'I want to honour her': Painter son dedicates art space to his mum who had a great influence on his artistry

Adelaide-based artist Peter Francisco has cultivated a lifelong love for painting. Today, his artistic devotion centres on his cultural heritage, encompassing Filipino cuisine and culture, as well as his mother, who had a significant influence on his passion.

Peter Francisco, originally hailing from Laguna, Philippines, cultivated his passion for painting since childhood.

KEY POINTS

• Peter's passion in painting was encouraged by his mother who is also a self-taught artist, he delved into local and national art competitions, refining his skills.
• His art pieces grace "Sinaing: An art exhibition on Filipino food and diaspora" in Adelaide, South Australia, which runs until May 18, 2024.
• For Peter, painting Filipino cuisine is not just a creative endeavour but a profound expression of his love for his mother, Maria Criselda Francisco, whose culinary talents shaped his childhood.

Specialising in watercolour portraiture, Peter's talent garnered recognition, clinching the top spot in the watercolour category at the Royal Adelaide Art Show in 2022 featuring a T’boli girl. The subsequent year, he showcased more of his captivating watercolour portraits at The Other Art Fair in Sydney, spotlighting Philippine culture.

"Most of my paintings revolve around Philippine culture, food, and tribes. They are greatly influenced by my roots."

Encouraged by his mother who is also a self-taught artist, he delved into local and national art competitions, refining his skills. His journey in acrylic painting began under the help of a neighbour, an esteemed artist and former curator from Manila, Philippines.

Peter Francisco cultivated his passion for painting since childhood.

Peter temporarily set aside his artistic pursuits to follow his father's advice and pursued a career in IT. It wasn't until sixteen years later, following the completion of his master's degree in Australia, that he reignited his artistic flame. Enrolling in workshops at the Adelaide Central School of Art, he embraced watercolour painting in 2021 and ventured into oil painting in 2023.

Balancing a full-time role in cyber security, Peter cherishes the evenings and weekends dedicated to his craft, finding solace and joy in the act of creation. Whether capturing life in the Philippines through realistic portraits or still lifes of Filipino cuisine, he thrives on the challenge of depicting intricate details, textures, and patterns.

His artwork has transcended borders, finding homes in private collections across the Philippines, Australia, the USA, Canada, and Japan. Particularly noteworthy is his participation in "Sinaing: An art exhibition on Filipino food and diaspora" in Adelaide, South Australia, which runs until May 18, 2024.

"I feel validation when someone buys my painting. My objective was never to make money out of my art. For me, my art is my baby. I make time for it, I allot funds to it and I commit to it. But when it gets sold, the feeling is amazing because it's like someone thought that your painting is valuable enough to buy."

For Peter, painting Filipino cuisine is not just a creative endeavour but a profound expression of his love for his mother, Maria Criselda Francisco, whose culinary talents shaped his childhood.

He dedicates his exhibition space to his mum who had a great influence on his artistry and identity.

"I painted the bagnet kare-kare because this is my mum's favourite food. She passed away last March and when I came back to Australia, I wanted to honour and give tribute to her in my exhibition."

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'I want to honour her': Painter son dedicates art space to his mum who had a great influence on his artistry

SBS Filipino

15/05/202435:12

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