J O N A F E L B A N D I O L A
HER
STORY
Jonafel Bandiola is an arts student, studying in Multimedia Arts College at the University of the East Caloocan, currently enrolled in her second year. In her journey of honing her talent and strengths in art, she has surely come a long way—but she also recognizes that there are more blocks to be overcome ahead her way, which is one of the facts that fuel her eagerness to learn. Her story began with a sweet, little story; she was 5 years of age when she began to make that small stroke of line that led to a giant leap to become who she is today, thanks to the influence of her cousin, who also shares a passion in arts. Jonafel began with filling in princess coloring books. She was then fascinated with all the cartoon and anime characters she would watch on television every day, curious if she could do the same as well. Photography has then piqued her interest during her junior and senior high school years, which came handy when she would occasionally be the photographer and videographer during events that come about in their school. But the piece de resistance in her artistic tool belt is her skill and love for painting on a canvas.​​
Interesting truth about Jonafel’s student life is that she was initially accepted and given a scholarship to be a film student in New York Film Academy earlier in 2020, but seeing as the hapless events of the pandemic unfold, she could not afford to be a student overseas. Keeping in mind the importance of versatility in what she can do, she took up multimedia arts in order to improve her work, where she learned the proper techniques in drawing such as proportions and colors, which came handy for her interest in painting portraits. But mastering traditional art is not only what’s in Jonafel’s artistic interest, but also discovering how to strengthen her less developed skill. One of those is digital arts.
Though Jonafel has trials to overcome in her journey of art, she has always been willing to learn and try different mediums of art to aid her. She is willing to take learning one step at a time, and sharing her faith to others, one art piece after another.
Artist Statement
What? I generally enjoy painting landscapes and portraits. Creating works of art that radiate love, peace, learning, and contentedness in solitude. I create artworks that would give warmth to a restless audience and hopefully share God to them. I paint sceneries that show a remarkable view, in hopes that someone else would be able to see it the way I do.
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Why? I always try to put my personality and character into my artworks, or share my emotions as if it were therapy. As a Christian, it brings me joy to not only exercise the gifts given to me by God and harness it, but to give back to him and glorify him. Art has also become my voice to say any striking emotions that come my way.
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How? The bible is influential when fueling my inspiration. Whenever I read a bible verse that captures me, I put on the canvas—through harmony of paint and lines—how I see and feel about it. it is through art where I can share the word of God freely. Therefore, every part of my art work is carefully put together to not only look pleasing and to exercise my skills, but also to relay the word of God as how it has spoken to me.