Alcuin Gargaritano Pastrano,  more popularly known as Direk Al Quinn (the late Pancho Magalona’s contribution to his fame), took up Fine Arts in University of Santo Tomas. Among his professors were painting greats Manansala, Ocampo and Edades.

While dancing was his first love, visual arts was a close second.

Pancho Uytiepo’s introduction got Al Quinn inside Opera House, where he began as a dancer, and later as choreographer. He further morphed into a director for some presentations.

This experience served him well when he finally broke into television and earned the admiration and trust of producers and studio heads, who called on him to direct their specials since they found his blocking impeccable, his camera cuts smooth, and his eye for composition pleasing.

Al Quinn became the go-to director for specials and events, but he secretly yearned to tryst with an early desire… that of being a painter.

Eventually when an opportunity presented itself, he grabbed it and staged his first art exhibit, “Take One.”

Like a wild horse set loose, he showed works in oil, watercolor, pastel, pen-and-ink, charcoal and mixed media.

His second one-man show, “Shadows of Black and White,” was basically limited to pen-and-ink drawings. His third, “Quintessential Flow,” showed his versatility, making Zen fountains out of driftwood, limestone, bamboo, jars and shells.

The “Shell and Sundance on a Blessed Shore” series in his latest exhibit was inspired by the shells his late father,  Anselmo Gomez Pastrano, collected and bequeathed to him. It also shows Al Quinn’s love for the sea.