The paintings and drawings of artist Rommel Faustino give shape to his belief that living doesn’t begin from a place of clarity or resolution. The light that gives clarity to life–as witnessed in his work–requires actively embracing and working through the rough texture of adversity. In his own words, “You just have to take it all in. There’s always possibility for growth since the journey never ends.”
Executed in a palette of lush and passionate colors and mysterious contrasts both quite felt and restrained, Faustino’s sweeping compositions seem to get at this relationship: that life unfurling through complexity, as with any flowering, bears a fruit that defies mere description. It must be witnessed personally. From the sharp contrasts in the artist’s own experience, beginning in the culture-rich tropical climate of Luzon, Philippines, to his current home and life as an artist working in the cooler climes of the Pacific Northwest, one can perceive this remarkable flowering. It’s life that defies both convention and modern trendiness–and is so worth traveling to see. Faustino was born in Pampanga, Philippines, and currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon. He studied design before moving to the United States, and achieved various Trade Show awards in product design before moving into Fine Art. He holds a degree in Atelier Drawing & Painting from Sumpter Academy of Art, Portland, and has studied independently at various workshops in the United States and Italy.
