About

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My name is Bernard Abarquez. Simply put, I like drawing. I draw as an exercise. It’s a meditative experience for me - it's focus and concentration. ​

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I've always used life drawings and photo realism as exercises in studying precision of colour and likeness. The portrait commission business naturally came along with it and has spread through word-of-mouth by clients.

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Creating something is one of the most fulfilling things.  When I first began commissioning portraits, they would feel just like another colour study — I would judge the final product solely on aesthetics and its likeness to the photo without any personal attachment to the work. But once I started delivering and seeing the responses from each client, I began to realize and appreciate the subjects that I was drawing. The photos given to me have sentimental value and are special to whomever the work is being presented to — this realization changed my perspective and my mindset while drawing. I began to put more heart into creating meaningful gifts rather than mere reproductions.

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It’s the reward of creating a gift for someone that really fuels my inspiration.