a fundraising online exhibit
Artist's Profiles
PROCEEDS WILL SUPPORT FRONTLINERS AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS
The Filipino Portrait Artists Guild
The Filipino Portrait Artists Guild, Inc. (FilPAG), formally organized in 2010, is a professional non-profit organization composed of visual artists in the practice and promotion of the art of portraiture and figurative works.
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Led by one of its founders and now president Romeo San Antonio Carlos, the group holds weekly on-the-spot portrait sketching sessions, meetings and fellowship activities during Thursdays at the Gateway Gallery. Using a variety of media such as graphite, pastel, acrylic and watercolor, members paint the portrait of a subject aiming to capture the sitter’s likeness, character, or soul.
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In its decade of existence doing weekly sessions, the group has sketched over 500 individuals ranging from friends, colleagues, professionals, and celebrities. The group also holds exhibits with traditional subject matter such as nature, still life, nudes and other themes, as well as conduct out-of-town art trips and plein air sessions.
Sketching Sessions
in the Time of Quarantine
In its most recent undertaking during this pandemic, the group devised its own virtual sessions to continue its weekly portrait sketching activity. Using social media as their platform, members conduct their respective livestream sessions wherein they start and complete a portrait sketch. This scheme has helped bridge the divide amongst members as they were already pleased with the fact that despite the virtual nature of the setup, it felt like they were still connected as a group, doing a common activity in the safety of their studios, as the quarantine is in effect. This even bolstered their communication with each other as they conduct mentoring sessions through group chat and teleconferencing.
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The focus of their first four virtual sessions was dedicated to the medical frontliners as news of our countrymen dying due to the disease affected the members. It was through this series that the group has found its cause to band together to pay tribute to our fallen brothers, dedicating their time and talent as a form of gratitude, in these trying times.