Charmed: A refreshing face and talent in the art scene
Charmz Gonzales sketching
During a Dinagyang Festival-related exhibit in one mall recently, a young lady has caught the attention of several shoppers. There she was on the booth, getting busy with her sketch pad and pencil. She stares at a model in front of her, memorizing every feature so she could immortalize it through her artwork.
She's Charmaine Gili Gonzalez or Charmz, a Manileña who has become a favorite of our Ilonggo artists during her stay here. She's participating in the said exhibit as well as others here in the region along with Tito Nobleza, a Manila-based Ilonggo artist who said that Charmz's father is his mentor.
The writer finds out more about this tall and soft-spoken 17-year-old, and let me share it with you.
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): Give us a backgrounder about you as an artist since you were a kid.
Charmz Gonzales and her Gitara
Charmz Gili Gonzalez (CGG): I'm already the third generation in a family of artists. When I was four years old, my dad asked me to copy something and he would be surprised of the result. I was five years old when I got my first gold medal award from a drawing contest. I have done many sketches of portraits of my teachers, classmates and friends. I represented my school in all art contests. My dad trained me.
KMV: Tell us about your painting that you first sold.
CGG: It's called Fluidity, which is about a mermaid. I made this when I was eight years old. I sold this for P10,000 and I used to money to pay for tuition. I just has a permanent tattoo of Fluidity on my back (she shows her back).
KMV: Cool. I understand you're also a henna tattoo artist.
Fluidity
CGG: Yes. Here are some my works (she shows the markings on her legs).
KMV: What else can you do?
CGG: I make accessories like this (shows the accessory on her left ankle). These are made of dried fruit seeds. Then, I carve them and turn into accessories.
KMV: What other works are you proud of?
CGG: My artwork was used as a cover in an international book, "The Forbidden Fruit" by Ricardo B. Delos Santos. This shows Eve with an apple on her hand and a snake around her arm.
KMV: What are your preferred media?
CGG: Oil, pastel and charcoal
Charmz shows her henna tattoos
KMV: Any achievements?
CGG: I'm the recipient of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo 's Award for Outstanding Achievement – School chosen by the Culture and Arts in 2005.
KMV: Are you a member of an art club?
CGG: Yes, the of Las Piñas Artist Society
KMV: What other art-related activities are you engaged in?
CGG: I love to teach art to kids ages four to six years old.
KMV: I understand that you already have a boyfriend and that he has been very supportive.
Accessories made from dried and carved
fruit seeds
CGG: Yes. There's an artist in him, too. Sometimes, he does the first coating of my works. Well, hindi ako hahanap ng walang talent (smiles). He's also into martial arts, so he taught me tricks in kickboxing and taekwondo.
CGG: Wow, you have that much talent
CGG: (Smiles).
KMV: What can you say about the Ilonggo art scene?
CGG: Most Ilonggo artists are surrealists. I noticed that Ilonggos love to paint and don't really expect to sell. I think the Iloilo art scene is good.
KMV: How would you like people to remember you?
CGG: As a simple and formal artist. I don't want to be controversial.