By Cyrus A. Natividad
An artwork commemorating 115th Foundation Day of Central Philippine University by Efraim Alfaras.
An inner desire pushed this talented employee of Central Philippine University to follow his quest for a new innovation in art. Efraim Galia Alfaras, popularly known as “Sir Ef” in the campus, is a committed Centralian. A self-taught artist, his works in the printing press (including his practical, and technical suggestions on layout and color techniques), transcend his basic instincts on creativity and artistic initiatives.
Eventually, he contributed his talent outside of the University printing press to help events – such as the annual Festival of Lights and Music at Central and other projects of CPU and the CPU Alumni Association. He taught design at the College of Packaging Engineering while coaching art in the community during his free time.
Alfaras has come a long way from his association with Iloilo Visual Artists Association (IVAA), whose members included many professional artists, who have achieved much on their own pursuits. He is currently a member of the Centralian Visual Artists Association (CENVAS) and an active organizer of art exhibits for deserving work students at Central.
He excels in any painting medium available for use on canvas, but his quest for a new innovation in painting is continuous. There was this inner realization in Efraim that he “can create a new kind of painting style that’s different from that commonly used by any regular artists.” He pondered upon the possibility to create a new kind of painting style without using paint and brush. He departed from his first love – oil paint and acrylics – and began his journey to find his new medium.
In 2014, God provided him the answer. He said, “I unintentionally dropped a hot rod I was holding. It landed on a piece of fabric and right before my very eyes I saw an insignificant meltdown of fibers that revealed their liquefied form which I can readily use on canvas. I applied the newfound medium right away.” “It took me six months to finish my first fabric art, and six years to finally master this new style,” he added.
Alfaras, who hails from Guimaras Island, usually depicts visual and emotional experiences on canvas. One of the upcoming events of CENVAS is an art exhibit with most of his paintings that will be for sale. Part of the proceeds thereof will be given to deserving work students for their needs. Alfaras requests any artist may donate their work for this purpose.