For passion and faith: Missionary paints portraits for a cause

Christian missionary and artist Felix Manahan, 31, creates portraits out of passion for art and his faith, not just for monetary gains. Photos courtesy of Felix Manahan. Graphics: Samuel Yap/INQUIRER.net

Art exhibits and galleries are not a requirement for being an artist, as art goes beyond a four-cornered room.

Felix Manahan, 31, proves that it is not just art shows that make good artists. Sometimes, doing it for passion and personal mission can be just enough.

As a Christian missionary for over seven years, Manahan dedicated himself to spreading the teachings of God while making his paintings known by roaming around Metro Manila carrying his canvas, paints, and mission.

“I became a missionary in 2017, we do free work or evangelism. Then we thought of doing painting [in November 2023] as part of our outreach,” he said.

Manahan discovered the Christian community, “A Voice in the Desert,” which paved the way to begin his new mission: painting portraits of people based on donations. Meaning, his clients are free to set their own price. 

The artist receives portrait donations ranging from P100 to P500, but sometimes they reach up to P1,000 for his 30×40-centimeter acrylic paintings.

“My motivation is working for love… It is important for me to share the message of volunteer work with others… to let them know that they can work for free,” he said.

The painting donations usually go to house, food, and utility expenses of the community’s volunteer workers.

The true essence of art

Manahan learned that he had an eye and skill for art in high school but did not plan on making this a career or a mission.

He just knew that every stroke of his brush expresses a feeling and a story shaped by experiences that words alone cannot tell.

“I just wanted to have a hobby when I started [this]. [But later on], I wanted to share that part of my life with others. Because whenever I make art, I am able to share my time and my life with others,” he said.

Through his actions, Manahan hopes that he can tap into the hearts of people to see volunteer work as something meaningful and beneficial.

“Because they will think, ‘Why am I not giving a fixed price?’ Maybe I can inspire them to do productive things even if they don’t make money, even just for volunteer work,” he said.

Almost a year after starting his painting mission, the artist created over 70 paintings of different people in different places.

Priceless portraits

Driven by passion and a mission to promote a sense of volunteerism, Manahan believes that fame and fortune are not the most important possessions he would want to have to this day.

“[Art galleries] do not measure my skills because I can also learn by making portraits for my client donors. I don’t need any recognition,” he said.

“In the end it is still rewarding, it is something new that you cannot exchange for money,” he added.

Manahan also believes that artists who are not afraid to explore things in life can have greater opportunities to quest for more knowledge.

“I am learning more, at the same time, I also know that I still don’t know much. So there is no end to my learning experience [as an artist],” he said.

“That’s what I liked [about] painting, you always [have] new discoveries,” he added. — Rachelle Anne Mirasol, INQUIRER trainee.