What skill would you like to learn?

This week’s title is taken from a retro Semisonic song. Months ago, I uncovered the gem via Spotify. With its catchy tune, it has remained on my YouTube playlist. I’d like to be a painting maestro. Let us count the ways.

First to the floor

As early as primary school, I made a giant leap as a writer. Drawing and painting were very much part of our curriculum. My primary and secondary years were littered with art projects. Not the case at uni, where I intentionally shunned them. Playwrights and John Milton were fine as those were my strengths. In contrast, I did not look forward to drawing portraits.

The quick brown fox

Call me creative and artistic. A quick learner, I can finish books and write lengthy poetry. I can apply inspiration, life experience, and references to my projects. I’ve never penned a play, the only major literary form missing from my resume. Personally, crafting paintings is an outlet. I’d channel my emotions on the canvas.

I may be a dedicated author but we must step out of our comfort zone. I’ve been an inconsistent painter. I have my moments. Sometimes, I produce good output. Many moons ago, I impressed my teacher with my sea painting. With the right implements and focus, I can be okay. I’ll focus on nature panoramas and simple scenery. Unlike actor Anh Do, I won’t compete in the Archibald Prize.

Niche business

I wouldn’t end up with a stick figure or a half-assed illustration either. I’m long past that phase. Artists have many other options. Being a sculptor, musician, actor, and director are some of them. A screenwriter seems a natural progression for me. Like penning poetry, it remains a niche profession. Screen writing classes at uni did not interest me. Instead, I pursued playwriting seminars. Speaking of the stage, we tackled Edvard Munch and The Scream. When I saw District 9 with a friend, I talked about being a script writer. The director’s originality blew me away. That was the exception though, rather than the norm.

Then and now

Munch’s portraits were very different for his time. Definitely someone that I look up to. Fernando Amorsolo focused on Filo landscapes and culture. Widely regarded as the finest Filo painter, ahead of Juan Luna and his Spolarium. Quick aside: one of my new book’s sections is called Scholarium. Amorsolo was the first ever National Artist. Even Jose Rizal, the First Filipino, tried his hand at painting. Finally, Pablo Picasso epitomised the modernist movement. A national treasure, his portraits were distinctive. Blending elements, they proffered a deeper meaning. A muse inspired Picasso’s later works. Painting their portraits, like Picasso, would be really cool. Writing poems is one thing but creating fuller art is another.

The changing times have not diminished art’s prominence. The Louvre in Paris remains a must-see. It’s etched on everyone’s bucket list. Famous artworks regularly sell for a fortune at auctions. Paintings like the Mona Lisa have inspired bestsellers, including The Da Vinci Code. Ditto Matthew Reilly’s Jack West series. Heck, people shell out millions for Banksy’s efforts. The Mission Impossible franchise has featured the recovery of plundered artworks. The French series Lupin involves a serial conman outsmarting the rich. He plans elaborate heists before sharing his loot with the destitute. A modern take on Robin Hood.

The archeologist and the artist

Way back, I’ve had classmates who were artists. Let’s face it, most musicians and painters won’t get the recognition and income that they deserve. They carry on because they’re passionate, not to get rich or famous. In general, the arts isn’t a discipline that’ll make millionaires. History is littered with countless artists who disappeared alongside their precious. In this regard, archeology is more straightforward. If they unearth a mangled skeleton, that’s already a win-win. Meanwhile, a writer could present five hundred pages to the world and still be disappointed. Insert grumpy smiley.

My aspirations have evolved. As a child, I yearned to be a scientist. Then a business tycoon. In high school, I went for the heavens: a pilot and astronaut. By college, I was set on becoming an author. Johnny Kim showed us that you could excel in everything. He’s a former Navy officer, a licensed physician, and now an astronaut. Comedian Ken Jeong is also a doctor. Natalie Portman can speak five languages fluently. In addition, heaps of actors are also models or helmers. Ditto with singers who moonlight as songwriters or dancers. Being a triple threat has become easier. Nowadays, they aim for the egot. Multitasking isn’t groundbreaking. As long as earthlings have missions, bigger goals will be on the horizon.