Maria Cristina Valencia Taruc, or “Tiinz” Taruc for short, is a Filipina master painter whose art is fresh and modern. With her vivid color choice bright and her brush stroke loose, the painting freely flows from her soul, as described by local art critics. The artist is famous for her impressionism paintings, capturing subjects such as sunflowers, koi fish, landscapes, “Mother and Child” series, flowers, abstract pieces, and more modern art. Her social realism, modernist style portraits are unique and impressive. Tiinz Taruc’s art is contemporary; reminiscent of Georgia O’Keefe’s style of flower paintings, while Taruc’s beautiful landscape paintings punctuated by changing light effects evoke more of a Van Gogh and Monet feel. Classic impressionist artists were characterized by their being visually-impacted by nature, thereby being influenced by the love of their environment. Such artists sought to depict whatever they happened to see at a given moment; by using pure, broken, and often unmatched colors to achieve an appearance of improvisation. They usually painted ordinary everyday subjects and omitted details, to create a striking overall effect. Born in Tarlac, she is a granddaughter of the late Huk Supremo Luis Taruc. He was the founder and leader of the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon (Hukbalahap or Huk) from 1942 to 1954, after he had led an insurgency group fighting for land reform in the 1930s. Tinz Taruc is an impressionist whose paintings have been inspired by Philippine patriotism and Hukbalahap stories. Tiinz studied this theme as well as visual arts and graphic design at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She thereafter became a “prodigy” of both master Rafael Maniago and master Cesar Devera in Los Angeles. Tiinz’ prolific paintings have given her hope and life. She states that art helps...... Read more on Full Issue!