LONG LIVE THE ARTIST

"I have a lot of imagination. Imagination is useless if you cannot put it on something. What's the use of imagination in your brain? It's not doing anything in there. You have to put (your imagination) on a sculpture, a drawing or painting, or whatever, you have to put it down so people can see it." - Benjamin A. Resella

REPRINTED This post was published last May 14,2007 as a tribute to Benjamin Resella ( father-in-law and great artist) on his 90th birthday celebration. He passed away last Tuesday, March 24,2009. There are few changes from the original and some additions.

ARTISTS HAVE LONG LIVES Do you believe that most artists have long lives? Well, I do. Why? Because art is a good stress buster. Today in the medical field, many doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists used art as therapy to heal people, who couldn't cope with stresses in life. Art heals. Art gives pleasure. Art like love, makes the world go round. That's why most artists are easy going. With relax attitude, there is little possibility of having high blood pressure. Well, I know one artist who has a long life and I am related to him. He is my father-in-law. His name is Benjamin Resella. He just turned 90 years old on May 14, 2007. Wow! What a long life! At ninety, although he has high blood pressure, he is still healthy and walk without the aid of a cane.

PHOTO OF THE YOUNG RESELLA FAMILY
Here's an antique and treasured heirloom photo. Ben was standing on the left side. When I married his first born son, Rhod ( the young boy on the right side), Ben became my father-in-law. Before he immigrated to the United States, he was the former art director of Sampaguita Pictures (a movie production in the Philippines). He was a noted Filipino scenic artist who arrived on the Hollywood scene in the 60's. Without any fanfare, gimmicks, connections or heavy promotions. He has firmly established himself among the giants of MGM Studios and Century Fox Studios. He is the only Filipino scenic artist who made it to Hollywood. A sensitive artist, he painted with passion and understanding. His work is eloquent, excellent and very, very realistic. He was very good with perspective. Among his most notable achievements were designing realistic movie backgrounds for "EARTHQUAKE" and "HELLO DOLLY ". I have seen the movie "EARTHQUAKE", and believe me, the many different backgrounds were so realistic. I am an artist too, but I couldn't tell they were giants painted scenarios. Although his entry into the circle of Hollywood giants is relatively low key, his imagery and background scenarios are loud and lasting. We are all proud of his many achievements. He was a retired artist and lived at the Motion Picture Compound in Calabasas, California until his death.

FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE RESELLA FIRST BORN
BEN (GRAND FATHER) in blue jacket (May 14,1917-March 24,2009)
RHOD (FIRST BORN SON) left side
RODNEY (FIRST BORN GRANDSON) on the right side
SIMON (FIRST BORN GREAT GRANDSON) center
Ben's greatest legacy to our family was his artistic talents. Gifts our
children inherited. Art runs in our blood. Our sons, Rodney and Robin are both
successful computer graphic artists. Our grandson (Simon) is a promising artist
at the age of eleven.

BEST WATERCOLOR PAINTING OF BENJAMIN RESELLA
TITLE: "LIMAHONG" SIZE: APPROXIMATELY 30" x 40"
This painting was inspired by the legend of the Chinese pirate named Limahong.It is now on display in their bedroom in the the Motion Picture Compound. It's a beautiful, realistic painting, and full of life. Ben wrote a screenplay about Limahong. Last year, he had the chance to meet the president of Columbia Pictures and presented his work. The meeting was promising. Someday we hope a movie will be made about Limahong.
FOR MORE NEWS About Benjamin Resella please visit the website of Ryan Resella:http://ryanresella.com/