Thanks to a Paskong Pinoy painting contest at the call center where he works, Araullo S. Mendejar was brought back to his first love—painting. The fruits of his renewed passion for the arts will be shown in his first one-man art exhibit, “Juan Tamad atbp.,” which will open July 2 at the Old Oven Art Café on 136 Katipunan Road, Brgy. St. Ignatius, Quezon City.
A percussionist, singer, sketch artist, comedian and self-taught painter, Mendejar uses lots of warm colors and soft tones, indicative of the Filipino temperament as well as the artist’s sunny disposition. His “Juan Tamad” series is mostly acrylic on canvas with some glow-in-the-dark special acrylic paint.
Mendejar’s love for painting was awakened when he joined art competitions while in elementary grades at Hope Academy, and in high school at Lourdes School of Mandaluyong.
Painting was sidelined for curricular activities in college at Far Eastern University, and later at Lyceum Northwestern University where he finished a degree in BS Biology.
A few years ago, while working at the call center Hinduja Solutions, Mendejar joined a company-wide painting competition, and won. Mendejar resumed painting just like that.
An officemate, JP Torres, offered his restaurant Old Oven Art Café for exhibit venue.