The Golden Hour

Photos rather than paintings in this blog; the evening light reminded me of something I thought you might be interested in. The Golden Hour.

Many years ago I was the tutor for Malta Art painting holidays, run by Mr Ronnie Channer (the most patient man in the world!).  Having an Army background he was actually able to organise my scatterbrained approach to life, and we ran many successful holidays bringing artists of all abilities to paint in Malta. We had a 50% return rate, not a mean feat with all the competition around. 

​The only reason Malta Art ran out of steam was that, in those pre internet days it was so difficult to advertise widely without spending a fortune.

To launch the venture, Ronnie had the brilliant idea of walking into the offices of the London advertising company in charge of the Malta campaign. They just happened to be looking for a new angle to sell Malta, and we fitted the bill perfectly. Which is how – before we had even advertised or gathered any students – we were asked to appear on the BBC’s Holiday Programme.  This was a peak viewing slot, and our interviewer (and participant) was to be the very well known Anika Rice.
I had been teaching classes to adults for years beforehand, co-tutoring a painting holiday for the Malta University, which is how I met Ronnie in the first place. I hadn’t taught one on my own though, and have to admit I was pretty nervous!

​Ronnie somehow managed to round up a contingent of locals to be our guinea pigs and BBC stars, and the week began. I have to say it wasn’t easy; being asked to repeat myself with my palette held higher, or find a good view in the director’s choice of venue really was a challenge at times. Anika had just finished a 3 year degree course in Fine Arts using oils, and found watercolours a difficult transition.

The programme was a huge success for us, and launched Malta Art with hundreds of bookings. 
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For me it was a baptism of fire, and I have never really been nervous in front of cameras, groups of students or in interviews since. If I survived that, nothing else could be as nerve wracking!

​​It was a very interesting  experience though. There was only one cameraman and to film us riding into Mdina on a horse-drawn Karozzin we had to circle the town and go through the iconic stone gate at least four times. Once to film us from the back as we entered the gate, once close up as we went into it, once as we emerged on the other side, and again as we continued over the cobblestones into the town. Ouch.  I remember that when watching TV reality films – nothing is as simple as the editing would have us believe!

I am also reminded of the BBC Experience when the sun is setting and the Maltese limestone comes to life in shades of stunning oranges with violet shadows. The cameraman called it the Golden Hour and he wasn’t wrong. I thought of it yet again the other evening when I was leaving the venue where my current exhibition ‘Arbor Vitae’ is being held. It’s in the old British barracks above Golden Bay (see my two previous blogs for more info on the exhibition and the area) and I couldn’t resist taking a few shots of the amazing light effects. ​

The exhibition is open every day until the 16th December from 10am to 3pm. More details HERE
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