It is very common for pages about the artist to start with something like: "I have been drawing for as long as I could hold a pencil...." Well, with me that is not the case. I came to art very late in life but having got here it feels like it was always meant to be.
I
was born on the Island of Malta in 1953, the youngest of a family of
five children. My eldest brother studied, and for a time even taught,
art but I never thought of art as a career. I was more inclined
towards literature and the theater, reading a degree in English at the
University of Malta.
I was one of the lucky ones in my
generation. The day after I finished my final exams I started working
in the news room of our national broadcasting station. My first job
was as translator of news bulletins into English but in no time at all
I was assigned as a TV and radio journalist and in less than a year I
was anchoring news and was producing and presenting my own current
affairs programme. It was a relatively brief career though... I left
work for marriage and a family.
Ten years and three kids later I
was itching to get back into the world of work. I went back to
university, this time to study....law! Qualifying as Legal Procurator
I practiced for twelve years and then decided it was time to retire
again, or almost. I was then and still am a board member of the Malta
Broadcastng Authority, the local radio and TV watchdog.
Four
years into this semi retirement, and at the urging of a very dear
friend of mine, I discovered art. I did not seek formal training - the
internet has been my school and my internet friends my most valued
teachers, critics and advisers.
I first started with graphite
and did some very interesting work but soon I was longing for colour.
I moved to coloured pencils which I still use when I am seeking
particular effects but very soon I bumped into soft pastels and it was
love at first dusty touch! I have since done some important work in
acrylics but pastels still remain the medium I feel most comfortable
with...and colour is my joy.
At this point in time my style is
one of soft realism but there is no saying that that will never
change... I myself am still a work in progress and will remain so till
I breathe my last!
