Castles in the air turn real for Navotas artist
By Nancy C. Carvajal
Inquirer
Last updated 04:40am (Mla time) 03/11/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- As a child, Jaime Ibañez had many dreams. One of these was to live in a castle or failing that, to go to Disneyland California and see its famous
attraction: Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
The young boy was resigned to the fact that his dreams would remain just that—dreams.
So when Ibañez grew up, he did the next best thing: He built his own castles—small palaces that were perfect to the tiniest detail—from the highest turret to the drawbridge surrounded by a moat.
“I can’t go to Disneyland or Europe to see real castles so I’ll bring them to me through miniature art and share them with others who also dreamed of those things,” the 34-year-old artist told the Inquirer.
Ibañez was recently named by Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco as one of the town’s outstanding citizens during its 101st foundation day.
He was hailed as the country’s “acknowledged castle maker” for his contribution to the design and creation of fairy tale castles and the motif of a popular theme park in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
An architecture graduate from New Era College in Quezon City, Ibañez is the concept and theme design artist of Enchanted Kingdom.
He designed the castle-like entrance of the theme park.
“I am happy to be part of the team that transformed a barren land into a tourist spot,” he said.
He was just 6 years old, Ibañez recalled, when he started building castles and robots from folders, glue and discarded materials.
“Both my parents, though not known painters, loved to draw. Maybe I inherited my skill from them,” he said.
Over the years, his interest in building fairy tale castles expanded to historical churches and heritage architecture houses.
He also added futuristic designs to his work, using latex paint, illustration boards and of course, scrap materials.
“You have to keep up with the times,” Ibañez said.
He is hopeful that one day, miniatures will be considered part of contemporary art.
“I dream of having my own showroom where kids can come and design their own palaces,” he said.
He added, “I intend to work for a foundation for free, teaching children miniature art.”
Miniature art, according to Ibañez, is good for children because it teaches them concentration.
“Like any art, miniatures need a lot of patience and skill. It can help them focus on what they are doing and can improve their creativity,” he said.
Another plus: “Materials for miniature art are also easy to acquire. One just has to know how it is done,” Ibañez added.
Best of all, even though it may be intricate and require tremendous concentration, miniature art is fun to do.
He may be all grown up but the artist who remains a boy at heart still has not given up on his dream of one day going to Disneyland.
But until then, he will go on building his own castles.
Art Exhibit at Shangri-La Mall EDSA plaza
March 2005
Art Exhibit Philippine Heart Center
Oct. 24 - Nov. 2005
Miniature of enchanted kingdom 10th year anniversary and one man exhibit Shangri-La EDSA plaza mall lobby
March 10-13 2005
Awarding of Recognition Award and One Man Exhibit
for being castle maker in main lobby entrance
of municipality of navotas by Mayor Toby Tiangco
January 2007
Recognition Award
My Art Exhibit w/ Mayor Arlene Arcilla of Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Aug. 23, 2007 - Municipal Hall of Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Dibuho Art Group
My Art Corner Exhibit w/ background
Newspaper Article Publicity
My Paintings
Circle of Life
A.
B. 
My Painting And Table Set-up design
C.
D.
E.
My Paintings and I - corals (right) 3x3 ft. and
flowers (left) 2x2 ft.
"Imagination" 3x3 ft. abstract painting
"Summer Beach" 3ft by 4 in.
"Sea Floor" 17x25 in.
"The House" 8x10 in. painting
Hand-painted theming and Design
Hand-painted wall scumbling effects
Hand-painted wall room design scumbling effects
Hand-painted wall magical design
scumbling effects enchanted kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted pillar scumbling effects
Midway Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted pillar and window frame
scumbling effects Midway Zone
Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted wall bricks design
Enchanted Kingdom cast member chapel
(1994 up to present)
My painting at flying fiesta ride at
Enchanted Kingdom
My color concept design front gate of
Enchanted Kingdom the Philippine's
first and only world class theme park
(1994 up to present)
Front Gate Ticket Sales my color concept
design(1994 up to present)
Stroller Rental Signage Victoria Park
My Color Concept Design
Hand-painted bricks color design of The Grand Carousel
Victoria Park Enchanted Kingdom(1994 up to present)
Midway Boardwalk Hand-painted building facade
Scumbling effects Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted arcade building facade scumbling effects on pillar
Midway Boardwalk Zone Enchanted Kingdom(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted signage brooklyn zone
Enchanted Kingdom (1994 up to present)
Hand-painted building facade, theming,
aging, bricks design
Brooklyn Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted building facade, theming,
aging, bricks design
Brooklyn Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted pizza store signage
Brooklyn Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Jungle Outpost Zone Hand-painted building and signage
w/ wood grain, stone sponging and aging effects
Merchandise and food store Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted signage jungle log jam ride entrance aging effects
Jungle Outpost Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted log pillar w/ wood grain effects
Jungle Log Jam Ride Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted stone sponging and aging effects
Band Stand Burger Store Jungle Outpost Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Amazon Restaurant Hand-painted Stone Effects and Signage
Jungle Outpost Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Amazon Restaurant Hand-painted Stone Effects
Jungle Outpost Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Crane Artifact Hand-painted and aging effects design
Jungle Outpost Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Olmec head hand-painted aging design
Jungle Outpost Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted Electric Metal Box Wood Grain Effects
Jungle Outpost Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Jungle Burger Store signage
My own concept design
Portabello Zone Hand-painted wall marbling design
Enchanted Kingdom (1994 up to present)
Hand-painted wood grain and stone effects
Boulderville Zone Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted stone building facade
Boulderville souvenir merchandise store Enchanted Kingdom
(1994 up to present)
Hand-painted signage boulderville ride
(1994 up to present)
My own hand-made costume
(Marvin the Martian)
Enchanted Kingdom Christmas Party 2006
1 comment:
nice ..
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