‘Parang Kulang Pero Buo Pa Rin’: The Art of Francis Nacion

Visual artist Francis Nacion is coming off a banner year. 2025 was one filled with highlights and breakthroughs for the 44-year-old painter whose creations that blend both modern and contemporary on the canvas have captured the collective consciousness of a broader market in recent months.

Marrying elements of modern and folk art, Nacion tells very Filipino stories of family, festivals and traditions using bold colors, intricate patterns and sgraffito techniques, which requires scratching and etching designs while the oil paint is still wet. The artist’s distinct style has grown familiar to local collectors and connoisseurs: figures with only half a face, missing ears, and hands with just four fingers. The soft-spoken artist has succeeded in bringing forth the beauty in what would otherwise seem as incompleteness.

Nacion headlined two major exhibits last year: a two-man show with Jonathan Dangue entitled “Astral Bridge” in February and a solo exhibit in October called “Photographs and Memories,” both held at Art Lounge Manila. The artist was also commissioned by San Miguel Pale Pilsen to design limited-edition beer cans to celebrate its135th anniversary. Released in the last quarter of the year, the cans featured his artwork “Balik Tanaw” and further catapulted him to mainstream prominence.

Catching up over coffee with Nacion and his wife Riba while he doodled with a bunch of markers, I was able to see firsthand how he creates magic with whatever medium is at hand. “May baon kami na sketchpad everytime lumalabas kami,” he shares about himself and his better half. “Siya ang pumalit sa nanay ko. Ang nanay ko dati, may laging bitbit na papel at colored markers. Yung notebook ko nung elementary at high school, puro drawing ‘yung likod. Bata pa lang ako, mahilig na ako mag-drawing.”

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Born and raised in Kalibo, Aklan, Nacion always dreamed of becoming an artist. He did not have the luxury of formal training when he was starting out and is proudly self-taught.

“Mahilig ako magbasa ng Funny Komiks dati. Alam mo naman, probinsyano ako. Walang Marvel dun,” he laughs. Growing up, his cousins also used to draw, although none of them took it as seriously as he did. Some of them eventually studied Nursing and the young Nacion would help make their homework for them, drawing the skeletal system in exchange for merienda. “Yung mga tricycle sa amin, pagandahan ng artwork ng Sto. Niño kasi ang karamihan ng mga Aklanon, deboto ng Sto. Niño. Iniisip ko nga dati baka maging ganon yung trabaho ko.”

Nacion moved to Baguio for college intending to study Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines but his usually supportive mother, fearing for her son’s future after being influenced by the advice of relatives who felt there would be no money in a career as an artist, convinced him to enroll in Computer Engineering at the University of Baguio instead. “Doon pa lang, akala ko patay na ‘yung pangarap ko,” he says. It was at the City of Pines where he joined the Baguio Arts Guild, observing legends like Bencab, Kidlat Tahimik, and the Tam-awan artists and being influenced by their use of colors. The budding artist was not able to complete his degree because of financial difficulties and made the move to Manila to work as an encoder in a cousin’s company.

In the mid 2000’s, Nacion enrolled in classes by Maestro Fernando Sena, renowned as the Father of Philippine Art Workshops. “Wala na akong pang-enroll sa advanced class kaya nagtanong ako kung pwede niya akong matulungan,” he recalls. “Sabi niya mag-assist ka sa akin, ako na ang bahala sa advanced classes mo. Dun na nagsimula.” He became Sena’s apprentice from 2005 to 2006 and under the mentor’s tutelage, he was able to further develop his unique style. “Pag nakita mo ‘yung mga kulay ni Sena, matatamis. Yun ang nadala ko mula sa kanya,” he shares. Nacion was given the unique privilege to join the Saturday Group the following year, which included his long-time hero, the late, great Mauro Malang Santos.

In 2007, a religious group from Alabang that supports the education of priests, St. John Vianney, was raising funds for the Tuesday Group, which Sena was a part of.  “Assistant lang ako so hindi ako kasali pero lagi akong may bitbit na artwork na baka pwedeng ialok sa mga client. Maya-maya, may lumapit sa akin na nagtanong, ‘Hijo, meron na bang may-ari ng artwork na yan?’  Pumunta sya kay Sir Angel Cacnio, sabi niya ‘gusto ko yung artwork nung bata’. Sabi ni Sir Cacnio, ‘Hindi po namin member yan. Alalay ni Sena yan.’ Ipinasama ako ni ma’am sa listahan. May baon pa akong apat. Sold lahat,” he recounts.

The lady from St. John Vianney also told him to make more artworks for their fundraising and to Nacion’s surprise, they sold those out, too.  “Tuloy-tuloy na simula noon. Naging member na rin ako ng Tuesday Group na official dahil ‘dun.” He was tapped to do a lot of commissioned work and shortly after, he was discovered by Samantha Galvez, owner of Village Art Gallery in Alabang, who supported him and gave Nacion his first solo show in 2009.

“Aksidente talaga sya,” Nacion says about finding his style as an artist. “Dati yung trabaho ko, buo pa yung mata nyan. Nabura lang,” he recalls. Working with oil pastel requires scraping off layers of the paint. While highlighting one of his works one time, he accidentally scraped off more than he should have, erasing one of his figure’s eyes. He found something special with what he saw and realized it spoke to him about himself.

“Kahit parang kulang pero buo parin,” he says. “May sarili siyang ganda. Parang ako pala iyon.” Unlike most of his peers who were fortunate to study art in a formal setting, the college dropout embraces his imperfections as well as being the underdog in his chosen industry.

“Feeling niya dati, dahil probinsyano siya at hindi siya Fine Arts graduate, hindi siya papansinin,” his wife Riba shares. In the past, Nacion has even had the unpleasant experience of being called a never-heard to his face. This only inspired him to strive harder.

“Kung tanggap mo ang pagkatao mo, wala nang makakatalo sa iyo,” he says.

The two sides of each character’s visage represent its duality. “Yun yung pananaw natin, meron dark and light. Mas lighter with God’s guidance.” Nacion’s recognizable style and fondness for Filipino traditions has endeared him to local collectors. “Sabi nila kahit walang pirma ‘yan, alam na nila kung sino ‘yung artist. Dun pa lang may sarili ka nang brand,” he says.

“Nakakatuwa kasi si Francis mina-manifest nya lang tapos nagugulat kami dumarating,” Riba shares. “Ganun sya ka-surreal. Hanggang ngayon nanlalamig pa rin kami.”

When the folks from San Miguel slid into his DMs on Instagram to reach out, Nacion had initially thought it was just a prank. He was told that the theme of the project would be the beer brand’s storied heritage. “Tinanong ko sa sarili ko, ano ba kami sa probinsya namin. Mahilig kami sa piyesta so yun yung nilagay ko. Ang lolo ko, ang hilig-hilig nya sa Pale na naka-bote. Sila talaga yung inspirasyon ko. Pamilya. Dun ako nag-start magconceptualize.”

Being chosen by one of the country’s oldest and largest conglomerates for its 135th anniversary beer can design has been the biggest break of Nacion’s young career thus far. “Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na sa dinami-dami ng artists, bakit ako?” he says. He tries not to think about it too much lest it gets to head but he admits that the project really was life-changing for him and his family. It has also given him the opportunity to reach out to more people, most of whom might not have the means to enjoy his art.

“Ang gusto ko maka-connect sila. Pag nakikita nila yung art ko, nakakalimutan nila yung mga problema nila. Gusto ko pumasok sila dun sa art ko kasi puro positive lang yung makikita ninyo rito, walang negativity,” he says. “Natutuwa din ako na kahit simpleng tao lang yan, mas masarap uminom ng beer dahil sa nakikita nila. Dun pa lang okay na ako. Success na yon.”

Nacion is most productive at night, working in his studio just across the street from their home. This convenience allows him to spend as much time as he can with Riba and their three children. Despite all the success, nothing is more important than who he does all this for. His family is his biggest source of strength, and his wife is his number one cheerleader.

It wasn’t always easy for the Nacions. Just like many others, he started out as a struggling artist. “Malaking factor yung meron kang ganitong asawa,” Nacion confides. “Tinanong ko siya nung simula kung ready ka ba magutom pero ni minsan naman hindi sila nagutom.”

According to Riba, her husband has been the best partner and an amazing father to their kids. “Simula nang maging mag-asawa kami, siya lang talaga ang kumikita. Totoo yung pag sinabi mo sa universe, binibigay naman at the right time and place. There’s a reason for everything that happens in our lives,” she says.

Nacion has no regrets nor would he do anything differently if given the chance. He only has gratitude for everything he has been blessed with and hope for what the future holds. “Lahat may dahilan. Nireready lang tayo sa path na tatahakin natin.”