Coming fresh and rejuvenated from her recent all-women group exhibition Transitions at the Leon Gallery International, visual artist Connie R. Quirino was a happy and attractive sight to behold when I recently bumped into her in Malacañang, where we both attended the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies led by President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Connie was one of the descendants of former presidents of our country who had been invited to this special event. With her was her cousin, 1970s-1980s dance heartthrob Poncy Quirino, also the grandson of the late Elpidio Quirino and his wife Alicia.
A few weeks earlier, I interviewed Connie. I am sharing with you her narrative of her life and journey as an artist, the influences that have defined her aesthetics and her belief in divine inspiration.
Here goes:
DAILY TRIBUNE (DT): Other than your gender, what was the common denominator that you and your fellow women artists shared in Transitions?
Connie Rastrollo Quirino (CRQ): We share a passion for the arts expressed in various styles of painting and mediums used.
DT: Who have been your mentors and what did you specially learn from each of them?
CRQ: As early as five years old, I held my first crayon. My mother, Conchita Rastrollo Quirino, would bring home boxes of crayons and coloring books to keep me productive and busy in one corner of my room, which became my world.
I was introduced to Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, who became my first mentor in 1985. At the Hilton, from his studio, he demonstrated the Tres Marias, figurative painting and still life with dried flowers and glasses.
In 1995, I studied basic drawing and figurative painting with David Luce at Art Center in Pasadena, CA. While pregnant with my fourth son, I learned watercolor and plein-air oil painting with Jes Garcia at the Manila Hotel and had my first one-woman show in 2001.
I continued painting and went to Aix-en-Provence, France, under the tutelage of Jill Steenhuis Ruffato, who taught me the impressionistic style of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne. Here, we prepared our color palette for plein-air painting, capturing the sunset at Mt. Victoire, Port de Cassis, the flower market, olive tree plantations and still life with florals and her horse, Danilo.
Upon returning home, I became a member of L’Arc en Ciel Atelier, which was a second home to me for 10 years or more under Mrs. Elaine O. Herbosa and Mia Herbosa. I taught children from eight years old to adults 80 years old in their atelier.
I also went to New York to hone my skills at the Art Students League in Manhattan. I had many instructors, including Garin Baker for basic drawing and painting from live models; Gregg Kreutz, who taught me painting from life with models and still life; Mary Beth McKenzie, teaching contemporary style, composition and body structures through lines and brushstroke monotype paintings; Harvey Dinnerstein, from whom I learned hyperrealism in figurative oil painting, including sketching the model first, measuring before transferring onto the canvas and studying light and shadows by squinting the eye; Sharon Sprung, who taught hyperrealism portraiture painting in the Art Students League studio and the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, where I studied skin tones and values from nude models and visited different museums like the Uffizi Gallery and the Gallerie dell’ Accademia in Florence, where Michelangelo’s sculpture of David is situated, as well as the Boboli Gardens and the Galileo Museum, to name a few.
Janet Cook conducted figurative painting classes from life, focusing on skin tones and composition. Karen O’Neil taught contemporary-style still life with brushstrokes and color hues. Robin Smith instructed portraiture from life in evening classes, where I learned more about skin values and tones, in addition to composition.
DT: Tell me about your formal education from elementary to college.
CRQ: I started school at an early age at Assumption Herran, then at Assumption San Lorenzo. From there, I went to Maria Montessori under Preciosa Soliven. I moved to St. Paul’s Pasig for a year, excelling in Social Studies and Art, then returned to Assumption Antipolo, finishing grade school. My favorite subjects were English and Art. I completed high school at Assumption College in San Lorenzo. I am an undergraduate of Assumption College with a B.S. in Psychology.
DT: What were your early exposures to the visual arts?
CRQ: While growing up, my mother had a life-size portrait of herself by Garcia Llamas, which was displayed in our living room. I was in awe every morning at the beauty of my mother and most especially impressed by how well the artist had captured her beauty on canvas. It was then I decided that I would like to acquire that same skill.
When my sister Cory returned from her art studies in Madrid, Spain, I was completely captivated by her charcoal sketch rendition of Michelangelo’s Dying Slave. I was convinced that I would someday become an artist. Thus, I kept on drawing and experimenting with water color and pastel.
DT: As an adult, what inspired you to take up painting?
CRQ: I am blessed with my talent which is a gift from God and must be used for His Glory.
DT: What are your rituals before you paint? Any prayers, any exercises, anything to trigger your creativity?
CRQ: I begin every morning with a prayer, followed by reciting Psalm 23 and Psalm 91. I also listen to a Bible app and Christian music. After that, I follow my beauty regimen and take a daily 45-minute walk with my sister, Cory. I enjoy a cup of brewed coffee and have some lemon water.
DT: What inspires you?
CRQ: The Holy Bible, the gift of life, my family and my friends.
DT: Who are the Filipino artists, living or passed on, who have influenced you?
CRQ: Maestro Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Fernando Amorsolo, Cesar Legaspi and Mia Herbosa.
DT: What about international artists?
CRQ: Sharon Sprung, Mary Beth Mckenzie, Harvey Dinnerstein, Jill Steenhuis Ruffato, Vincent VanGogh, Michelangelo, Monet, Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci and Jenny Saville.
DT: What characteristics do your works share for now?
CRQ: Passion, sense of adventure, focus, interesting color choices, discipline, flexibility and patience.
DT: When was the first time you sold a painting — who bought it, what was its title and what did it depict?
CRQ: I had my First One Woman Show in 2001, Romancing Life, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz was my guest of honor and ninong who then purchased a still life floral painting of mine.
DT: Who is the one artist you would like to meet and what would you tell him and ask him?
CRQ: I would love to meet the renowned Jenny Saville from England. I would ask her what inspires her to paint and how she developed her contemporary style, often compared to the Master of Contemporary Art, Lucian Freud. I would also like to join her workshops.
DT: What is the masterpiece that you have yet to paint?
CRQ: It is a dream painting I would like to start in the future.
DT: Do you see a bright future for the Philippine visual arts?
CRQ: Yes, I do. I do because we have a wealth of talent, and we are bringing more awareness and appreciation for the visual arts.
DT: What is in your bucket list?
CRQ: I want to explore the Philippine Islands more, see the beauty within, visit the world’s museums, embark on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and witness the northern lights. Sharing all of these experiences with my family makes them more meaningful.