I do love good coffee. I cannot start my day without it. That is why when an opportunity to join a coffee event, I said yes in an instant. What I really wanted is coffee latte art session but the Universe gave me something else instead - coffee arts painting. For the love of coffee, I said yes. If there's one thing I learned in life, be always open to new opportunities. Sometimes, my first impression is not correct.
Obviously, this blog focuses on featuring events related to wellness including food. Coffee is definitely part of it! In fact, I will be going to a farm of local spirulina this weekend followed by a matcha tea workshop. Going back, the venue is Citadines Salcedo Makati which is just ten minutes away from me so no problem getting there. It was also Sunday which means I am free from work.
Citadines Salcedo Makati is quite well known. It was my first time here so I let the driver find the way. The next thing I knew is I am already talking to the people in the reception area that I am joining the coffee arts painting. I left my ID as per their request and I was escorted to the 9th floor where the outdoor swimming area is located.
There were already a handful of people of mixed nationalities who are checked-in guests of Citadines Salcedo Makati sitting and chitchatting with each other. Within a few minutes from my arrival, the activity started.
Rens Tuzon, an award-winning Bohemian Coffee Artist
Rens Tuzon is a Filipino coffee artist whose coffee paintings have won awards in New York and London. He also conducts coffee workshops showing how coffee beans can be turned into works of art. Rens is the facilitator of our coffee art painting. I couldn't think of any person in this room better than him to guide us in the next hour or so about coffee painting.
Rens Tuzon is included in a coffee art book called "Great Coffee Travels" of Julia Latte, a Moscow based artist. He was featured together with other exceptional coffee artists in the world. I regret not able to take a solo photo of him. He is the one wearing a native Filipino attire of white shirt, red pants, red scarf, a pair of eyeglasses and local hat.
Coffee painting traces its origin in 18th century. One of the earliest users of coffee to paint is novel writer Victor Hugo who wrote Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérable. Yes, he is a writer and painter too! Coffee painting is the safest, most sustainable and probably the cheapest kind of painting material.
How much water or coffee do you need? There is actually no formula. Just remember the more water you mix to coffee powder, the lighter the shade. The less water you mix, the darker shade of coffee you come up with. Also, be ready with a clean piece of tissue paper to be mixed with clean water because this serves as your eraser.
Being a furmom, I chose the drawing that says "ALL I NEED IS COFFEE AND MY DOG". As a noob in coffee painting art, I asked help from Rens and the teen girl who is also a young coffee artist. Pardon, I forgot her nickname but I can remember her first name is Achillis. They were so kind enough and taught us as some quick techniques.
To my surprise, I found coffee art painting a relaxing activity. I was never a lover of painting or arts but I did appreciate how it relaxes me. The aroma of the coffee wafting in the air is like telling me get a hot cup of coffee after this! I am definitely one of those whose weakness is the smell of coffee.
I think it only took me less than 30 minutes to finish mine. The view of the outdoor swimming pool in Citadines Salcedo Makati is breathtaking which for me is the perfect venue for this kind of activity. However, it was windy that time so we have to make sure the paper that we use for drawing would not fly away and the cup with mixed concentration of coffee would not tumble.
We are only a handful of people who joined this coffee art painting but I really appreciate how memorable this gathering. We certainly did not know each other but over coffee art painting we all had a really good time sharing stories. Coffee art painting is more enjoyable and definitely worth remembering when you are in a good company of these people from all over the world.
Esang Ocampo, a Budding Coffee Artist Focusing on Upcycled Materials
Another facilitator of this coffee painting session in Manila is Esang Ocampo. She said she just started doing coffee arts during pandemic. She decorates her coffee paintings with upcycled materials like beads, sequins and buttons. Judging from her works, I was thinking she has been doing these for such a long, long time!
After our quick coffee art painting session, we were treated with donuts and a glass of cold fruit juices. I have to admit, by this time after getting high from the aroma of coffee, I am already salivating either a cup of hot coffee or an iced coffee latte!
I went home bringing my piece of art. What was written there is absolutely true from the bottom of my heart. Most of the time, I only need a cup of coffee and my dog. The rest is just bonus. Now, I have an art that says exactly what my life is all about for now. I will hang my first ever coffee painting art in my room wall as soon as I get this laminated.
Coffee art painting is one of the activities prepaid by Citadines properties around the country and abroad every October in celebration of International Coffee Week. These activities are free for checked-in guests and also to the public.
To stay in any Citadines properties in the Philippines and get updated with events, check the details below:
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverASRPhilippines
Email: enquiry.philippines@the-ascott.com
Phone number: +63 285503200
Website: https://discoverasr.com/en
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