MY OTHER RETIREMENT HOBBY

 
 
By Rene Calalang
Scarborough-Canada
January 26, 2021
 




I have added to my retirement hobbies, to keep me occupied during my retirement and to make the lonely days of winter in this pandemic times more bearable, a skill I have a feeling since I was young I was not sure if I can do, but now I decided to do it to give an answer to this lingering question. The skill I am talking about is Visual Arts – in my case, Landscape Painting using acrylic paint.

I told myself, if I am happy with my work, I will continue; but if I think that the situation is hopeless, as well as being honest to myself, well at least, I gave it a try; and in the future, I will have no regrets.

Why Landscape Painting, you may ask? Well, while there other areas in Visual Arts I am interested, Landscape Painting is the one dearest to me simply because I can express myself more in Landscape painting.

I have decided to group my paintings based on the subject matter, where, just like writing are topics that are dear to me.

Here are some of them:

First and foremost is the one I call “Memories of my Youth”. Why?



You may ask. Well, I have been away for almost fifty years now, and in my solitary moments, the memories of the country I left behind kept coming back. Prominent among these was the tranquility and simplicity of life in a barrio in Malolos where I was born and grew up: the forest like environment of the surrounding where all kind of birds have a home; her vast irrigated rice farms that are no more, (converted into subdivisions to provide housing to those who can afford it.

But wait a minute, I thought that rice farms should, by law, be preserved as this is the main source of rice, our main staple food. But this is another issue); the joy of being out there, come rain or shine, in the open field; the satisfaction that a very young age I was already contributing a little help to my family either by helping manage our small farm, catching fish for food in the irrigation and the canals and taking care of our water buffalo after harvest season, a chore, together with my childhood friends, consider a game.

The best way for me, I thought, to visualize those memories was to paint them, which I already have started, based on my recollections of those sceneries and events. To date, I have done four paintings on this subject.

“The Beauty of Autumn” is, for me an excellent subject as this is the season where leaves of trees and plants, through the magic of nature will change color, and will produce a scene so beautiful and so pleasing to the eyes.



Global Warming is another subject that interest me as we can see in our bare eyes how it’s affecting the world and its disastrous effect on us. Painting its effect and its causes will be a big eye opener for us. While its effect is probably less visible in Ontario, the consequences and reasons of Global Warming are more visible and magnified in colder countries like Alaska, which we visited. In a train ride up in the mountain, we saw the melting of the snow on the mountain peaks; and while touring a Heritage Park called Glacier Bay, we witnessed the separation of the glaciers from the mountains. All these because of Global Warming.

There are other subject I would like to paint, but right now, the time is too early for me to divulge them. As I go along I will share them with you.

How did I get started you may ask? Well one day on October 2019, I saw in Balita an announcement that FCT (Filipino Centre Toronto) was offering painting lessons for seniors, once a week for three hours at a fee of $50.00. What a heck, I told myself, the days are getting colder and shorter and I was forced to stay indoors, making my days boring. And so I gave it a try, and from day one I enjoyed it.

The teacher, Frank Cruzet, a retired Toronto policeman and an accomplished artist not only in Toronto, but also in the Philippines, was very good in guiding us. He was very good in answering questions and giving tips, although I wish that there were more detail instructions. And so the Apprenticeship of Rene Calalang in Visual Arts Painting had begun.

I was having fun attending the classes, and who would not? I am not only learning but also meeting new friends. And of course, there were laughter, and lots of it, as we used to tease each other about our work. The food too, of you decide to join the potluck, is plentiful.

Then the pandemic struck. As the situation worsened, a lockdown ensued, forcing FCT to close. Needless to say, our classes also stopped. And so, after a few months of once a week apprenticeship, I was on my own. I already too deeply involved, and there was no way I would quit. I continued to paint using the basement of our house as my studio and the Internet, who gave answers to many of my questions, my teacher.

To date, I have done twenty five paintings, three of which I am attaching on this article, for others to view and decide on themselves if I have a future on this field. But regardless of their opinion, I will continue, as this is only a hobby, with the original intention of keeping myself occupied, my motive.

I also have posted some of them on my Facebook account to share them with friends, and have joined a group called “Lovers of Filipino Arts and Crafts” to have their comments and feedbacks.

So far, so good, and only time will tell what will be my future on this field. Regardless of the outcome, I will be happy, for I gave it a try and I gave it all.