By Heidi Binghay

Melodramatic Tempo, 72” x 38”
Her latest collection of abstract paintings shows her signature bold, bright colors on every square centimeter of the canvas. Her works have been described as vibrant and exuberant, evoking feelings of happiness and cheer.
It’s no surprise. Anyone who knows Naomi Banal personally would instinctively connect such exuberance to her cheerful, lively personality. She is always full of energy and enthusiasm. There are no half measures with her. She gives one hundred percent of herself to everyone she loves and everything she does.
If the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart, her art as her mouthpiece conveys her inner joy in volumes or, better yet, in meters. Following the success of her two previous solo exhibits, her new show “Endless Possibilities III,” which opened over the weekend at the Rojo Gallerie at Robins Design Center, picks up on the now recognizable uplifting color schemes in her abstract series.
Smooth Sonata IV , 48” x 36”
The 15-piece collection includes large (the largest at 72” x 48”) and small (the smallest at 24” x 20”) pieces, with a triptych and a diptych as focal features for the first time.
Naomi began her abstract series in 2020 in the middle of the Covid-19 lockdowns, undeniably a difficult and challenging time for everyone. “In the midst of very hard times for all, I wanted to share a little bit of joy with others through my works,” says Naomi. “Through the use of bright and complementary colors, I’ve been trying to depict what is in my innermost being — my joy and gratitude for the life I’ve been given.”
Chorus Praise I, 20” x 24”
Desiring to stick to an improvised free-flowing technique, she made peace with the shapes that were organically formed on her canvas, with the seeming imperfections opening the door to endless possibilities. This became a recipe for bliss for her.
“All those drips, crooked lines and imperfect shapes are where I see the beauty in my works,” says Naomi. “That has become my rule in life. Now that I’m in my 50s, imperfections don’t bother me. In fact, I embrace the beauty in them.”
Chorus Praise II, 20” x 24”
On a typical day, Naomi is up and painting before the crack of dawn. Each time she approaches the canvas laid out on the floor, she goes where her creative bent takes her. She does a bit of preparation by studying the colors she will use, but nothing else is premeditated. She once tried planning some sketches using the Procreate app, but she found it stifled her so she abandoned the app and went with the flow instead. It is this free style that has led her to go from white to bright colors and now to a black background color.
The artist, like her art, is evolving. A Fine Arts graduate who majored in Advertising, Naomi had a brief foray in graphic design before venturing into shoe design, which allowed her to discover and exercise her entrepreneurial spirit.
Chorus Praise III, 20”.  24”
As a painter, her earlier works were more traditional, with representational figures. After a hiatus, she returned to the art scene and began to create more modern pieces. Her floral paintings soon attracted young collectors. Her “Father and Child” pen-and-ink series struck a chord among enthusiasts who saw the stroke of genius in giving dad that spot on the canvas traditionally reserved for mom.
The present collection of abstract works has been gaining her a strong following, so much so that this is her third solo exhibit of the series. What’s next for this exuberant artist? The possibilities are endless.
‘Endless Possibilities III’ is on display at the Rojo Gallerie, Robins Design Center, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.