By Jennel Bodino
The Journey to Oil Painting
I just would like to share my journey on my First Landscape Oil Painting.
I was actually hesitant to do an oil painting. I had no idea where to begin. But I was determined to create my first landscape, so I took a deep breath and started anyway.
At first, nothing felt right. No idea with the process, my brushstrokes were unsure, the colors looked muddy. It made me palpitate whenever I realize I really didnt know what I was doing , but I kept going.
Each section of the painting became its own little experiment. I made mistakes, adjusted, and sometimes even scraped paint off to try again.
Slowly, the landscape began to take shape—not because I knew exactly what I was doing, but because I refused to stop learning along the way.
Now I realize that this painting isn’t just my first oil landscape—it is a record of my discovery. Every stroke, every correction, and every moment of doubt is part of the process. This is a proof that sometimes, the only way to learn is to begin before you’re ready.
Now, looking at my painting, I don’t just see a landscape—I see courage, patience, and the joy of figuring things out one brushstroke at a time.
A Beautiful Disaster Through Time
The past remembers, the present enjoys, the future forgets. Mt Pinatubo awaits, indifferent to all.
The Past (Witness): They saw chaos—fire, ash, devastation. Fear carved their memory, yet they lived to see the first green shoots reclaim the land. Their appreciation was born of survival.
The Present (Observer): We see only beauty, a serene landscape and a dramatic backdrop for photos. The disaster is a distant tale; we admire without understanding its cost.
The Future (Unknowing): They inherit the sleeping giant, its violent history faded. Neither the terror nor the rebirth means anything. To them, it is simply there—until it wakes again.
P.S.
You can find the past, the present and the future in this painting. Plus 2 cats wandering.
Sold to Pinatubo Mountainero!
When multiple hearts connect with a piece, the decision is never easy. In the end, I chose the collector who shared the deepest connection with the story behind the brushstrokes.
They absolutely deserve it!
Jennel Bodino is a visual artist and the founder of Cups & Canvases Art Studio, known for guiding beginners and aspiring painters to explore creativity with courage and heart. Now, she joins Pinatubo Mountainero for the first Plein Air painting event at Tutulari Avatar Gorge on February 22 in celebration of National Arts Month.
Paint in a landscape shaped by history and natural beauty, just like Jennel’s own journey on canvas. Selected works will be exhibited at Swissôtel Clark.
Learn more.
