Al Ryan Salas Novo, shown above with his artwork, won first place in the recent art competition sponsored by the soon to open Chicco di Caffe in Davao City.
The whole page spread of Mindanao Times that carried the above photo said: Twenty artists from various schools in Davao City mixed coffee and arts as they took part in 2009 Davao International Coffee Art Painting Competition held at the newest coffee shop strategically located at the corner of Roxas Avenue and Faura Street. Eighteen of them finished the grueling six-hour on-the-spot contest where they painted their idea ona 27.5-by-27.5 canvass using oil paint. The based their work on the theme, "A Blend of Colors: A Great Coffee Experience."
Al Ryan did not rank first in all the judges' scoreboard, but he was consistently included in the top six of th scoring made by noted Davao artists Carlota de Pio, Nonoy Narciso, and Danny Uy. He took home P5,000.00
A third year Fine Arts student at the Ford Academy of the Arts, Al Ryan who is from Tandag, Surigao del Sur, was a late entrant in the contest.
"When I made an inquiry a day before the contest, I was told that Ford Academy already has three contestants in the competion. Three students per school was the limit," he said.
But then he asked the organizers to let him join, and he was given a chance a night before the contest.
Al Ryan credits his father, Aldy Novo, as his idol and inspiration.
Al Ryan is the second child of Ryspha M. Salas (a Seagull, but of course!) and Aldy Novo.
CONGRATULATIONS, AL RYAN. You made us Tagon-ons proud!
