Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Gabriel Abellana

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Gabriel Abellana comes from a family of artists. His father Dr. Ramon Alcoseba Abellana, is a sculptor, musician and a dentist. His uncle, Martino Abellana, is considered as one of the most influential artist in Cebu. He is a graduate of Fine Arts at the University of the Phillipines Cebu College. 
 

As a lover of nature, Abellana is a plein air landscape artist and makes nature the subject of his art. He stated that nature is God's creation and painting it makes you closer to God; but never ceases to artistically evolve by experimenting in abstraction using nature as inspiration. He mounted several group exhibits locally and internationally. He is presently a member of the faculty in the University of San Carlos Fine Arts Department. 
 
He also administers the Cebu Academy of Arts which regularly conducts Summer Art Workshops for children and adults. Abellana organizes the yearly Doña Modesta Gaisano Foundation Annual Painting Competition. He is also an active member of the Association of Museums and Carcar Heritage Conservation Society.
 
From teaching students at the university, Gabby realized the diminishing attention given to the art scene in Carcar, once considered the art capital of Cebu.  After the death of Martino Abellana, young artists who wanted to take a glimpse of the maestro in his home studio suddenly stopped going to Carcar. And in the years to come, few art-related activities have been organised to help Carcaranon artists. 
 
Gabby took upon himself the tedious task of organiziing young artists and giving them art workshops and training to jumpstart his efforts at the preservation of Carcar's artistic heritage.  In 2020, he founded Kabkad Visual Artists, a community-based organization that aims to train a new generation of Carcanon artists. 

Gabby believes that art is a never ending study and he instills among his students the importance of mastering fundamentals of art and understanding the techniques and theories around the manipulation of art elements and principles. 
 
Currently, Gabby spends much time in Carcar where he has relocated his painting studio to accommodate more students and to house Kabkad's activities. 




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