Ian Veneracion’s art as ‘journal entries’

THE ACTOR-ARTIST’S self-portrait

“Use the resources you have to develop your interests,” said Ian Veneracion as advice to teen star Daniel Padilla, whom he has gotten really close with after working together on the top-rating ABS-CBN series “Got to Believe.”

“He’s like my eldest son,” Ian told reporters over dinner last week. Ian has three kids with wife Pam—Draco, 16; Deidre, 14; and Buccio, 8. “I’ve gotten so close with DJ (Daniel’s nickname) that his mom Karla (Estrada) would call me for advice on what to do with her son. She said Daniel listens to no one but me.”

Ian said he would often discuss with Daniel, as well as the latter’s on-screen partner Kathryn Bernardo, their plans for the future. “I told him to pursue college because he’ll learn nothing from show biz. I told him that if he doesn’t want to study, he should at least keep reading about all sorts of stuff. And since he has money, he should use it to further his interests.”

Ian added: “DJ is a nice kid. He needs guidance. I tell him that in show biz, you’re only as good as your last soap. You’re value is based on that.” This was why Ian would often encourage his kids to pursue their interest in painting. “I’d rather that they become painters than end up in show business,” he said.

Ian’s third solo art exhibit is “Primordial,” ongoing at the GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center in Quezon City until Dec. 11.

How do you define your art?

The painting titled “The Reluctant Performer” is actually [about] me behind the red curtain. I’ve been doing my job for a very long time but I still get the jitters especially when I go up the stage. This shows you how I feel—broken and scattered all over. My work is all about myself. It doesn’t get anymore personal than that.

How significant is this exhibit to you?

It’s my biggest so far. It features 55 paintings. My usual is between 20 and 30 works. There’s this painting that I call “Being Jonah” that’s 7 X 10 feet. My feeling when I made it was that we all have our whales—that we sometimes feel we’re being swallowed up, for example, by fatherhood or by work.

This collection is special in the sense that I don’t think there’s anything like it. Their only common denominator is that there is a little of me in each of them… they’re like my journal entries.

Who are your local influences?

They’re all from my father’s (Roy Veneracion) generation—Lao Lianben, Gus Albor, BenCab and Jose Joya. I grew up appreciating their work. I also appreciate works of older generation, like Fernando Amorsolo.

You collect art pieces for many reasons. If you’re going to display it in your house you have to be able to connect to it, especially abstract work.

There’s also the investment side in collecting. BenCab is definitely expensive.

Why didn’t you study painting?

That’s what I’ve been telling my dad ever since, but he didn’t encourage taking it up in school. He just told me to keep on painting. He said school will only teach you how to draw a human, for example, but people will be more interested in how you will draw it with all your biases. I don’t know what would have happened if I had studied fine arts.

What attracted you to do abstract?

What I find really interesting is how one can masterfully transpose something, like a feeling, into a different medium. For example, you use technique in painting an apple. But if you try to paint the taste of an apple, you end up using texture and colors. Your work ends up becoming really personal and subjective, but more interesting.

How can you encourage young actors to paint?

I’ll tell them that painting is parallel to being an actor. I do many scenes in a day. If I’m happy, it’s going to show on screen. It’s the same thing with paintings—you have to really feel it because if you’re faking it, people would know.

How do you feel when someone critiques your painting?

I’m interested to hear different points of view, especially the people I consider my mentors—Albor, Lianben and Nes Vinluan. If they say that I’ve improved even when the critics say I haven’t, then I’m OK. I value their opinion more.

Is being an actor a disadvantage?

It’s an advantage because I am able to express through painting the emotions I use as an actor. The only disadvantage, I think, is that other artists think you’re baduy because you’re from show biz.

Do you have to be in the mood when you paint?

Not really. What’s important is that whatever mood you’re in, you have to be able to transfer that on your canvass… Usually, the colors trigger a chain reaction.

How are you as a painter?

I work outdoors. I want the electric fan blowing hard because I want the paint to dry up quickly. I wear old shirts and listen to mood music sometimes. I get cranky when I’m disturbed—not crazy cranky, though.

Aren’t you a pilot, too?

My license is not current. I started paragliding three years ago—even my kids are into it. In January, we joined the 1st International Paragliding Accuracy Competition in the Philippines. We lost to the Taiwanese.

Do the kids show any sign of wanting to enter show biz?

Thankfully, none. I’d rather that they become professional painters than be in show biz. I don’t think I will be able to stop myself—I will probably pull some strings for my kids. That means their adventure will only be wasted. I’m the only actor in my family. I did everything on my own. I want them to be able to experience the same thing.

They don’t even watch my movies or shows. They only know I’m an actor because they see me leave for taping or shootings. “Got to Believe” is the only show they saw. When they were smaller, I used to tell them that if they don’t behave I’d make them watch my action movies—that’s torture.

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