Dumlao attained his Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines in 1981.

The artist joined several multinational advertising agencies in South East Asia & the Middle East and later was assigned to Jordan in 1994.

Elmer's successful collaborations, achievements and creative contributions to the local advertising art scene in the Kingdom resulted in numerous awards and recognitions.
 
He participated in several group exhibitions of paintings and sculptures in Manila, Jeddah and Amman.

The artist is currently working on his impressions of Jordan that have been percolating for the last fifteen years and are now hatching to life. The pure sincerity of his art is seen in his contrast of extreme textures, colors, forms, techniques and media that merge as one wholesome expression of his thoughts and feelings.

“A beautiful painting without a soul is like an orange fruit without juice”,  Elmer Dumlao