to the start of my skill to apply the varnish and the technique to job, Pacana could not hold in his artistic
something new.” into my work.” desires any longer. He began to paint again
Blockwash is an innovative painting process However, it’s also a risky technique. and gave his work exposure.
that requires an artist to create a piece of “What artist in their right mind would take a He entered the same art contest in Lancaster
work using pure pigment (paint in its raw hose to their painting?” said Pacana. three years ago. He submitted three works
form), varnish, and then water to douse the Struggling artist done in oil and acrylic on canvas. His work was
unprotected layers of pigments away. Pacana immigrated from the Philippines not even considered.
The work has a different texture. The with his family in 1982 when he was only seven “They didn’t like my work,” he recalls.
varnished parts appear shiny and glossy to the years old. His talent for drawing was evident at Almost losing hope in his artistic goals,
viewer. an early age. His fellow students and teachers it was at this time he discovered his new
“It’s an exciting new process that I am would often rely on Pacana to create school painting technique. blockwash is his baby. The
sure will be of great interest in the years to brochures, flyers and posters. process rejuvenated him. He found a new way
come. Hopefully, it will become a viable new School administrators saw his penchant for to express himself and share his technique to
art technique that will catch on many other drawing and placed him in the gifted program. his fellow colleagues.
artists,” he said. “I believe blockwash will hold His parents later decided to hone their son’s He kept his work under wraps until finally he
its own and become a true art movement that skill and enrolled him in private art classes at decided to enter this year’s art contest.
started right here in Southern California by a the AV School of Fine Arts in Lancaster. Pacana hopes to one day have his first
Pinoy no less.” Pacana said he appreciated his parents for one-man-show to display his “revolutionary”
If it seems that Pacana is a little overexcited sacrificing their time and money to cultivate artwork. He said he developing several more
about his newfound technique, there’s a reason. his talent. pieces.
Pacana has been developing blockwash for “I encourage every parent who has a child Like many artists, he hopes his work can
the past five years. He actually discovered the that has an interest in the arts to enroll them in stand the test of time. He wants people to
technique by accident. Several years ago, he private classes whether it be music, acting, or remember his dedication to painting and
accidentally spilled varnish onto a drawing painting,” he said. “That experience will follow his craft so that maybe one day some awe-
that was done on pastel. In order to correct them for the rest of their lives.” inspired kid roaming around a museum can
it, he tried to clean it up by dousing water on After graduating from high school, he was stop and admire his work.
the painting. The mistake was Pacana’s eureka accepted at the School of Fine Arts Institute of “That would be nice,” he said. “But I’m going
moment. Chicago. The school is not only one of the top to leave it up to God and let the artwork speak
“It just gave me this wonderful idea,” he said. art academic universities in the world but also for itself. I’m sure it will stand on it’s own.” (AJ)
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