THERE are very few artists who can reach the consistency achieved by painter Dominic Rubio. Famed for paintings of “long-necked” figures in colonial 19th- and early 20th-century garb, Rubio and his works have become popular with both critics and collectors around the world. Late last year, however, his career became sidetracked by a major heart attack.

Thankfully, Rubio not only survived, but is now filled with a new perspective on life and a newfound enthusiasm. Painting became a source of relief for him—a way to refresh and reflect the sense of joy and gratitude of being given a second chance.

New works done amid the recovery process have a brighter character to them, and are remarkably more optimistic. They capture a bold sense of discovery and wonder, with some works even having abstract elements. But they remain distinctly works by Rubio, who is an artist acutely aware of his identity and unique approach to art.

“New Dawn” is the result of Rubio’s newfound zest for life. It is an exhibit of thanksgiving, but also an exhibit that charts out the artists trajectory into a new phase in his artistic development.

The exhibit opens on Thursday, Dec. 3,6 p.m. at Galerie Joaquin, located at 371 P. Guevarra St. and Montessori Lane, Addition Hills, San Juan City. Call 7239418 or visit www.galeriejoaquin.com. Exhibit will run until Dec. 17.

Rubio’s practice uses nostalgia in the treatment of the subjects and the colonial contexts he places them in. A brilliant character painter, his subjects are of historical leaning and therefore wear the details of their historical time-period costumes, equipment, and even the backgrounds of churches and other colonial buildings all conform to an idyllic reimagining of the past.

A graduate of the Fine Arts program of the University of Santo Tomas, Rubio has participated in several exhibitions in and around the region, including shows in New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. Critically and commercially renowned, Rubio is a sought-after artist and a regular feature of both local and international auction houses.