New Dimensions

CEBU, Philippines - Beatrix Marie Tan or “Bea” started painting at the age of seven years old.

Spending her last six summers in art workshops at the Cebu Academy of Arts under the tutelage of esteemed Cebuano visual artist Jose “Kimsoy” Yap Jr., she has then developed her own style of abstract painting.

Bea uses acrylic as her medium for its color diversity.

“I chose this kind of style because it fits me,” she said.

According to her, it’s not too grade school and it’s not too old.

“My choice of colors comes from what my theme is. I wouldn’t want my paintings to look dark and dull, so I always place bright and exciting colors - colors that make the painting look dramatic,” she added.

For her pastime, Bea is fond of sketching anime and portraits.

“However, my themes are always about the outdoors. I mostly paint themes that make things relaxing – not so intense and not so boring as I like expressing what I like to venture in through my paintings.”

“Things that I could imagine, things that make me happy and going are all in my paintings,” she also said.

Bea shared that she paints because “I want to see another side of my world not only in my head, but on canvas.”

“I paint because I want other people to know what dwells inside my head, to know that there are also other ways of expressing thoughts and feelings,” she further said.

She mentioned that what makes her inspired is “what things make me feel. If I’m sad, I usually use tough colors. If I’m happy, I use bright colors; colors that make one feel high - dramatic colors.”

“I never paint, though, when I’m angry because anger ruins one’s work,” she added.

Her mom, Mrs. Chona Tan, narrated that by the time Bea learned to hold a pencil, she started doodling.

“Drawing since then was her favorite pastime. By the age of seven, she tried painting the images from her drawings using watercolor. Afterwhich, she tried pastel of which she tried realism.”

“She wasn’t able to develop her own style then because realism for her was just copying and coloring,” Mrs. Tan pointed out.

“She went back to drawing and sketching and found abstract imagery more her niche,” she added.

It was further learned that Mrs. Tan used to paint when she was in college, but that she took up painting again when Bea started painting.

“I use watercolor as a medium and am into realism,” Mrs. Tan said, adding that “more or less you can say that Bea has maintained her interest in painting even in her teen years because it is something we both love to do.”

Bea is a senior high school student at the Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu. At 15 years old, she launched her first solo art exhibit entitled “New Dimensions” at the SM City Cebu Art Center last July 30 and will run until August 10. This will be her fifth art exhibit after a successful mother-daughter exhibit last November.