Jose C. "KIMSOY" Yap Jr. (Final)

Jose C. Yap Jr. but  better known as “Kimsoy” was born on March 7, 1944 in Bindoy,

Negros Occidental, Philippines. He graduated from Cebu Institute of Technology

with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture, he then later studied painting

at the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts in New York. As of the moment

he teaches at the University of San Carlos and Cebu Academy of Arts. When I was

about 13 I vaguely remember Kimsoy being one of my mentors since the Cebu

Academy of Arts I  have a different teacher most of time or every session I

have. When he critiques my work he usually stares at my painting for 5 minutes

then goes around it and looks at it again until he gives you the pros and cons of

your work. But I honestly thank him for the support and help he gave me for the past

 years I had him as a mentor, teacher and friend. Kimsoy shows a hint of western

influence, yet the Filipino roots are always shown in his art pieces. The striking thing

about his work is the conscious use of line, color and texture. As an painter, you have to

at least try having the one man show. From what I heard it isn’t easy at all, mainly it’s

hard being on your own, secondly you have to look for sponsors to cover up most of

the expenses, thirdly you have look for a place to set up all your work and lastly, you

need the people to get the word out that you have a little show coming up. Yet for

Kimsoy was able to go through all of that and succeeded all the way.  Being one

of his students was an honor, he would tell me to never give up on what I want.

He taught that when using colors, don’t be afraid to mix the dark and light with

bold and bright. Us artists have a massive mind of imagination, some of us end

up in a mental institute.  For example Vincent Van Gogh but it didn’t stop him from

making such beautiful masterpieces which costs thousands at the moment. Most

people don’t really understand us sometimes. They call us weird or just plain

crazy, but little do they know that in our paintings, we all have a story to tell.

Through the years, Kimsoy gained a number of prestigious awards, such as

The James Suydam Bronze Medal in 1974, The Louis La Beaume Prize in 1976 and the

Mary Hinman Carter Prize in 1978 to name a few. He has also been part of the

American Watercolor Society of New York where he joined a group exhibition.

Kimsoy always had that ragged down look every time I saw him during some of

my classes, I would hear of the younger children’s parents whisper to one another

on why he doesn’t clean up or something. We are artists we usually don’t care how

we look most of the time. Expression is very evident in most of us. We either have

tattoos and super long hair. Crazy hair color, or some with the long bushy beard. But

who are they to judge us. We were all taught to never judge a book by it’s cover and

to give everyone a chance. Sometimes hearing these people gossip on how a person

looks or dresses the way they don’t want them too. “Don’t be afraid to express yourself”

Kimsoy would say. I held on to that saying in my mind ever since. In most of Kimsoy’s

paintings, he loves to show mostly dramatic sides of his mind. He would like the viewers

to really see more than just the painting. He wants them to look at it like as if it were a

motion picture on canvas or wood. It shows that he wants the viewers to really

understand the painting and not just criticize it with the right words of critique.

His dramatic use of line, space and color makes his works look very beautiful.

The use of light and dark and the mixture and texture hold the painting together

and just makes you want to look at it for ages and ages. It just makes you want to

know what goes through his mind while painting his artworks. On how whether it

was just imagination, or based on experience. I am sure most of his artworks were

from what he saw or from what he felt. Some artists don’t really base their works on

imagination, yet from what they saw or encountered in the past or the present. They

say when you paint from a memory it usually turns out great, since it’s something you

remember deeply. It’s something that either hurt you so or something you loved and

treasured. With what I have noticed, Kimsoy does more on portraits and living things

rather than landscapes and sceneries. In most of Kimsoy’s paintings of portraits the

models usually have a serious face on but yet have a very striking look. He is hailed as

a multi-awarded painter, he has actually done one man shows in New York and

Germany. For him, his greatest accomplishment was having the opportunity to be

able to go abroad. He was able to discover and learn more about painting and himself.

He also stated that “ Most people look up to cebuanos because of their hardwork and

determination”. Whenever I hear this, it just makes me want to work hard even more

and show that even Filipinos can be at the same level as the other countries. I guess

since us Filipinos  are very industrious workers, we easily succeed and get recognized

in our respected fields. We tend to keep trying and trying and not to give up that easily

which is a good thing even of some people on the way tell you that you can’t do it. Life

is always going to be challenging but God puts us through this because he knows we

can get by it. Kimsoy loves to read art books, science fiction and horror novels, but over

all painting is his number one passion. He sees himself doing painting for the rest of his

life. KImsoy really helps his students sharpen and shape their talents to help make their

works look beautiful and presentable but definitely not sloppy and mediocre. Painting is

something you have to learn for years with all your heart. You will have to learn it all

the way back to the stone ages and really study the history of how art really came to be.

Kimsoy truly has mastered the art of watercolour, and let me tell you it isn’t that easy.

Especially when the color runs down on to the drawing while your table is slanted. Yet

who am I to complain, he has been studying this art for twenty long years and he

teaches me very well. So I am hoping that I really do make him a proud mentor and

teacher. He has contributed a lot to the art community of Cebu. When he corrects my

drawing I am still intrigued by him taking several looks at the subject he is able to draw

the curves and lines in the same manner as the model. He would always tell me to

never be stubborn and just keep drawing even though you feel like giving up, don’t stop.

Unlike most people who have known him for years, I still don’t consider myself yet part

Of the inner circle of Cebu artists. I do not know him best, or know him long enough I

Just know him. What I know is that he is a man of very few words but of many

Laughters. He hears and listens as much as he understands and accepts. He speaks

As he sees it and understands as he lives through everyday. I honestly have a lot of

Appreciation for this man. He is the number one artist I look up to when it comes to

Painting. He is the person I aspire to become in the future. At the moment, I am working

On my final plates for Visual Arts, it wasn’t easy thinking on what to put on the canvas

On how I could inspire the viewers and let a lot of questions just flow through their

Minds by just looking at it. At the academy in New York, he opted to walk the hills of

the campus then taking the shuttle, he wanted to admire the beauty around him.

Sadly by 2010, Sir Kimsoy suffered a stroke but with sheer will power enabled him

To do what he loved to do. With the his left hand helping his right hand when needed.

Even if he has limited use of his painting hand he still has done very wonderful artworks.

He prefers using watercolour because it is lighter on his hand he still paints using acrylic

And pastel. With our economy crisis at the moment, people don’t really prioritize his art

Since it would be better to put food on the table everyday rather than buy a painting

Which costs thousands of pesos. Local artists see that more of their works gets

Recognized in places in Asia like in Singapore. Which is a pity since it feels like

We  have lost part of our cultural heritage to other places. Though he has sold

Some artsworks back in New York, he knew it wouldn’t be enough to live on. Art

In New York is very known to be a place of thirsty artists and it is very competitive.

He was afraid that the US immigration would catch up with him so he decided to

Go home. Back in 1992, when he came back to Cebu he would only be rarely be

Painting nudes, the culture of the place isn’t really conductive to that art form. Instead

He painted seascapes and landscapes, all usually in watercolour. He likes to capture

The atmosphere , the mood of nature may it be sunny, rainy or stormy. He paints

Portraits and nudes too, but only rarely , when he is commissioned to do so.

My grandfather gave me a one painting done Kimsoy when I was about 7 yrs. Old

I didn’t understand what it was, but I looked closely and it showed a young girl on

A farm, behind a wired fence with a face that showed a slight smile. Her hair was short

And a color of brownish black. Her skin was a brownish color and the left side is a tiny

Hill with a gray colored farm house. I kept that painting in my room hanging on the wall

For as long as I could remember. You see, my grandfather is an art collector and just

Loves Kimsoy’s work. He would tell me that if I worked hard enough I would surely end

Up like KImsoy and all other great local artists. He still kept the suckish drawings I did

When I was about 3. Whenever he’d show me I’d slightly laugh and tell him what was

Up with my hand back then. As I see it it was an abstract work of a 3 yr.old girl

With dreams of becoming known one day. My family has been very supportive

With my choice on becoming a visual artist just like Kimsoy. They would tell me

That in any choice I would make in my ,life they would be behind me a hundred and

One percent. I was relieved that they didn’t push me to do medicine or business

Since that is where they succeeded in. My siblings are either in medicine, business

Management, or psychology but me I choose to be different. A good different, I was

The artistic child and I am proud to call myself a Fine Arts Student. Fine arts is a lot

Of work and no sleep. It isn’t just drawing and painting, it’s really understanding

What you are really trying to show. All in all, Jose C. “Kimsoy” Yap Jr. has truly

Inspired me to keep going and to never give up.

                                                     

Here are some of his works