SPOTLIGHT ON: Midas “Dos” Villanueva II, Tattoo Artist and Airbrush Artist from Bucay, Abra

An artist creates a painting of Christ with eyes full of emotion while the Philippines was under General Community Quarantine

• Midas Bayle Villanueva II, more popularly known as Judas Ikalawa on Facebook, or Dos to his friends, is well known for his tattoo and graffiti art in Abra.

• The Bucayeño artist has been tattooing since 2005, and painting since early 90’s when he was still in high school.

• During the pandemic when he couldn’t go on tattooing as usual, and when everything seemed so uncertain, he picked up that airbrush again and reunited with his canvas.

• He found a facebook page called Art to Hart which shares inspirational art works.

• He then painted one of his favorite subjects: Christ with a Crown of Thorns.

Where It Began

Dos’ airbrush journey started in early 2000. He was amazed to see a tool that sprayed paint and created a beautiful artwork. It brought him to Alimall, Cubao often, just to sit there and watch the artist who then became his mentor.

“One day, he took notice of me and asked if I wanted to buy his artworks.”

“I want to learn it,” I said.

The artist Rommel ‘KISS’ Toledo, who owned a shop inside the mall asked Dos to draw there and then.

“Well then, get your own airbrush.”

In less than a month, Dos became an artist in AIRWIZARD, painting t-shirts.

“There, I learned the tricks to work efficiently, as the job required speed and accuracy,” he added.

Today, he likes taking his time, feeling every detail of his art.

On Tattooing 

He likes collaborating with his clients to come out with the best suited design for them. If he knew he’d done a design on someone already, and another client wants the same design, he’ll let them know and help decide on a different design. Who would want a matching tattoo with a stranger?

Ama mi written in Baybayin Script. Ama mi is the Lord’s Prayer in Ilocano language. This took a whole day to make because of the erratic electric supply that day.

Tattooing became his main source of income when he returned to Abra in 2016 up until the pandemic happened. He’s done tattoos for many people from all walks of life; from high ranking police officers and foreign basketball players to the working class.

He was also a judge during the the Ink Tattoo Competition in La Union in November 2018.

On Airbrush Painting

“This art technique isn’t cheap,” says Dos. Good quality tools are expensive and have to be imported.

The art pieces below were either commissioned or already sold.

See more of Dos and his art in the slide below.

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