Former child actor and matinee idol Reb Belleza is set to showcase his artistic talents once again in a one-man exhibition called "It's All Connected" which will be held at the Art Circle Gallery, Bahay ng Alumni, located at the University of the Philippines in Diliman Quezon City from Aug. 6 to 12. Belleza's exhibit will have a playful and creative vibe.

In a recent Zoom meeting with entertainment journalists, Belleza revealed that he has completely immersed himself in the arts and moved away from show business. He's also married to businesswoman Valerene Dela Riva for five years now.

"Nakalimutan ko na eh. Showbiz has given me a lot of doors that have opened because of my being an actor. But first and foremost, I'm a painter more than an actor. I am a painter more than an actor," said Belleza when asked if he misses showbiz.

He added: "But I'm very updated lalo na Lea (Salonga) is a close friend. What happened to her, I defend. I defend my friends. I only have a small circle of friends from showbiz. Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, his ex-wife Lotlot (De Leon), and Nadia Montenegro. Wala na akong maisip na iba eh. I was just talking to Monching the other day. Monching has been my best friend since I was four years old. I met him when I was four. So ilang years na rin."

Belleza, now in his late 40s, reminisced about how his passion for painting sparked.

"I'd say at the early age of around four years old when I was filming the movie 'Dalawa Ang Nagdadalang Tao Sa Akin' starring my ninang Susan Roces, Boots Anson-Roa, and Ronaldo Valdez. I played the test tube baby. It was ahead of its time. Even the narrative of the movie was ahead of its time because it was in 1974 or 1975. And then during my break time, my ninang Susan gave me big coloring books. And the biggest crayolas. So at an early age, I really love drawing and coloring. And then I met artists through my ninong Maning Borlaza. 

"I lived a very charmed life. I met artists at a very young age. Also because of 'Kaluskos Musmos.' Working with Kabataang Barangay, we were the kids who opened the Makiling Art School. When it was opened we were there," he said.

Belleza's leanings toward it became evident in school when he took academic electives related to the arts. He enrolled at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts in 1987 and pursued formal studies in painting. 

A few years later, under the guidance and support of his godfather Fernando Poe, Jr., Belleza left for California to study visual communications at Santa Monica College. He also registered for a summer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Since then, the visual arts further shaped his world.

From his show at the Philippine Center in New York, USA, in 1995 to his participation at the 1999 Venice Biennale in Italy and other exhibits held in-between and after, Belleza seized and slayed. His colors are poetry, reminding us of the need for light for us to see. 

This illumination got reflected in the symbiotic nature of his art. My Art and You co-exist therein, acknowledged. But more than this, the artist intends to embrace You and I. "In fun, we may get lost, it seems to say. Comforting it is that we can all return to home, where it all began with love." 

Belleza has also commissioned works for his friends. "Sheryl Cruz. The secretary of Dr. Vera Perez Pempe Rodrigo asked me to do her portrait. Sa dami I don't remember na but I do a lot of portraits also. My last was Sheryl Cruz."

The painter discussed his enjoyment of creating art. He does not rely on inspiration for ideas in his paintings.

"You know, people like to say creativity comes and goes. But when you treat it like its work, when you are given tools by your teachers, who trained you in school, and you practice those tools and know that you will know color theories, you know the theory, you know, rendering, you know perspective. You know all these things. And if you treat painting like work, you can stare at a blank canvas and just go for it. Just paint. I don't wait for that thing called inspiration, but I get lazy at times. When I have a show, when I have a show like this one, it's full of anxiety, and wanting to be perfect. Because I can't have a mediocre show at an excellent university. Hindi puwedeng bara-bara lang. It has to be show na worthy of being on the hallowed grounds of my beloved university. Dapat at par din doon sa excellence na puwede kong ibigay because I was trained in UP," he said.

Asked about his most cherished painting, Belleza said: "I think it's a portrait of my mom, which now belongs to my boss Doc Marty Magsanoc. That's my best work. We are also trained in the classics and we're also trained not only in abstracts. I do portraits, I'm known for portraits. But that's my favorite thing. It's called Divina."

Belleza discussed his morning routine prior to painting.

"I start my morning prayers. I like light incense outside the house and inside the house. The morning prayers are loud. Naririnig ng lahat ng tao. And then I start working. I start mixing my colors. I start mixing my palette. It's at nine o'clock. And then every 30 minutes I go up the room kasi mainit. Nagpapalamig ako ng konti sa kuwarto kung saan malamig. 

"Then I go down. I work for another 20 minutes and then that stops at around 3 pm where I pray the Divine Mercy and then baka 5 pm. I have days off kapag kailangan kong bumili ng gamot sa Mercury or mag-grocery. On Sunday, I'm a creature of habit, I only go as far as Pasig to San Juan. Or Pasig to Quezon City. On Sundays, I go to Makati because walang traffic.

"It's hard to be a husband when my wife cannot drive. I have to drive her for errands. And she tried to be an artist also at the same time, to put food on the table. Mahirap din kasi maraming magagaling na artists. But you know, sometimes talent takes a step back because most of the time, it's who you know. There's also politics in art. Suwerte na lang Talaga ako kung makabenta ako every month," he added.