MANILA -- Making a living from being an artist is possible, but it might require a lot of versatility.
For someone who supports his loved ones through art, Renato "Rens" Tuzon knew from the start that focusing on one form of art may not be enough to cover his family's daily expenses and other needs.
"As an artist, nag-evolve ako, hindi ako nakuntento lang sa pa-drawing-drawing, para sa akin ang artist mas magandang equipped sa maraming bagay at hindi iisa lang ang kakayahan (I evolved, I was never content with drawing, for me it is best for an artist to be equipped with different things and not have a single skill only)," Tuzon told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview.
Tuzon took fine arts, major in advertising in college. Because of this, he was able to acquire basic skills in photography, painting, digital arts and even writing.
"Nung nag-aaral ako, mayroon kaming basic photography, habang nag-aaral ako may wedding photography ako na pinagkakakitaan para masuportahan ko ang sarili ko dahil mahal nga ang kurso ko (When I was studying, we had basic photography, I'm earning from wedding photography to support myself since my course is expensive)," he said.
Tuzon recounted that Kodak Philippines discovered his talent in photography and offered him free workshops, which gave him the opportunity to travel all over the Philippines while learning different types of photography.
"Naging sponsor namin ang Kodak noon at binigyan kami ng free workshops kung saan nakakuha kami ng (Kodak became our sponsor that time and gave us free workshops from which we got) training from international masters in the field of photography from 1989 to 1992, we learned wedding, child, nude modern portraiture and other photography, so I earned the title "The Eyes Behind the Lens" ang kapalit po nito gumagawa ako ng (in exchange, I create a) window design for them," he added.
Tuzon continued taking pictures until he graduated from college. While working as a professional photographer, he also tried his hand in cartooning, graphic design and writing stories for mini novels.
"Inisip ko rin kasi mas maraming kita kung may alam ako sa ibang bagay, tapos ang mileage mas malawak din (I was thinking that I could earn more if there are many things which I can do, also the mileage is wider)," he said.
Even though Tuzon earned well from photography, he did not forget doing his first love – painting.
"I know that I am blessed with good hands and with good art and if I have to choose between photography and painting, baka painting ang piliin ko dahil doon nahasa ang mga kamay ko (I might choose painting because my hands were trained to paint)," he said.
During his early years as a painter, Tuzon used charcoal, water color and oil pastel as mediums.
"Ang subject ko ay mga anghel, bukod sa fascinated ako sa kanila, parang may communication rin ako sa kanila, kaya dito sa bahay marami akong mga bantay na ganyang mga anghel (My subject is angels, apart from being fascinated by them, I sort of have a communication with them, that's why here in our house I have guardian angels like those)," he said.
He had his first solo exhibition in 1997 called Anghel, which was held at the 70’s Bistro and Art Space along Anonas Avenue in Quezon City.
"Ang mga angel paintings po madali ma-sold out. Wala na pong natira sa lahat ng nasa exhibition ko noon. Many are interested in angel paintings (Angel paintings get sold out easily. Nothing was left from [the paintings] in my exhibition before)," he said.
However, Tuzon thought that he won't be able to share his artistic talent to more people if he remains using the same medium in painting.
"Ilang million ba ang painters at water colorists sa Pilipinas? Mahirap sumabay kung hindi ko kumpleto sa gamit eh. Kung 'di ako gagawa ng something unusual, something na extraordinary, hindi rin ako mapapansin (How many millions of artists and water colorists are there in the Philippines? It is difficult to get by if you don't have complete tools. If I don't create something unusual, something extraordinary, I won't get noticed)," he said.
Citing the popularity of coffee painting in the international scene, Tuzon said he ventured into it to remain relevant in the field of arts, particularly painting. In 2015, he started with professional coffee painting, commissioned by private individuals and companies. His coffee artworks made it to the Raconte Moi Le Café exhibition in Paris, France on March 31 to April 2, 2017.
"Noong nagsimula ako mag-coffee painting, nadiscover na ako nun sa Paris. So ako ang unang Filipino na naimbitahan sa Paris, France para mag-exhibit (When I started coffee painting, I got discovered in Paris. So I was the first Filipino who got invited to Paris, France to have an exhibit)," he said.
Tuzon said using coffee as a medium in painting is very practical and environment-friendly -- unlike oil pastel and water color -- and that he sees himself being a coffee painter for a long time.
"Affordable, kayang abutin ng kahit anong estado ng tao. Magkano lang ba ang isang sachet ng kape, five pesos tapos yung brush ko siyempre professionally speaking. Kaya siguro mga 50 pesos meron ka nang painting at pwede nang kumita (It can be reached by anyone from whichever status. How much is a sachet of coffee, just five pesos then my brush of course professionally speaking. So maybe with 50 pesos you can create a painting and earn money). You need to innovate when it comes to painting because it's an expensive art or hobby," he said.
Describing himself as an artist who wants to express freedom in his artworks, Tuzon calls himself a "Bohemian" coffee artist.
"Bohemian. It means you go totally free with what you intend to do, that's me," he added.
Apart from selling his coffee paintings, Tuzon also holds photography and painting workshops for young children nationwide through Sining Karaban. It is a group of visual artists that aims to help young people embrace the value of art education.
For Tuzon, teaching children basic art skills is important in making them dream for a brighter future for themselves and for their families, especially among the less fortunate ones.
He said life as a student was difficult for him as well, but he did not give up on his dream to be a successful artist. Instead, he used it to strive harder and to adapt to the different challenges he encountered.
"By successful painter, I didn't mean to be rich only. I make money from this pero ang pinakamahalaga ay naibabahagi ko ang talento na ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos para maging inspirasyon ng iba. Mahalaga marami ka rin kayang gawin, hindi lamang iisang bagay, para mas marami kang matulungan (but the most important thing is I'm able to share the talent God gave me to inspire others. It is also important that you can do a lot of things, not just one, so that you can help more people)," he said. (PNA)
