Louh Coplan expresses himself powerfully through his paintings, each stroke of the brush conveying his deep thoughts and emotions. This artist from the Philippines not only loves art but also uses it as a way of expressing himself and fulfilling his desire to create something beautiful out of nothing. He credits art as his way of inspiring others, while he himself benefits from being motivated to improve himself and create even finer pieces. For Louh, art is a way of life.

You are obviously a very talented artist. Tell us about the kind of art you do and the various mediums you employ.
Way back when I was in art school, I was introduced to the various art mediums; this experience coupled with my eagerness to master every possible medium has given me a wide range of experiences. As a result I can now work with graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, coloured pencils, watercolour, oil pastel, textile and acrylic.
In addition to this, I’ve quite a bit of experience in graphic designing, producing advertising and marketing collaterals, fashion designing and digital photography.
Generally, my artworks usually comprise portraits and still life, but recently I’ve been painting flowers for a change. Another recent trend is my preference for acrylic paints.
I believe that everyone is an artist in their own way and that anyone is capable of producing artwork of high calibre if they have the passion and commitment to do so. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, with a major in Advertising and this has helped me develop a wider knowledge and practice in both traditional and digital arts.

What got you interested in art?
Even as a child I knew that art lay within me. I remember as a kid, when my friends were busy playing outside, I would be busy drawing anime characters using chalk on the street in front of my house.
Art was always part of my daily routine, right from childhood days to high-school and all the way up to university. I always enjoyed school projects that required drawings. I learned how to use Photoshop early on and this gave me a huge advantage over my peers, as I could couple this knowledge with my creativity and make a living even while at school. A few years ago, I started a T-shirt business with a friend called ‘Monsterpiece’, but I had to put it on hold after almost five years into the business, as I went on to attend a course in fine arts.
Despite my love for art, this was not the path I pursued initially, as I wasn’t sure there was a real future in art and that I could make a decent living as an artist. So I followed the footsteps of my father and took up a course in culinary arts. But eventually I went back to the real passion of my life and pursued a degree in fine art.
Art started as a hobby and then became a part of my lifestyle, now I’m using it in the advancement of my career.

Of the different kinds of art you do, which one is your favourite? Why?
That would be making print designs for my clothes as I also get to express my creativity through fashion. Most of my shirts are either silkscreened or hand-painted. It’s like a wearable art and makes it ‘one of a kind’.

Which is your favourite piece of work so far?
I have a few, one of which is “Eden” — the sunflower. It has its own charm and brings happiness to people. But my personal favourite is my self-portrait “Insignificant”. This painting was inspired by the Taiwanese song Insignificance by Hebe Tien and has been a major inspirations and subject of art.
The song talks about the purpose of every individual here on earth and how we all have our own roles to play, while it questions what our real destiny is. The line “Now I know, the darkest sky shows the brightest stars” is the part of the song that inspired my painting.
As I see it, looking at the stars gives us the opportunity to wander in our minds and sometimes question things. Looking back we often realise that even through the darkest times in our lives, something better awaits.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from music, song lyrics, fashion, emotions and daily experiences of life. I believe that anybody can create a piece of art, regardless of whether you are experiencing something good or bad, just like composers can write a song based on how they feel and yet create something beautiful. Whenever I feel low, I prefer to spend my time painting instead of sitting around and wasting time being emotional about it. I consider art a demonstration of what lies within you.
When I have spare time, I paint for the sake of painting as it offers me practice even though I am quite familiar with what I am doing.

Which kind of art do you find most challenging?
In visual art, I think it is Hyperrealism, as it’s all about the details. It takes a lot of patience and a 100% talent.

Of all your achievements in life, which one do you consider most important. Why?
I think it’s the ability to be good in the craft that I am doing right now. Art has been the stepping-stone that’s brought me where I am now and I’m sure it will help me go even further.

What has been your greatest personal challenge so far? Why?
It’s got to be my T-Shirt business, Monsterpiece. It was difficult to handle, as I was involved with the designing, printing and marketing not to mention staying above the competition. It was a challenge yet I look at it more as an achievement, as I was able to keep it running for several years. If I ever get the opportunity, I would like to put it back in the market.
Who motivates you?
My family and loved ones have given me their full support and have always believed that I can achieve greatness in what I do. Every member of my household has contributed to my personal and career progress.

What scares you?
It would have to be failure and not being able to do what I am good at, because people expect a lot from me.

What has been your greatest disappointment?
Honestly, I refrain myself of being disappointed because it will only drag me down. I keep my expectations low — if things turns out good, that’s great and I’m thankful for it; if not, then life goes on and I move forward.

Your favourite pastime or activity?
Apart from painting, I always make sure I keep myself fit. I go to the gym almost every day. I also love to watch movies.

Tell us your dream:
My dream is to leave a mark that I existed.

What is your dream destination?
Someday, I would like to travel to Italy and see the famous paintings and architecture produced by some of history’s greatest artists.

What cuisine do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy eating Chinese and Italian dishes. But my first love would be pizza.

How would you describe your life right now?
I am still in transition and at crossroads. The opportunities I’m offered are quite overwhelming and fun. Right now I am focusing on my work and I paint whenever I have free time.

Lessons learnt from life:
I’ve learned that expectations and reality don’t really meet in real life. Your life won’t go according to the plans you set for yourself; but challenges, disappointments and failures should not be a hindrance for you to stop aiming high or moving forward to achieve your goals. You have to be strong for yourself.

Anything else you would like to add?
I am very thankful for the opportunities that life has given me and I want to enjoy them and make the most of them. My future in art appears very promising and I look forward to expanding my connections and sharing my talents.