If a picture paints a thousand dreams...

In the common battle between art and commerce we have to admit that these days art is on the losing end. Our economic world easily centers around making money and being practical. While that’s all well and good, for those more interested in seeing beauty in life instead of peso signs the need to "make a decent living" often quells the artist’s voice. Indeed, in a world that more often than not cripples our artistic dreams with reality, only a few brave individuals are willing to make the leap of faith to pursue their deepest passions. It’s these select few that inspire the rest of us not to let our visions slip away and that anything you love is worth the work. It’s these courageous people that remind us that life is too short, and that "making a living" doesn’t necessarily equal making a life. I count myself lucky because recently, I had the privilege of meeting one of them, artist and mother Anna A. Varona.

Anna, like many true artists, discovered her desire for art at an early age. When she was only seven she already enjoyed drawing with her favorite subject usually being Disney princesses Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. But it wasn’t just the beautiful fairytale princesses that caught her eye, it was the artwork in general and the way the Disney animators colored Snow White’s poisoned apple really caught her eye.

The need for art never left her and as she grew older she continuously harbored the desire to become an artist, though like many painters hailing from a practical family Anna’s mother, simply wanting the best for her daughter, insisted she set aside her artistic inclinations first and pursue a worthwhile and practical degree in college. She compromised with her mom and took up a degree in Fine Arts at the College of the Holy Spirit majoring in Interior Design. After graduating, Anna, albeit somewhat reluctantly, began settling into her "practical life." She worked as a draftswoman and furniture designer at Steven Leach Jr. and Associates where she made life-size drawings of chandeliers. Not long after she left that career to become a mother herself and put all her energy into caring for her children.

A couple of tumultuous years followed and it was after giving birth to her first son that Anna decided it was time she listened to the longing in her heart and pursue her dreams. "Even though I was made to believe art wasn’t really practical living, I couldn’t keep ignoring that it was what I wanted to do," Anna relates passionately. "My daughters really inspired me. I wanted to be an example for them to always follow their dreams."

So with that Anna began her artistic career at Cordillera Street under the instruction of Henry Braulio with Elaine Herbosa, Ditas Dominguez, and Letty Delgado who were later on additionally joined by Vivian Wurgler. Her passion that was constantly suppressed before finally got to blossom and together they learned and taught each other. "Elaine has been my most influential teacher," Anna shares, "in art and in life. I feel so blessed to have met her. It’s ironic because we met through art as well. I wanted to buy paintings from Elaine’s daughter Mia, who is an excellent artist as well, and we began to talk. Elaine inspired me to make my own art and she really pushed me in the right direction."

"Letty has also been incredible," she adds. "She’s been like an aunt to me. Even though I was initially worried that I began my career a bit late in life, Letty reminded me that art has no age limit. It crosses all boundaries. I truly feel lucky to be in this century, our time has truly removed all limits brought about by age."

With her passion now beginning to get satiated, Anna continued her artistic education out of the country last year after giving birth to her second son. Gail McDaniel became her instructor for watercolor in Tennessee and she joined workshops under Joy Thomas and David Leffel for portraiture and still life after which she returned home to paint once more with the ladies of Cordillera, this time under the tutelage of Jeffery Consumo whose talent has been commissioned by Meralco. A month later, Elaine gave Anna an incredible push by opening up the possibility of studying at the Art Students League in New York City. Anna realized that despite many responsibilities at home, she could not pass up this opportunity and was fortunate enough to have been able to join the school and study under Gregg Kreutz and Ron Sherr for portraiture. Both gentlemen are incredible notable artists with Sherr being most known for his commissioned portraits of George Bush and George W. Bush.

"Studying with them was unbelievable," Anna recalls. "Ron especially had an amazing impact on me because he’s so incredibly picky yet he told me he liked my work. It was a bit nerve-wracking on my first day there too. I said I was a new student and he just told me to join the class and begin drawing. I was waiting for further instructions or suggestions but didn’t get any so I just pulled out my sketchbook and began sketching the model. I could tell he was watching me work but he purposely stayed away from me for the entire session. When class was over everyone just packed up and left and I was so worried I didn’t do well. But as I was walking for the door he called me over and began discussing my work with me. It was amazingly gratifying and I learned so much from him."

And she put those incredible skills to good use too. Over the years of her education in art, Anna has compiled an amazing body of work ranging from oils, watercolors, and graphite sketches. "I like working with all mediums although sketching and drawing are my favorites," she shares. "I recently did a sketch of my son that I really enjoyed doing. He just came up to me and asked me to draw him. It was a lot of fun."

These days, back home in the Philippines, Anna fills her days with working out, spending time with her family, and working on her art. Defining it as very traditionalist she spends time painting at the L’Arc en Ciel Art Studio in Ayala Alabang and painting in her own studio at home. "I’m really lucky I can focus and center myself amid distractions," she explains. "Painting at home with the children often requires me to be able to block out all the regular chaos of a house with six children in it to be able to finish my work. But, luckily that’s not a problem for me and I enjoy painting at home as much as I do painting at the studio."

Indeed, it’s been a long and exciting journey for Anna fulfilling her passion for art and following her dreams and it’s only just begun. These days she has never been happier. While clearly no longer a neophyte in the artistic world and finally a professional painter by profession, Anna continues to study and learn from colleagues and friends and she constantly strives to make her art have meaning. "I love art because I believe it’s a way of seeing," Anna says. "I strive to make my art meaningful because it’s my way of sharing what I see with others, to share my inspiration with them. Sometimes people take for granted the beauty of the world around us and I hope through my work I can give beauty and lasting importance to mundane things."

And anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing her paintings can easily attest that she does just that. With a possible art show in the works in the coming months, Anna is bound to receive the accolades she so truly deserves. It’s not just her art that’s an inspiration but the artist herself that serves as a bright reminder in an often bleak world that everyone should listen to the voice inside them and follow their dreams without regrets or apologies. After all, without painters like Anna who give beauty to our surroundings what a dull and boring world this would be.

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Anna A. Varona’s work is currently on display at the L’Arc en Ciel Art Studio along Guava Dr. in Ayala Alabang Village.