About Myself
Hafa Adai! I was born on the island of Guam, an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States in Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean. My parents are of Chamorro, Filipino and Spanish descent. I currently reside in Long Beach, California where I studied art at California State University, Long Beach, earning a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts degree, with an emphasis on painting and drawing, graduating with honors.
Being a graphic artist has set me up on a lifelong journey to find my own unique style and language, to create amazing paintings pulsating with the light and energy that emanates from my heart and soul. My focus now is as a full-time fine art painter to grow and discover new visual boundaries.
Most of my inspirations and influences are from fond memories of Guam; romanticizing visions and memories of the rich tropical vegetation, fauna and some of the amazing color, textures and patterns that channel their way into my art. Heightened color is paramount in my paintings with exaggerated hues to push boundaries and strike a chord with viewers.
My art may range from realism to an abstract form. The concepts for my abstract works run deep from Chamorro island culture and music. I find ideas for my representational pieces from a collection of images from my personal digital library that I photographed throughout my ventures.
I am well versed in computer graphics design programs, and I apply computer skills to develop my painting compositions. I work primarily with oils, but on certain occasions, I'll use acrylic, charcoal, color pencil, gouache and pencil.
I hope my paintings resonate with a broad spectrum of people, engaging viewers in present time with a modern beauty created through my imagination and life experiences.