{"id":4016,"date":"2024-12-04T16:28:26","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T08:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/artrising-art-is-therapy-for-artist-and-classical-art-aficionado-richelle-rivera\/"},"modified":"2024-12-04T16:28:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T08:28:26","slug":"artrising-art-is-therapy-for-artist-and-classical-art-aficionado-richelle-rivera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/?p=4016","title":{"rendered":"#ARTRISING: Richelle Rivera Inspires With Paintings That Heal And Uplift"},"content":{"rendered":"

Quezon City-based independent visual artist Richelle Rivera is one of the 25 Filipino women artists worldwide whose works were showcased at the La Mode En Moi (Fashion In Me) exhibit in St. Germain-des-Pr\u00e9s in Paris, France, in October.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera with her handpainted Filipiniana dress and version of Mona Lisa painting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She went with a handpainted Filipiniana featuring the paintings of her favorite views from places she traveled to namely Bulacan, New York City, and Paris, and a recreated Mona Lisa with Filipiniana.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the reasons I painted Mona Lisa [was] because lately kasi there [are] a lot of activists who threw food or drink sa kanyang glass doon sa Paris… Maybe this is just a wake-up call for other people to respect art and our advocacy without hurting other people\u2019s feelings and the artists [themselves] and then \u2018yung mga [susunod na] generation pa,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

[\u201cOne of the reasons I painted Mona Lisa was because lately, there are a lot of activists who threw food or drink in the glass of the painting\u2019s frame in Paris\u2026 Maybe this is just a wake-up call for other people to respect art and our advocacy without hurting other people\u2019s feelings and the artists themselves, and then the next generation.\u201d]<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera with her model Cha Polinar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was 20 years ago when Rivera saw Mona Lisa, her symbol of feminism, for the first time in a book on Leonardo da Vinci\u2019s artworks. Having been amazed and mesmerized by her beauty, she told herself she would recreate da Vinci\u2019s masterpiece to pay tribute to him as the artist and remind people to respect art. Now, her word came to pass beautifully in time. <\/p>\n

Having earned a degree in Architecture, she looks up to da Vinci the most. More than just a painter, renowned classical artist da Vinci was an engineer, architect, inventor, and cartographer who revolutionized art and science during the Renaissance. Upon learning about da Vinci, she was introduced to classical art which inspired her artistic style.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera and her donated Jose P. Rizal painting with Consul General Senen Mangalile and Deputy Consul General Adrian Cruz at the Philippine Consulate Center in New York, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Besides drawing inspiration from classical art artists, including the Grand Old Man of Philippine Art Fernando Amorsolo, Rivera turns to nature and traveling to create something refreshing that draws her viewers in. For her, artists need to bask in the sun and take in their surroundings to get their creative juices flowing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an artist, you need to go out. You cannot make your own inside your home. I feel like I\u2019m in a box for the longest time. Just go out and explore and try to incorporate that [into] your work. [You will see the] outcome and then you\u2019ll become happy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera during her trip to Paris, France<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most importantly, her own experiences shaped her art into what it is today. As a mental health advocate who was personally comforted and delighted by creating art, she paints landscapes\u2014a mix of realism and impressionism\u2014to also soothe and uplift her viewers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have this first landscape that I did and [while I was working on it], I feel relaxed. And one of my clients [said], \u2018You know when I\u2019m staring at your painting, I feel like I\u2019m relaxed.\u2019 Because it\u2019s like therapy. I really love nature and you will see that I have a lot of travel videos,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera\u2019s art collaboration for “World Mental Health” and “World Eyesight Day” 2024 by the World Health Organization<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before becoming a full-time visual artist, Rivera first got her hands busy on her architectural journey. After graduating from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, she went to Manila to continue her apprenticeship. She worked with construction workers and firms, engineers, and subcontractors for over a decade but like most people, she felt like something was missing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSabi ko, \u2018Lord, why am I feeling like this? May hinahanap ba ako na hindi ko alam?\u2019 Pero I know in the back of my mind, meron akong gustong gawin,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

[\u201cI said, \u2018Lord, why am I feeling like this? Am I searching for something that I don\u2019t even know about?\u2019 But I know, at the back of my mind, that I want to do something.\u201d]<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2020, art became her number one pursuit. The pandemic provided her an opportunity to step away from the demands of the 8-6 life, allowing her to embrace rest and silence. During these times, she discovered that true healing often comes from these divine moments, a theme that is deeply reflected in her art.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera with her landscape painting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Besides landscapes, Rivera\u2019s forte is portraits. She uses acrylic, gouache, and watercolor but prefers oil most of the time. To gain better knowledge of the field, she had the opportunity to study at the New York School of the Arts.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera with her art professor Gabriela Gonzales Dellosso at the New York School of the Arts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Richelle Rivera at the New York School of the Arts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2022, she had her first solo show, \u201cI Found Happiness\u201d, at ARTablado, Robinsons Galleria. Since then, her works have been displayed locally and beyond, including various features from local mainstream and international print and broadcasting media.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera at her first solo show at ARTablado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the summer of 2024, she opened a new art workshop, \u201cArt Workshop by Richelle Rivera\u201d, to pass on her artistic knowledge and inspire the next generation of visual artists.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera with her art students<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Richelle Rivera\u2019s art students<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Richelle Rivera with her art students
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She also facilitated a painting session at Gotham, New York, and the American Dream Mall in New Jersey, USA, in December 2023. <\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera with her art students<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Richelle Rivera with her art students<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With a heart that recognizes the beauty of God\u2019s perfect timing and the purpose behind everything, she aims to study Fine Arts and continue building her legacy by blending the two passions that define her: art and architecture.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will continue my craft as a full-time artist but I really wanted to go back [into] architecture. I\u2019m not really closing that door, I just closed it in the meantime. [Whatever God has given me,] I\u2019m just accepting it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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Richelle Rivera at Times Square Billboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Earlier this year, she made her appearance on the iconic billboard at Times Square, New York, as one of the 100 Female Artists of the World, solidifying her impact on the contemporary art scene and highlighting her role as a strong advocate for women empowerment. <\/p>\n

Photo Courtesy of Richelle Rivera<\/credit><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Through her involvement in mental health advocacy, Richelle Rivera uses her art to promote healing and well-being. Her landscapes serve as both visual therapy and a gentle reminder of the importance of self-care. #ARTRISING<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-the-great-filipino-story"],"pageone_source":{"pageone_source":"","author_name":"PAGEONE Online Network"},"_pageone_source":"","zyndk8_nxtgen_metadata":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4016"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4016\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energetic-pink-donkey.109-123-235-239.cpanel.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}