Mom artist finds love, inspiration on Saipan

“I was able to draw first before I could write,” says a very amiable 51-year-old artist Elizabeth Bravo-Rock of her passion for painting.

The artist, who signs off as El Bravo, first visited Saipan in 2003, and could not stop coming back since then.

To her, Saipan means freedom to express herself through painting.

“Saipan landscape is so inspiring. It’s truly a favorable place for artists. It’s a paradise,” said Manila-born Elizabeth.

She is a mother of three grownup kids, who are all based in Manila.

Her eldest son is Randy, 28, a civil engineer and part-time commercial model; second is Bryan, a band singer; and her youngest is Bernie, a college scholar.

“I’m so proud of my children. They’re my biggest inspiration,” she said.

Elizabeth is from a family that is musically inclined.

Since coming to the island, she has produced dozens of paintings, mostly depicting the islands early history and culture.

Quite interestingly for a newcomer, Elizabeth has rendered her bold interpretation of legendary Taga Man’s face in charcoal.

She said she based it from her own research.

“Painting also involves some research. I’m interested in the people’s history and culture. I’m so intrigued of how Taga man might look. So I began to scan books and other materials for references,” said Elizabeth whose realist artworks are currently displayed at the CNMI Gallery for Arts and Culture on Capital Hill.

Aside from Taga face, her featured paintings include Carolinian Man and Woman in charcoal, Carolinian Stick Dance, Mwar-Mwar Beauty [oil, 2005], Latte Stone [acrylic], Flowers under the Moonlight [mixed media], and Flame Tree Flower.

Elizabeth said her favorite theme is cultural and historical “because it’s the heartbeat of the people.”

“One thing that I like about this place is the people’s desire to preserve their legacy. It’s so evident that they love their culture,” said Elizabeth.

Over a year ago, she agreed to do murals for a group of students from Saipan Southern High School, depicting Philippine culture and history.

These huge paintings are titled Planting Rice, Mindanao Vinta, Singkil, and Intramuros or Walled City.

“The students I helped out won! I’m so happy for them,” she said.

Her artworks are still on display at the school’s cafeteria.

“I love teaching other people, especially the younger generation about arts. It’s my desire to share my talent to others,” she said.
[B] Nemiranda [/B]

Elizabeth, who trained under renowned Filipino artist NeMiranda, is excellent in making portraits, landscape, and imaginative arts in different medium like oil, acrylic, pastels, charcoal, sepia and sanguine.

She defines imaginative painting as painting from her memory and imagination.

In her website, http://elbravo.yi.org/, she referred to these as “products of my imagination…Through them, I can freely express what I feel or [dream] of.”

Her art pieces under this category evoke merriment and great anticipation as well as intense pain and suffering such as “Pain” and “Naked Lies.”

“I’ve gone through life’s ups and downs. Painting is a great outlet to express what’s inside of me as a woman,” said Elizabeth.

Saipan is not just all about her passion for painting. It is also the eyeball venue with her then fiancé and now husband, Joe Rock, whom she met on the Internet.

Yes, romance and love came the second time around for golden girl Beth Bravo.

“Who would have thought that a woman in her 50s would still marry?” said a lovely Elizabeth, cheerfully.

Elizabeth, who is often called by her friends in Manila as Celia Rodriguez for her semblance to the latter, a veteran Filipino movie actress.

Elizabeth met Joe last July and married him two months later on Saipan.

Theirs is a story of love that began three years ago on the Internet while Beth was in Manila and Joe was in Florida.

“We’ve been friends for a couple of years. This year, we decided to take it to a deeper level,” she said, smiling.
[B] Workshops[/B]

Elizabeth, who lives in San Antonio with her husband, opens her doors to those interested to learn painting.

“It’s been my dream to teach arts. I’d love to do workshops for interested individuals,” she said.

Elizabeth also accepts portrait jobs, on-the-spot painting, picture copies, murals and other artistic designs.

She can be reached at 235-0683.