A common art theme that artists usually delve into is the subject of “mother and child.”

This has been chosen and interpreted in numerous and creative ways throughout history. You might see one being portrayed in a magnificent religious image, or a simple, no frills picture of a woman breastfeeding her child.

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But for this particular story, perhaps it can be said that the “theme is now the team.”

Arch’t. Chona Tan and her daughter Beatrix Marie Tan will hold their second art exhibit dubbed as “Metamorphosis,” on Nov. 13-29 at the SM City Cebu Art Center.

“The name of the exhibit explains of how we see as our art as always changing—art always improves,” Chona states.

An architect by profession, Chona still finds the time to do what she loves doing. A former model and an artist back in her younger days, she has put painting aside for a significant time in her life. But not until seven years ago did she notice that her daughter Bea had an inborn gift to draw and paint.

She wasted no time in enrolling Bea in a summer art workshop given by the Cebu Academy of Art.

The school is run by the locally based art group, Color Sugbo.

“I thought it was a natural thing for everyone to draw,” Bea describes her feeling back then when she was just starting.

But she realized afterwards that it was indeed a special skill she possessed, and not a common gift bestowed upon everyone at her very young age.

“As I enrolled her in the class, I figured why not join the class, too,” Chona shared on how she also took the steps to revive her love for the arts.

“We have been classmates and closer friends ever since.”

She says that the time they share learning also allows them to bond more as mother and daughter.

Both enjoy each other’s company and also excel in their respective crafts. While Chona utilizes mostly watercolor for her medium, Bea uses acrylic and pastel. The mother is more into realism, and the daughter, abstract and impressionism.

But when asked who has the better hand, both had their hands pointing in opposite directions. They both agree that painting together through the years has helped them become critical about each other’s work, thus allowing themselves to improve over time.

Sure, both mother and child paint together. Although they are not closed to the idea, they haven’t tried yet a collaboration of some sort, combining their expertise and technique to work on a single piece.

Chona shares the reason for this is that it would be better for both to produce art that is “unforced” by the other.

The exhibit will feature around 40 large-scale artworks done by the pair. For them, their mission for the exhibit is to “attract the younger generation” and revive an interest among the youth for the appreciation of arts.

Indeed, with a young-spirited mom and a charming high school student leading the way, the path toward achieving their vision is led by those who, as they say, “walk the talk.”