Every brushstroke made by the feet of Bermin Villasor Rigor, a 35-year-old artist from Laguna, walks him one step closer to his dream of earning constant commissions and owning an art studio.
Rigor, born without arms and hands due to his mother’s goiter during pregnancy, knows no bounds in maximizing his potential in art-making by his feet since he was eight years old.
A simple hobby became more than a pastime for Rigor as art became his source of living when he finally mustered up the courage to show his talent on social media platforms during COVID-19.
“My artworks are inspired by the colorful works of Pablo Picasso because I find his art very beautiful. Also, I can associate my works with the rainbow since it is a symbol of hope after the rain,” Rigor told the Inquirer.
As the eldest among four siblings, Rigor mentioned that his abstract or cubism-inspired paintings played a crucial role in providing for his family and his maintenance, especially when the pandemic took away his siblings’ jobs.
According to Rigor, his commission rate is usually 30 pesos per square inch, and he spends one week to three months to finish a painting, depending on the size of the artwork.
“For the PWD community, don’t lose hope or feel discouraged. I believe that there is a reason from above why we are living in this world, no matter what our condition or situation in life may be,” Rigor advised fellow PWDs.
Rigor currently accepts commissions or donations. Interested clients or donors may contact him via his Facebook account, Bermin Villasor Rigor. — Cyril Buenaflor, INQUIRER trainee.
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