John Paul Timmango Gahid

John Paul’s Works

Jp learned about the world of arts when he was around the age of fifteen. He started with his passion when he was in high school by practicing how to draw once a month between weeks of classes. Whatever Jp witnesseses and experiences around his surroundings, he interprets it into his drawings. As a visual artist, he illustrates whatever he perceives with his observations from his community. Photography is a perfect example of how Jp captures a meaningful moment in his community. With the accessibility of the internet, he absorbs the knowledge about its artistic process through social media. Within these present times, he practices his proficiency in photography while doing portrait illustrations. 

Jp acquires his drawing materials from local bookstores in the city while he supplies his photography equipment through online purchase. He uses Faber Castell pens and his sketchbook for illustrating and a professional digital camera for photography. He mostly features the cordilleran culture and tribal patterns in his artworks and photos. In photography, he attends cultural events to capture photos of gatherings and performances of people in their natural environment with his camera. He portrays their rich culture and the people’s lifestyle in his community. From the photos that Jp takes during cultural events, he sorts and picks a picture as a reference and it serves as a basis for him to sketch using a pen or a drawing tablet. He illustrates the traditional attire, beads, accessories, and likeness of his subject. He is fond of drawing monochromatic designs besides infusing his artworks with colors using a pen. His illustrations take up to more than half a day to accomplish.

Jp is known for his portrait orientation with his pen illustrations and photography. He prefers candid photo shots and drawing culture related themes. There is a large sum of pen artists around the city and a lot of photographers who might take the same subject matter of photos, but for Jp, his photos and drawings are a cultural emanation. The significance of his creativity is to present his culture and tradition through his art and convey their identity and origin. He is free to teach his knowledge of photography and traditional visual illustrations to whomever is interested. He states that it is important for him to share his creative and cultural knowledge to others as it can be beneficial to help them express their stories and statements to the world.

Jp is fond of drawing the hair of the people from his photos. His drawn hair flows like water in a river towards the face of his characters in his illustrations. He relates his adulation for a free-flowing design in his drawings with life itself that flows continuously until it reaches a calm conclusion. Art is an expression for Jp wherein the artist creates and captures a moment that deems beautiful. It is not what other people’s standard on the purpose of making art is, it’s what satisfies the artist’s soul and finding meaning in life. He actively participates in cultural events and festivals not only as a photographer but a humble member of their community. Such occasions are his canvas on how he treasures his culture through art especially in photography. He won’t need any words to make us understand how their home is valuable to people like him.