SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – Every artist remembers the moment when art first found its way into the heart. For painter Jowell Legaspi Bantoto, it began not inside a museum or an art school, but at home, watching his aunt draw. He was fascinated as a few simple, curved lines slowly transformed into a human figure. To a child, it felt like magic. That sense of wonder never left him.

Today, Bantoto is an in-house artist of Paraiso de Avedad, one of San Pablo City’s growing centers for art and culture. His paintings are rooted in classical traditions yet carry a contemporary sensibility, often weaving together the beauty of the human figure and the quiet elegance of nature. Every canvas reflects not only years of discipline, but also a lifelong pursuit of meaning.

Long before he ever held a paintbrush with confidence, Bantoto immersed himself in books filled with Renaissance masterpieces and the works of history’s greatest painters. While others admired the finished artwork, he found himself wondering how those artists breathed life into an empty canvas. That curiosity became the foundation of his artistic journey.

“I’ve always loved the classical and traditional style of painting,” he said. “Those paintings taught me to appreciate beauty, balance and storytelling.”His own style has evolved into what he describes as traditional, but not overly academic, enriched by subtle modern influences. It is a style that respects the past while remaining open to new ways of seeing the world.

?Inspiration, he says, is never difficult to find. It comes from the things around me.” Trees, skies, light, people, emotions and everyday encounters often find their way into his work. Rather than treating nature as a backdrop, he allows it to become part of the story, blending landscapes with human figures to express harmony between people and the world they inhabit.

Like many oil painters, Bantoto follows a disciplined process before the first vibrant colors appear on the canvas. He begins by covering the white surface with a thin wash of burnt sienna, establishing the mood of the painting before carefully composing the subject. He works patiently from the larger forms toward the smallest details, allowing each layer to guide the next.

The process itself has also evolved. For years, the strong odor of traditional painting mediums made long hours in the studio challenging. Four years ago, he switched to odorless mineral spirits, making it possible to paint comfortably outdoors, where changing light and the natural environment continue to influence his work.

Ask him which painting is his favorite, and he smiles. He cannot choose.

Every painting carries a memory. Every finished canvas tells a different story. Each one reminds him of a particular season in life, a lesson learned or an emotion that words could never fully explain.

For Bantoto, however, the greatest gift of being an artist has little to do with exhibitions or recognition.

“It changed my life in a more spiritual way,” he shared. “Creating art, for me, is a form of meditation.” He believes that painting requires more than technical skill. It also demands humility.

“A wise person once told me that you don’t create art by yourself. There is a higher power where artistic ideas come from. They simply flow through us, and we place them on the canvas.” The thought stayed with him through the years.

It also explains why artists sometimes step back from their own work and quietly ask themselves, Did I really paint this?

For Bantoto, art is not something to possess. It is something entrusted to the artist for a greater purpose.

That same philosophy shapes the advice he now shares with young people who dream of becoming artists. “There is nothing wrong with being inspired by other artists,” he said. “But eventually, you have to find your own style.”

He encourages aspiring painters to draw every chance they get, reminding them that mastery is not built overnight but through countless sketches, mistakes, and quiet hours of practice.”If you feel that you have a calling, go for it,” he said. “Start sketching. Draw every day. You’ll be surprised how much you improve.”

Bantoto also considers himself fortunate to have found a creative home at Paraiso de Avedad, where artists are given opportunities to exhibit their work and continue growing. He believes that supporting artists means strengthening an entire community.

He has witnessed how San Pablo City’s art scene has flourished in recent years through the collective efforts of gallery owners, artists, patrons and cultural advocates. The San Pablo Art Circuit continues to attract collectors, visitors and creatives from different parts of the country, while events such as Colores de la Vida International Art and Bonsai Exhibit have transformed the city into a destination where culture, creativity and tourism meet.

Paraiso de Avedad continues to contribute to that movement through a series of exhibitions that celebrate both established and emerging artists. Its ongoing exhibit features the works of Tom Alvarado and Ameer Catandihan. A Marian Exhibit showcasing various images of the Blessed Virgin Mary is scheduled for August, followed by an exhibition in September featuring a well-known family of artists from Angono. October will bring the SAPAC Artstravaganza, while December will once again host Colores de la Vida, gathering artists from the Philippines and abroad in a celebration of artistic excellence and cultural exchange.

Looking ahead, Bantoto hopes his own journey will encourage others, especially the younger generation, to believe that creativity has the power to change lives.

His dream is simple. He wants people to feel joy whenever they stand before one of his paintings.

And if, somewhere in the crowd, a young child sees one of his works and decides to pick up a pencil for the very first time, then perhaps another artist’s journey has already begun.

Before ending the conversation, Bantoto offered one final thought that continues to guide his own life as an artist. “Keep challenging yourself. Remember that you don’t own your art. You were chosen to show the beauty of the world that remains invisible to many.”

Perhaps that is what every great artist ultimately does.

They help us see what has always been there, waiting quietly to be discovered.