This Filipino painter struggled to break into the Sask. arts scene. Now he's Mackenzie's artist-in-residence

Patrick Fernandez was confident he could launch himself into a new art career in Canada when he first came here in 2017. The reality turned out to be a little more complicated for the Filipino artist, but now he's one step closer to achieving his dreams, having been named the newest artist-in-residence at the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina.

"For me, it's like the door opened and a window opened at the same time," he said, as he celebrated the opening reception for his exhibition at the gallery surrounded by friends and supporters.

Fernandez had been drawing editorial cartoons and supporting himself as a studio artist in the Philippines before making the move to Regina eight years ago. He planned to continue his art in a new country.

"At first I thought it would be an easy road," he said, adding he'd researched galleries, museums and potential venues to showcase his art.

"But then you come here to another country, it's a different game."

He found that great artists whom he thought could be successful in the Philippines support themselves with other full-time work in Canada.

"Honestly, my first two years, I was like, 'I need to save up a bit and maybe go back and continue my art,'" he said. "But then I had a kid, and then things changed. I stayed."

He decided to continue on with full-time work, pursuing his art on the side.

"I persevered," he said. "It came to a point that I don't care if I would be known here or or be recognized here, I just want to paint."

Fortunately, his work has become more and more recognized. A curator at the Mackenzie Art Gallery messaged him to see his work and visit his studio. That visit evolved into Fernandez being selected as the artist-in-residence for a year.

"Being able to showcase this work inspired by my culture is a big opportunity for me."

His opening exhibit brings people underwater, with Fernandez saying he hopes to take people on a journey through waves. Each of 12 hand-cut wood panels — one for each month of the year — is meant to evoke a proverb from the Philippines that speaks to people, whatever stage of life they're in.

"It reminds you of the lessons, the life lessons that you need to have to get you equipped on the journey that you'll be taking."

Looking closer at the display reveals a little secret — one distinctive black fish swims against the current, while the other fish flow in the opposite direction.

It's a symbol that could easily apply to Fernandez himself, who persisted in the face of obstacles.

"I'm still not on the stage where I wanted to be," he said. "I'm still swimming. … I have a destination that I want to go to and I'll just ride the waves."