TACLOBAN CITY – "May pera sa basura." This popular Filipino slogan has encouraged an artist to be unique in creating his artworks from rust.

Twenty-one-year-old Connie Frances Fumar from San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte is a constant visitor of junk shops where he scrapes rust as his main component for his art.

He has been using rust for almost three years now to create portraits of Jesus Christ, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and other celebrities.

He chose rust as a medium because of its distinct color that appears on paper or canvas.

"Hindi sa lahat ng oras ay mabibili mo lahat ng gusto mong bilhin para lang makagawa ng isang obra all you need to do is to explore to your surroundings, be creative, unique, and that will describe as you as an artist," he added.

Fumar was inspired to paint through a blueprint of his father’s house plan who works as a construction foreman based in Manila.

"Most of the time I do some basic sketches and mixing colors, but one day I also tried new mediums like acrylic, soft pastels, oil pastels, charcoal, leaf carving, and other art mediums but my heart is really into rust painting" he shared.

Fumar said art has been his refuge from his difficult childhood coming from a broken family in Romblon.

He started joining local art competitions and artist groups. He also participates in local and international exhibits which paved the way for him to be recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts this year for his rust paintings.

He uses his earnings from his portraits to finance his studies.

Fumar is in his first year taking Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.