PH Embassy in Vienna Holds Arts Masterclasses

Norlito Meimban explains the importance of appreciating the source of light in sketching one’s subject. (Vienna PE photo)

VIENNA 16 October 2018 – As part of its art exhibit entitled Lakbay Sining, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna held a series of masterclasses geared towards art enthusiasts, which kicked-off with basics of sketching by Filipino artist Norlito Meimban.Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad said that the masterclass brings arts closer to those who appreciate it and serves as a good skills building activity.

Mr. Meimban is an adept maestro, having been in the business for almost two decades and is well known in the art scene in the Philippines. His advice and tips during the masterclass proved to be invaluable to participants. More importantly, it served as a reminder to everyone that no dream is too small to follow.

Norlito Meimban shows the students how it’s done, as Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad and Consul Bolivar Bao look on. (Vienna PE photo)

The next series were the simultaneous classes on porcelain painting and phone photography.

Ms. Abigail Camaya Hills taught the participants on the proper handling of porcelain and other glassware that can be used for this art, and the heating properties needed for glazing the finished product depending on the paints or pens used. She shared that most of the people she had previously taught, mostly women, pursued the craft as a hobby or business.

For the phone photography masterclass, attended mostly by millennials, Ms. Janeth Weil showed the participants the proper techniques to make their subjects stand out, gave tips on editing photos, and advised them to familiarize themselves with the functionalities of their camera phones.

Participants in the porcelain painting masterclass, headed by Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad and with resource person Abigail Camaya Hills, show off their finished works. (Vienna PE photo)

Ms. Weil and Ms. Hills are examples of women breaking barriers in their chosen field of art.  They endeavour to empower people, particularly, women into breaking the mould.  The fact that they themselves are now the ones imparting their knowledge and experience speaks volumes on how far they have come and the level of expertise they have achieved.

“We must follow our passion and apply ourselves as best we can, and wholeheartedly, too so that we meet our objective and if need be, surpass it,” Ambassador Natividad added.

Janeth Weil dishes out basic photography tips. (Vienna PE photo)


For more information, visit www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippine-embassy.at, or @pevienna on Twitter.

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