ART And Everything
ART. Three letters that mean a myriad of things.
We see it, feel it, smell it, hear it and touch it. Many times it is indefinable, definitely subjective and for many, intimidating.
I can remember my first purchase of an artwork very well. I was in grade 7 and I had a classmate who was so awesome in illustrations using black ink. So I asked her if she could make me an illustration of the letter “I” with her artwork. I paid all of Php20.00 for it which meant my week’s allowance. It was in black tech pen ink on white bond paper then she laminated it so I could use it as a bookmark. It was a big letter “I” with ornate designs inside — curves, lines, dots, even some flowers. I was very happy with it! I misplaced it some years later but I had it for a long time. I think until I was in college.
Growing up, my Mom loved to bring us to museums. She is also a collector of art and much of what I know about art is largely because of what she has shared with me over the years. Once she told me that when she looks at artwork, she wonders what the artist is thinking and feeling — most of the time it shows in their strokes, colors and subject.
When I started my career in advertising, I learned from artists first hand. For some reason, I realized I was comfortable around artists. I liked their energy, their humor and their natural inquisitive nature. Unlike their stereotype of being moody, mysterious and sometimes dark— most of them are not. I loved working with them and learned to appreciate and respect their work. And because I was in advertising, there was always a balance between creativity and making sure the client met their business objectives. It was really a balancing act.
In my 20’s, I had accumulated a small collection of prints by Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Picasso. They were my first artworks in our new family home. I would visit galleries around the city but felt that I was not ready to invest at that time. Slowly, over the years, I was able to purchase artworks that I truly love and became friends with many artists along the way.
And Everything came to be because of my love for art and the belief that it should be for everyone. Art is not supposed to be on a wall, static. Instead, it should be alive, dynamic and functional, even fashionable. Our first product was a series of umbrellas. A well loved product up to now. Our line has morphed into so many things and yet we still make sure that they are practical and beautiful.
What I love most about And Everything is the opportunity to collaborate with Filipino artists. Every artist is special and different. They are proud of their work but never boastful. In fact, they are almost reluctant at times to accept compliments. Sometimes, I feel like I’m taking something that’s part of them when we apply their artworks to different forms. In And Everything, we aim to let their work go beyond the canvas so that more people can experience their work through our products.
In an ideal world, every artist’s work will be appreciated by many. What we do hopefully brings us one step closer to that.
P.S.
You’ll be happy to know that my grade school classmate is now an accomplished artist still doing beautiful illustrations. See her beautiful works of art here:
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Helpful Tips on Buying Artwork:
- Art is many things. It can be a sculpture, a poem, a sketch or music. Pick what speaks to you.
- On visual art — choose an artwork that you absolutely love. You’re going to have to see it a lot.
- Don’t be afraid of prints or items with artwork on them. Prints are still art.
- Ask about the artist and the artwork. Get to know them so you can appreciate the work more and you can decide how you really feel about it.
- Be comfortable with the value of the artwork.
