Art is not a competition as it serves as a platform for self-expression, devoid of the need to compare oneself with others. The essence of art lies in the ability to convey one's thoughts and emotions, finding solace in the understanding and appreciation of others.
I am Erwin Mallari, a watercolorist in the field of visual arts. Like many, my journey in art began during childhood, where a love for drawing blossomed. However, it was during my time in high school that I discovered a genuine interest in this field, realizing my innate talent as my drawings garnered praise for their beauty.
Following my college education, I ventured into various artistic roles, starting as a props man and eventually transitioning into graphic design and photography. Amidst these pursuits, I found myself drawn back to my passion for painting, feeling a sense of fulfillment and purpose whenever I engaged in this art form.
It was during my last job in Ortigas that I found the motivation to continue painting. After a long day at work, I would visit galleries, envisioning my own artwork being showcased. This dream fueled my determination, allowing me to create paintings even in the late hours of the night and dedicating my weekends to this craft.
The path of an artist is not without its challenges, particularly when one lacks recognition. There were moments when I contemplated resigning from my job to solely focus on painting, but the financial demands of life often necessitated my return to employment. Nevertheless, painting remained my solace, a means to alleviate stress and find solace amidst the chaos of daily life.
Gradually, I discovered opportunities to exhibit my artwork in galleries, slowly gaining recognition and acquiring a following. This progress eventually led me to make the decision to resign from my job, as I believed I could fully commit to pursuing my passion for painting.
Watercolor has always held a special place in my heart, as it was the first medium I explored during my college years. While I have since dabbled in other mediums, watercolor remains my favorite. Its portability allows me to create art even when I am away from my studio, making it an ideal companion during my travels.
In conclusion, art transcends the realm of competition, serving as a means of self-expression and connection with others. My personal journey as a watercolorist has been one of perseverance and dedication, fueled by the desire to share my artistic vision with the world.
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India's Largest Carpet Producer
For India's new Parliament building, 900 weavers worked 1 million hours each to create hand-knotted carpets. The company dies all its yarn in-house and its workers load up machines that can hold up to 880 pounds of yarn. the batch first goes through a chemical wash then they prepare the dyes which are made from chemicals and natural ingredients, like fruits and bark. obti takes a sample to the lab and runs a series of tests to make sure the color won't rub off. weavers can't get started until they have the map or naksha, which they have to follow in granular detail. each square represents a knot and a specific yarn color. the company has its own weaving center with 224 artisans, who use a drum to build the carpet's foundation or warp. but some build it by hand, which can take a full day. honey OBT works with over 25,000 local weavers like ramlal, who've been working with the company for about 50 years. once the warp is done, he starts laying down the design thread by thread, some of which have over 2 million knots. foreign company officials inspect the work on each one of obt's 5,000 looms every 15 days. once each carpet is finished and approved, weavers deliver it to the factory. foreign workers use a blowtorch to burn off loose fibers; teams of washers give the carpet a scrub; everything starts with water dowsing; a chemical treatment gets rid of dust; right here; foreign carpets shrink during washing phase so they have to be stretched back out; once they're dry; they clip and shear carpet's surface to a specific height; machines help but they mostly have to do this by hand; they also straighten and bind edges and trim or not any fringes after two more rounds of inspection; the carpets are ready for delivery; it takes hundreds of workers to keep this operation going; but the company has struggled to find new weavers. uttar Pradesh is one of India's poorest states and young people are moving away to find better paying jobs. many of obesity's weavers are also farmers. OBT has been trying to boost its workforce by recruiting more women, but so far that's not been successful: only about 25 percent of working age women in India are part of the labor force. veteran weavers like ramlal have trained almost 2,000 women since 2015.,and they're keeping standards high.
By Mhaurick Dumagan (Mhau)2 years ago in Art
Comments (1)
Great story I can relate too, so I really understand each phase You were describing Congratulations :) ! Beautiful work !