Instagram story viewer> @markmabuna> Posts

Mark Mabuna

@markmabuna

365

followers

4982

following

Graphic designer | visual artist [ painting, illustration and photography ]

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Gateway Art Fair is officially starting today from October 1 until October 4. :)

Here's a closer view of my 2 artworks now on display @gatewayartfair! Thank you PGW and Gateway Gallery for the opportunity!

📍 Upper Ground B, Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City
🎟 Free admission

My original watercolor works—"Purrfect Love" and "Sunflowers", are currently on display with the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists (PGW) booth

Gateway Art Fair is a project of J. Amado Araneta Foundation to support the public art programs of the @gateway.gallery , in partnership with @aranetacity , @metrobank , @ciboph , Boysen Paints Philippines, @artbarph , UP College of Fine Arts , Quezon City Government, @qctourismdept & Promotions, and media partners, @manilabulletin , Daily Tribune, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer NET and Lifestyle Inquirer.

DSWD Solicitation Permit No.: DSWD-SB-PSP-S-2026-000126

#GatewayArtFair #GAF2026 #LiveYourArt #WatercolorPH #PhilippineGuildOfWatercolorists #supportlocalartists #TBTG #toGodbetheglory taken in Gateway Mall by @markmabuna

15

0

16 days ago

I can't believe one of my dreams as a child came true - to be part of this pretigious exhibit! It slowly started to sink in when my artwork was finally posted on the official @kulaysa.tubig page!

I was inspired by an old tricycle driver. He stood out to me because he has this white beard and one morning while I was on my way to buy some bread it started raining so I had to find some cover. In a few minutes I stood under a shed and then the rain stopped and the sun started shining. I saw this tricycle getting his first passenger. I was carefully observing the light hitting the floor and the tricycle and then there was this moment when the reflection of the sunlight from his side mirrors started to bounce off onto his red shirt. It created a beautiful circular glow of reflectrd light around his chest, which for me is where the heart is. This created a metaphor in my mind that people like him does have a glowing heart. They are the ones doing their best day in and day out to earn a living in a fair and honest manner. This inspired me because to think of he is not alone, there are so many people just like him out there.

That is why this art piece is a tribute and a salute to every Filipino who fights fair and square—those who, despite hardships and life’s difficulties continue to persevere and strive to make an honest, honorable living.

Again, I’m beyond grateful just to be able to participate and be included in a roster alongside artists I truly look up to. It’s inspiring, and at the same time, a deeply humbling experience. We all know that every talent is simply a gift, so to God be the glory

"Unang pasada"
21 x 29 inches
Watercolor on arches rough grain
2026

#watercolorart
#kulaysatubig
#watercolor
#instaartist taken in Opus Mall by @markmabuna

21

1

24 days ago

Some really loose watercolor sketches today. Found some time to try these and it felt really freeing and I just let myself not worry about mistakes and encouraged myself to fix what I can and let go of happy accidents that actually looked better than I expected.

I remember working on my latest exhibit entry for KST i had to be very careful which is usually the case.when working on detailed watercolor pieces. I was trying my best not to make any mistakes since watercolor is known to be unforgiving. Learning how to paint very loosely I think creates that balance and I realized that's what makes watercolor become more expressive.

#watercolor #watercolorart by @markmabuna

12

0

a month ago

To be a part of this event is a dream come true and a reason to be thankful for! Dati nadadaanan ko lang yung exhibit na to nakasali din this time 🙂. To God be the Glory!

For nearly four decades, #KulaySaTubig has been a pivotal force in the Philippine watercolor community. As a participant in this prestigious competition, I, Mark Joseph Mabuna, join a legacy that champions emerging talent and elevates watercolor as a respected art form. Each brushstroke tells a story, and each artwork represents a step toward gaining recognition in the realm of Filipino and world-class artistry.

Support watercolorists at this year's 38th Kulay sa Tubig Annual Watercolor Exhibition and Competition, which will take place on September 12, 2026, at the 1/F Opus Mall, Bridgetown Estate, Quezon City.

For more information, follow @gallerygenesis and @kulaysa.tubig. See less taken in Opus Mall by @markmabuna

12

0

a month ago

"Too small, too slow and not good enough"..

yet a champion...

Quick soft pastel sketch of @jalenbrunson1 of the @nyknicks as I am working on preparing my own pastel paper using PastelGround. Doing that while watching some NBA finals clips where the Knicks won finally after 53 years. Love a good story of someone being called not cut out for success yet managed to prove everyone wrong through sheer grit and hardwork.

"You get to a point where you're not afraid of the moment because you worked, you worked hard enough to where, if you do fail you're going to learn anyway" - Jalen Brunson

#nbafinals #jalenbrunson #pastelart #softpastels by @markmabuna

10

6

4 months ago

Philippine eagle week just ended, so I picked up my unfinished painting of the philippine eagle. I recently bought a new set of @rembrandtartistpaint Rembrandt soft pastels so I gave it a try and I can immediately see how it differs from ordinary or student grade soft pastels.

The Philippine Eagle is endangered and it is said that more or less 400 pairs are left in the wild. I know it's getting more and more challenging with the ongoing destruction of our forests but I really hope something is urgently done to get their population up.

#philippineeagleweek
#philippineeaglefoundation
#philippineeagleart #haribon #softpastel by @markmabuna

19

1

4 months ago

Really grateful for these opportunities! Somehow I learned how to overcome my nerves at the start of the coffee painting demo, :) just had to focus on sharing the things that I believe would be very helpful to anyone trying to do coffee painting. I wanted to show that the frustration they feel and "mistakes" they make when painting always have a solution. Bob Ross even called these "happy accidents" :) Congratulations to the @coffeeartistsph and TTRACAP. They have an ongoing exhibit at Clock-In Ayala North Exchange Tower. The coffee art that the community has been creating are just amazing and I am still in awe at how good coffee art can be after seeing the works on display there.

#CoffeeArtistPH
#shadesofbrew
#togodbetheglory taken in Clock In Ayala North Exchange by @markmabuna

34

0

5 months ago

A quick watercolor portrait sketch, testing the paper and my chinese brush and my entry for world art day.
Not sure why but the portrait looks like that of someone familiar.

#worldartday #watercolorartist #watercolorportrait by @markmabuna

4

0

6 months ago

Ink and watercolor sketch
February 2026

This is just one of the amazing trees that can be found in UP Los Banos. It felt so great to have visited this university again after such a long time. Quite nostalgic too since way back in high school we frequented the campus for "research" but it was more of fooling around and enjoying the company of my friends. I remember how beautiful the place was, and it still is. taken in UPLos Baños by @markmabuna

11

0

8 months ago

A couple more photos I took during the photowalk which was part of the photography workshop. These are really ramdom pics but I liked them. :) It was hard to apply all the composition rules but I really tried. One of my key takeaways is knowing that it is good to put your focal point or subject in the center as long as you are able to convey symmetry. If not, then that composition might not work. #photography taken in Marikina Heights Park by @markmabuna

7

0

9 months ago

Oh crop!
That's one of the most memorable phrases I got from the photography workshop I attended. A really great learning experience to start 2026. I have been trying to learn by myself but there is a very huge difference learning it straight from experienced masters of their craft. The concepts suddenly got easier to understand but it also made me realize there is really so much more to learn, rules to try and knowing when to break them. Ultimately I will remember the importance of having a story and how a one in a million shot of an event or incident that wont ever be replicated is something that even master photographers keep an eye on. Here are some random photos I took hoping to learn a bit more about photography. taken in Marikina Heights Park by @markmabuna

9

0

9 months ago

A quick digital art, this time adding colors still thinking about values of light and dark. The challenge this time is not having a reference so I need to recall as much as I can on how to construct a face. I recently found Stephen Bauman @stephenbaumanartwork, he has this amazing way of teaching how to draw the different parts of the human face.

In terms of coloring, I found these nice textured and bristly brushes from an old hard drive of mine and I really enjoyed how they work. I think it helps avoid overthinking and spending too much time on details.
#digitalart #digitalpainting by @markmabuna

9

0

10 months ago