Carlito's Way

Carlito Ortega is an electrical engineer by profession and got sick and tired of working. When he was 42 he was unemployed and he decided to re-educate himself in what he thinks a passion that has been wanting to come out of himself -his passion for the arts.  He was kind enough to give us a lecture on the arts and how he works. He got this place for a cool P 1.5 million 10 years ago and transformed it into his home and workshop.

His love for the arts made him become a Brass Sculptor. Hmmm I've heard of painters and other artists but this is the first time I've met a brass sculptor. He said that he chose brass because of its maleability and its like commanding the brass to follow what you want. Once brass is heated it easily follows what the sculptor wants it to become. 

Carlito was kind enough to do a demonstration by casually creating a "tikbalang" which of course was somewhat in abstract form. His demo showed that he really knows his craft since he mentioned parts of the human body that he usually defines when he does one and other things that he has learned while doing his craft. His most important weapon is his welding machine. He said that the blue flame is enough to heat up the brass and make it follow your wish.  

Carlito asked us if we would want to try to demonstrate how is it to "paste" together the brass. Angelica started it, Louise followed, I got curious and tried also and last to try was Tito Luis.  When I got to hold the torch it was not easy as it looked, later on Carlito said that he purposely gave me the torch that had the flames on high mode which is harder to control. He said the secret is also how to control the flames so that the brass would stick to each other rightaway.

After that fitting lecture Carlito prepared merienda and coffee and a lot of stories were exchanged in that 30 minute coffee break. His art is really one of a kind and the way he works is quite inspiring and that is Carlito's Way.