Sincerity Behind the Process: An Interview with Leon Carreon

By Amaya Salubayba, Grade 11, Arts and Design Track
Photo Credits: Ivan Cariño, Josef Garcia, Marco Goseco, Annie Ting, Eunna Tuble, Amaya Salubayba

Mid-October of this year, the Arts and Design students of COLF paid a visit to Gravity Art Space — a local artist-run space by Indy Paredes in Quezon City. Taking a risk and opening amidst the pandemic in 2021, Gravity Art Space makes way for rising artists and contemporaries as innovative and as bold as their origins. We were brought to the gallery as a learning experience for this year’s curriculum.

From oil paintings to mixed media and film, the gallery was filled with a wide array of exhibits but our trip focused mainly on the group exhibition: Instructor’s Set, which featured Batang CL Leon “Anton” Carreon.

I had the honor of interviewing Anton regarding his journey as an artist throughout the years — from his time in COLF and  the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts up until the present.

Amaya: When and how did you know that you wanted to pursue art?

Leon: I knew I wanted to pursue art at a very young age cause hindi ako academically inclined. I did not like school — and that’s okay! Iba-iba talaga per person. But even if hindi ako academically inclined, I still went to art college; I had to pursue it.

A: Was your lolo a part of that (decision)?

Leon: He’s a big part of that because my grandfather was a craftsman and he worked with wood. Basically, he was somewhat my parent. My parents, back then, were always abroad working — “mga OFW” ang parents ko. So, I grew up with my grandfather. He taught me everything.

A. What motivated you to pursue Fine Arts after graduating from Community of Learners?

Leon: I was supposed to be a music student. May naka-reserve na akong slot sa CSB but then I just really wanted to explore the visual aspect of it(art). It’s somewhat of a different mindset — choosing your career. So that was very big for me — “music or arts?” Luckily for me, medyo related pa rin (ang fields) and I could explore both (up) until now. I chose art because, to me, it had more avenues to explore and I was more attached to the visual arts.

A: As a Batang CL, can you share a memorable experience or achievement during your time studying at COLF?

Leon:  *laughs* Kilala niyo pa ba si Teacher Andrew? Favorite ko si Teacher Andrew — even though nagalit siya sa akin nung umalis ako ng art committee kasi lumipat ako sa band. Nararamdaman ko na nagtatampo siya sa akin kasi sinigawan niya ako sa hallway kasi tumatambay ako elsewhere. Looking back at it, during our committee, nagd-drawing lang kami; he gave us free time to draw. Even though yun lang ang gagawin, pinagalitan niya ako ng malala. Now looking back at it, nare-realize ko na he was really trying to teach us something; he was really trying to grow our personal art. Even though freehand lang yun, he always checked it afterwards and gave us feedback on it.

Are you guys familiar with Amos (son of Teacher Andrew)? Si Amos went to FIne Arts din. He is following in Teacher Andrew’s footsteps. Teacher Andrew made his own comics, and Amos is doing the same. So like Amos, I was doing my own thing.  I was trying to find my own take on art. And then Teacher Andrew medyo nagtampo siya kasi medyo binitawan ko siya for music — which is also (one of) my interests. Pero bumalik naman ako sa art. *laughs* So ayun, maybe that, when pinagalitan ako ni Teacher ‘cause it really — may deeper meaning siya actually.

A: Did (this experience/memory) help push you towards your decision to take on Fine Arts?

Leon: Yes, because in the end, na-realize ko na “Oh my art is not just for me. It’s not just a hobby. It’s not just a skill.” Some people are really looking forward to my art. Parang, to me, it showed that Teacher Andrew cared (about) what I put out and how my art looked. Later on na-realize ko, like now, that it’s more visible to me, na my art can do that — it can communicate certain things. It can communicate my feelings, my memories, and so on. So basically, Teacher Andrew taught me that somehow your art is important to yourself din and to your identity. I was close to letting it go and doing music na lang but that memory of Teacher Andrew brought me back.

A: When thinking about your art and the process behind it, how would you describe it using one word?

Leon: One word? Process nung art? Tiring.

I want to explain lang din siguro, your design process varies. It will be different from everyone else’s. For example, si Julio (a co-exhibitor part of the group show) approach is different from mine. He works late nights na mayroon siyang ilaw and d-drawing lang siya — like an illustrator diba. For me, I can’t do that so my process has to be during the day kasi nagpupukpok ako ng kahoy. I can’t work late nights. It’s tiring because limited yung time ko to work; I have certain hours. At night naman, I have to do something else — like I have to paint. Even though with  art, you make it on your own, meron pa rin time management — very crucial pa rin yun. Now kailangan ninyong matutunan (iyon) kasi magco-college na kayo, very important yun.

A: How long have you been working professionally? What are your future plans for your career?

Leon:  I’d say I’ve been working professionally since second year of college. Kasi once you’re in art school, you can do exhibits right away — even before (din). But my first experience sa professional art world was second year college, kasi nag-exhibit na kami. Iyon yung first time na someone bought my work. My work wasn’t wood work noong time na yun, so nag-evolve pa siya. My first work was print-making, para siyang stamps, and then nag-evolve siya into this (woodwork). That was my first experience.

For my future as an artist, I just want to continue this right now — woodwork ko. I’d say that even back then, as a student, my goal was just to evolve my art and form my artistic identity. So just work on your own art – in that process, you will discover who you are as an artist and who you will be in the future.

A: Do you have any ongoing personal projects right now?

Leon: Like ongoing artworks? Yes. My current woes- *laughs* My current problem or my current artwork is a commission for a newlywed couple. I’m trying to sculpt or carve yung wedding photo nila.

A: Do you have any dream exhibits or venues that you would like to hold a show in?

Leon: My dream venue is not a gallery. Since back then, interested ako sa public art — gusto ko yung mga artwork na nakikita mo randomly on the street — and because it’s in that setting it gives a different meaning. To answer the question, my goal or my dream venue is in the public spaces.

I like artworks in different settings because the setting of a gallery is very different. It has that feeling of “This is an artwork.” It carries a different weight of being something marketed or commercial. If it’s in public, you can see it on its own — very raw — like “why is it not in a gallery?” but you know it’s an artwork. Para siyang graffiti — in a way. Ang goal ko kasi even way back then was to get a reaction from an audience, whatever reaction that is. You will always get a different or certain reaction kapag nasa gallery ang work mo but, if it’s in public, it’s different. Puwede nilang hawakan kasi nasa public siya. You’re not constrained in the walls of a gallery; you can do whatever with it. To me, that’s very interesting.

A: Are you not scared that your artwork might get ruined in public?

Leon: No! You have to accept that. (When) giving your audience that freedom, you have to accept — to understand — ano yung mga possible scenarios. It can be stolen; it can be vandalized; it can be left behind.

A: How do you imagine your artwork contributing to the Philippine art scene or global community?

Leon: For me specifically, sa local na lang kasi masyadong big pa yung global. Konti lang yung nagwo- woodworking dito sa Philippines. Meron naman pero yung majority (work with) resin. Very few lang yung wood kasi it’s a somewhat difficult process. Whereas yung resin, you can make it out of clay, make a mold, and then you can make many. Marami na rin resin na fabricated or have molds already.

Yung wood is something very intimate because you have to do it on your own. Hindi siya as forgiving; if you make mistakes (with) wood, it is very hard to fix and sometimes hindi mo maaayos. The process of woodworking is subtraction — it’s not easy to put back if I make a mistake. Very intimate siya and very tedious.

A: How do you practice (woodworking)?

Leon: You just have to work. For example, this face was wrong for me kasi kita yung gap (sa wood) and I did not like the nose. So you have to just keep trying it again until you get what you want.

That’s basically art naman (in general). For example, hindi ka magaling mag-drawing. Hindi ako magaling mag-drawing but I just really practiced and it got me here.

A:  Do you have any advice for students in COLF who are considering pursuing Fine Arts in college and as a career?

Leon: Ang biggest advice ko is to just be sincere with your artwork (and) with who you are as an artist. Yung art world is full of “artistic people” — mga “cool.” It’s very easy to spot (who) are just looking like an artist but their work doesn’t show that. My advice is to focus on your art and be sincere with it. “Sincere” meaning do what interests you, not what’s cool — cause that’s not cool. Kapag nasa art world na kayo, mare-realize niyo na maraming “wacky” people. Sila yung parang magaling — cause they stayed true to themselves. Even though medyo weird sila, they stayed true to themselves and, to the audience, that’s unique.

It really shows in your work if you’re sincere. If you’re just copying someone, mahahalata iyon. Yung trends din, huwag kayong mag-trend hop with your art. Explore your curiosity. Don’t be afraid to explore materials; don’t be afraid to explore topics and do your research. Sa art, madaming sali-salita lang to explain an artwork. So you have to do your research; you have to be knowledgeable about what you are doing. What if you make an artwork that offends someone pala? You have to be responsible, as an artist, on what you put out. Hindi lang yun sa art, sa creative writing din yun, sa design, (and) sa graphic design. It’s all about visual communication. You have to be responsible for what you show to the world or what you give back.

Personal Takeaways

Being able to converse with a professional artist active in the county’s art scene was an opportunity I wanted to make the most out of. As a student who wants to pursue art, I walked out of this interview feeling more than inspired. I resonated deeply with the reasons behind Anton’s decision to pursue art and woodworking professionally. Growing up alongside his craftsman lolo was a huge influence on the path he chose to follow.

Much like how he spent his childhood with his lolo, I spent mine holed up in Tatay Don’s  studio.  He was also an artist and a painter. I loved watching him work on his projects and sometimes he would even let my brother and I help paint a part of his works. Similarly, he is one of my greatest inspirations — and likely, the first — as a student pursuing art.

“Just be sincere with your artwork (and) with who you are as an artist.” That was the lesson I held closest to my heart as the interview came to its conclusion. It is actually a simple piece of advice but it is one we quite often take for granted. I have a long way to go as a learner and an artist but hearing those words reminded me to take a step back and reflect on my journey so far. Sincerity can bring a person a long way; it is an essence that brings life to art.