ART OF COLOURED PENCIL: A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Written by SILVIA ARIA SASMITA
Translated by AKHMAD SANTOSO

IROEL was born in Malang, 42 years ago from a simple family. His father was in the Indonesian Air Force and his mother is a simple housewife. His childhood was even simpler: it did not occur to him that he would want to become a doctor, police, pilot or teacher when he grew up, and being a painter was equally far from his mind. However, ever since he was a little kid, aeroplanes and helicopter did not attract him. Instead, he was very fond of looking at pictures. Since his fourth year in elementary school, he liked to draw human stick figures in the walls of his house.

His drawing ability continued to grow naturally, and at last he produced his first drawing. It was his late father's portrait, drawn in scale with the help of grids similar to the map that he used to draw for geography class. Undeterred by limited quality of charcoal that was available to him at that time, he thought of the use of such device since it was important for him to create a precise drawing that achieve faithfulness to the subject of the drawing. Since the first year of junior high, he began to draw the portrait of world leaders. His friends in senior high was stunned by his artistry, and they were willing to part with their pocket money to have Iroel draw their portrait or other members of their family in charcoal.

This experience taught an important value for Iroel early in his life. Seeing that he could gain an income from his skill, he was determined to improve himself. Not satisfied with the opportunities offered by his schoolmates, he began to produce greeting cards with his own hand and sold them in downtown sidewalk, in front of the “Toko Riang”, near the now defunct Merdeka Cinema in Malang.

“First time I sold my paintings there, I was afraid that my schoolmates would find out. I wore a hat and lower the shades to cover my face. But they eventually found me out.” Iroel said.

He began to realize that drawing and painting can become a serious occupation for him is when he watched the news in television (in 1981 there was only one channel, the government-owned TVRI) that one of his friends won an international contest held by UNICEF. “If he can draw well, why can't I?” he thought.

Several years after graduating from the Art Department in IKIP Malang, he started his career in Bali. In 2004, he worked as full-time portrait artist in Sol Melia Hotel, Bali. Despite having a “secure” employment in Bali, before the end of his contract, he went back home to be reunited with his beloved wife and children. He'd rather become a professional artist in his hometown. “It's more challenging”, he said. He chose colored pencil as his medium of choice because it lends a unique characteristic to his works.

Things did not turn out very well for him. In Malang, Iroel had to take “extra” job as grilled chicken vendor. Luckily, the man with two daughters took a sort of liking and even a bit of talent in cooking. His 8-month “tenure” as food vendor was not particularly hard for him.

In the meantime, he diligently exhibited his works in many exhibition in various cities. It took quite some time until at last his paintings began to receive attention from collectors. From then on, fortune began to smile to him, when he signed a contract with a renowned gallery in Bandung, ZOLA ZOLU.

In his humble studio, in the front room of his house, the man whom many often greets as “Iroel” works steadily mixing colors into his canvasses. More often than not, becak drivers, bakso vendor, vegetable hawkers and school children stop to take a glance or even enter his studio to witness the creation of his canvasses. “It's like having a solo exhibition here (in his studio). Many sort of people can come or simply take a look to appreciate my works. Whoever they, I always welcome them,” he said.

Most likely when one sees this man with his thin moustache, they will think that he is a government employee or a white-collar worker. It may come as a surprise that the man with peaceful demeanor and friendly disposition is an artist, a color pencil artist.

Name : CHAIRUL SABARUDIN ( IROEL)

Address : Jl. Genuk Watu Barat No. 95

Malang 65122

Jawa Timur - INDONESIA

Blog : iroelpencilwarna.blogspot.com

E-mail : iroel_uphill@yahoo.co.id

Curriculum Vitae

Graduated from Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan Malang (now Malang State University), Department of Art and Craft in 1993 ; beginning career as statue designer in Bambang Art & Florist Malang in 1992 ; also working as designer Amsterdam Restaurant in 1990-1993 ; working as portrait artist in SOL MELIA BALI Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali in 2004-2005.

Now Iroel is full-time artists who also teaches extra-curricular drawing classes.

Exhibitions during 2006-2007 :

Bandar Lampung : MIGRASI TRADISI

Malang : - MALANG ART FESTIFAL (DRAWING)

in Dewan Kesenian Malang

- PLURALISME & MULTIKULTURALISTIK

in Perpustakaan Umum Malang (City Library)

- GELAR AKBAR JAWA TIMUR

in Dewan Kesenian Malang

- PEDULI SENI DENGAN AKSI

in Semar Art Galery

Surabaya : - KOLABORASI PELUKIS & FOTOGRAFER