Christmas is a special time that celebrates the feeling of love -- love for others, of the things we do and, of course, ourselves, most importantly.

Sometimes, curiosity begins from an interest, then when that grows and is pushed a little further, it becomes a hobby. When a recreational activity or pastime becomes a regular commitment and an act towards mastery, passion is formed — it’s the greater awareness of who you are and not what you do. This means knowing, understanding and celebrating who you are — your roots, origins and ancestry.

NewNowNext (NNN) spotlights renowned philanthropist, entrepreneur and now accomplished artist Joanna Ongpin-Duarte for its Christmas edition as she takes us into her world of art. Her strokes of genius paint a thousand words as they reflect Philippine culture, tradition, heritage and genealogy.

She presents a plethora of characters that, for a moment, visually takes one back in time and somehow narratively echoes a scene from the nation’s past. Beautiful, brilliant and captivating, these masterpieces unravel gems of the past and relevant stories to tell.

NNN chats with the modest, kind and unassuming master-in-the-making in Philippine art.

How did this life in art begin? Is this a hobby? Do you have a normal job?

My painting hobby began accidentally. My children used to have an art teacher, Jheng Marzan, who came to our home on Sundays. Not all Sundays would have both able to do art, so I would take the open slot so as not to waste Jheng’s trip. At first it was simply trying something new. Over time, it became a real source of enjoyment, and eventually a personal commitment to keep going. When I began painting, I was working full-time at an NGO.

In the last year, I’ve been rewiring my life to focus more on art and my path toward becoming an executive coach. My past professional life has been in entrepreneurship, sales and marketing, a social enterprise and development. Painting is technically still my hobby, but it has grown into something much more personal and meaningful to me.

Did you study, have any training, background, take any workshops to develop this talent? If yes, what are they? If not, what was the turning point that made you decide to do this.

I am not formally trained. I never went to art school, and for a long time I believed you needed a degree to “earn the right” to paint. Jheng was a wonderfully patient and encouraging teacher who always said, “Madali lang yan. Kaya mo ’yan (That’s easy. You can do it).” Eventually, I believed him. The turning point for me was realizing that art is expression — a way of finding yourself and challenging yourself to go beyond. I was doing it for me, and whenever the art resonated with others, I was simply thrilled.

What are the subjects of your works in general and why? 

My subjects come from early Philippine prints, archival photos, postcards and family histories. I’m drawn to our ancestry as a way to understand the present. Each time I paint, I learn something about us, about our world, our roots and what we carry forward.  

What is your process? How long does it take to make a piece? What’s your medium?

I work in oil on canvas. My process usually begins with a historical reference — a print or a photograph. I first compose the piece on my computer, then make more adjustments once I’m in front of the canvas. A piece can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, especially since I generally paint only on weekends. I paint one canvas at a time so I can stay fully present and focused on that single creative conversation.