For artist Romulo Olazo, it’s been a life well-lived

The first thing I noticed about him was his very firm handshake. And his eyes that were genuinely warm.

I had an appointment to interview abstract artist Romulo Olazo in 2008 for a magazine feature, and to this day I remember how warm he was to me that day at Ayala Museum.

He had just opened his one-man exhibit, "Azool," at the museum a few days prior to our meeting, and on the day we met, he was friendly and accommodating, with no trace of the stress he may have had mounting such a big show.

Looking at the walls of more than 85 huge paintings done in his trademark "transparent" Diaphanous abstract style, I realized he probably worked on them for more than a year.

His son Jonathan, also an artist, said that for his dad, the process was very rigorous and physical since he did large works, and painted by hand without using a brush.

Art critic Ma. Victoria T. Herrera, in the book "Romulo Olazo" published by Paseo Gallery in 2013, wrote that the elder Olazo's abstract works "are achieved by a layering technique that can be traced back to the old masters' method of glazing thin and even layers of oil paint."

Olazo, also called Ola by friends, stuck to the Diaphanous series for more than 30 years. "Parang 'di pa tapos eh," he told me back in 2008.

But he did more than paint. He was also good at printmaking, and even put up 101 Workshop, a printmaking studio, right in his home. Artists like Chabet and Fernando Modesto would do their prints alongside Ola in this studio, and so did Jonathan.

Fine arts

Olazo studied fine arts at the University of Santo Tomas under the tutelage of National Artist Victorio Edades and modernist painter Diosdado Lorenzo.

While a student, he worked as typist for a law office, according to the book "Romulo Olazo," and since academic subjects were only offered during the day, he was not able to finish his course.

In the mid-50s, Olazo became an illustrator for Oriental Komiks and Tagalog Klasiks published by Ace Publications. Later on, he became art director of the advertising agency Philippine Advertising Counselors, where he met his wife Patricia. They had three children—Noelle, Jonathan, and Jill.

From printmaking to painting

It was in 1970 that Olazo decided to focus on printmaking, regarding it as the way for him to break into the Philippine art scene. He joined several art competitions and won many awards, among them the Thirteen Artists Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1972.

One time when he did a print in the 70s, the effect came out like silkscreened transparent objects. This inspired him to create the "diaphanous paintings" that have become his trademark work.

In 2009, Ayala Museum and Paseo Gallery mounted Olazo's retrospective exhibit chronicling his 40 years in the Philippine art scene.

A prolific artist, he held his 40th one-man exhibit, "Diaphanous by the Sea," at Bluewater Gallery in Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort in Mactan, Cebu in 2012.

The last time I saw Olazo was in October 2014 at the Manila concert of Christian artist Don Moen. He was in a wheelchair, and though he could not remember my name anymore when I went up to him ("matanda na kasi," he explained), he held my hand in that same firm grip, and smiled that same warm smile again. "Ano ulit pangalan mo?" he asked me. When I gave my name, he said thank you, and only then let go of my hand.

Romulo Olazo passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 81, after having what was undoubtedly a productive life.  — BM, GMA News