Never 'too late'

Monday, December 5, 2011

PASSION fuels purpose.

For retired businessman Luis A. King, one definite way to enjoy his latter years in life is to delve more deeply into his love for the arts.

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The man has done almost entirely everything an aspiring businessman would want to do: from taking ventures to the next level, to having a hand in creating an entrepreneurial dynasty with the family name, in and out of the country.

But retiring recently, this executive decided to trade the contracts for some piece of action with the canvas. That’s right: he has started to paint. Apparently he believes that it’s never too late.

“I was in Grade 4 the last time I owned a paint brush,” shared Luis, even showing the receipt for his purchase that just cost a little over a few hundred pesos.

Apparently the business side of him has not completely gone into exile. He bought his first ever oil set back in 2009.

“I have had no experience in painting, not even doodling,” he says paired with a light chuckle. “But I wanted to learn.”

This personal revelation to suddenly paint was triggered when he was asked a favor to do a few paintings. More specifically, pictures of fighting cocks. This was an invitation he took up gladly. It became the start of a journey of self-discovery.

The subject of birds, either at rest or in action, was the perfect beginning for the new artist. He had to learn everything about realism from the top: the proper brush strokes, the mixing of colors, the lighting—Luis welcomed the idea to do whatever it took to perfect his realist pieces.

And don’t expect the man to give up easily. The last thing this man would do was quit in adversity, as he had personally learned to live through each and every challenge in life.

“I grew up in (Barangay) Pasil, and Freedom Park was my place for recreation.” He joyfully recalled how he also hung out with some of the boys in the pier.

That was the case until his father launched a business in the 1960s, which has now grown into one of the most recognizable corporations in the country: J. King & Sons Company. “Everything I have is God-given.”

As for the talent, there is a logical explanation how someone so engrossed in enterprise has had a sudden conversion for the arts.

Luis explains that he has appreciated the local arts and artists ever since the 1980s.

“I started purchasing and collecting art back in ‘85 and also hung out with the artists—it didn’t matter if they were ‘known or not.’ It didn’t matter at all.”

The self-confessed patron would then relive this scene today, inviting friends of his in the art scene to join him for lunch and fellowship once a week at his place.

“Collecting art compared to painting yourself? It’s just not the same. The latter gives you a high.”

As they say, experience is the best teacher. This was something Luis learned in business, and that he would carry over to his art stint as well.

He soon painted in the presence of artists and learned the tricks of the trade from the learned themselves. Humbly, Luis claims, he still has ways to go as he is still finding out his “very own personal style and identity.”

This small, informal gathering with friends would soon evolve into the Nueves Art Group. The group is composed of Luis, Felix Catarata, Wilfredo “Boboy” Canete, Cirilo “Yloi” Alferez, Benji Goyha, Crispin Villavito Bobier, Ariel Caratao, Geraldine “Gigi” Ocampo and noted artist professor Jose “Kimsoy” Yap. Clearly, this circle of nine artists are inspired and brought together by their intense passion for the arts. Luis gives praise to his co-artists.

“It’s not easy to be an artist. You need to have the conviction, the dedication and the interest. They (Nueves) contribute to me a lot, more than I contribute to them. I learn by correction.”

Not too bad of an attempt at doing some catching up, for a person who is, safe to say, decades delayed. Truly a living testimony to the adage, “you can do anything as long as you set your mind to it.”