Cebuano painter at forefront of Alla Prima style

CEBU, Philippines -  Around 200 aspiring artists and students witnessed the talent of Chicago-based Cebuano artist Romel dela Torre in an actual painting demonstration at the College of Architecture and Fine Arts building of the University of San Carlos Talamban Campus the other day.

Dela Torre presented to Cebuano artists and aspiring artists what he called the “Alla Prima Technique”.

“Alla Prima technique is a direct painting, it means one sitting, you have to finish the painting in one sitting. If you finish the painting in more than one sitting then it’s not considered Alla Prima,” Dela Torre explained.

As a Cebuano, he said he wanted to share his talent to his fellow Cebuano artists and aspiring artists. He believes that not a lot of people can do the said technique.

USC Fine Arts professor Gabriel Abellana said that the goal of the workshop was to introduce the Alla Prima technique to Cebuanos in an actual demonstration.

Dela Torre developed a passion for painting at a very young age when he used to watch his uncle Selvino Dela Torre Jr. painting.

He had intensive training in the United States from drawing models to painting landscapes.

Pauline Panganiban, a second year Fine Arts student said that she grabbed this opportunity to learn because it is different when you just read books and when you see it in actual demonstration.

When asked what message he wanted to convey to aspiring artists like Panganiban, Dela Torre said “Just keep working on it. Do it for fun, do it for the joy of painting or drawing and get yourself really good because eventually when you become really good, someone will always buy your paintings.”

Dela Torre is a full-time painter and an instructor in advanced painting and portraiture.

Among his important honors are the Oil Painters of America National Exhibition Grand Prize and the Artists Magazine Portrait Artist of the Year award.

His most recent awards include the 2007 Raymar Fine Arts Competition, 2008 Gold Medal and the People’s Choice Award from the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts Gold Medal.

He is also one of the top finalists in the 2007 and 2008 International Portrait Competition given by the prestigious Portrait Society of America.   —USJ-R Masscom intern/BRP  (FREEMAN)