Blog Posts

Blog On!

19/2/2017

I have to admit that I fell out of my blog routine for a while.... I found that I was focusing so much on writing about painting and drawing that I wasn't actually DOING it enough myself.
When I realised that I didn't have enough new works to illustrate the blogs, I went the other way completely, and immersed myself in my last exhibition "Arbor Vitae" for months.
Then there was Christmas and New Year with my family in the UK, and then The Flu..... and just when I was thinking I really should write a blog, along comes THIS saying I have been awarded a medal for the top 75 painting blogs on the web.... it actually says 'on the planet' !!

Knock me down with a paintbrush!

So here I am, encouraged and enthused. And determined to get the balance right this time - write AND paint - and teach of course!

So, just to catch up with what's going on in my life at the moment...

Last Thursday, the 16th February, saw the launch of the project "Forgotten Landscapes" curated and organised by Mark Magro assisted by Kristina Quintano. Mark chose four abandoned locations in Malta and asked four artists to work in them. He chose Marika Borg, Mark Mallia, Caroline Said Lawrence and myself. He documented our progress in film and words, producing a book and a feature film from the experiences we shared.
I produced four large (70 x 50cms) pastel works on embossed paper working in the enigmatic dereliction of Fort Cambell, the last fort build by the British at the end of WW2. Its fabulous location overlooking the intense blue of the sea and Malta's wild northern coast made its abandonment feel even more intense.....

The exhibition is at St James' Centre for Creativity in Valletta until 2nd April. The paintings were not for sale at the opening because it was a funded project, but they will now be sold in aid of Dementia Research, a subject close to many of our hearts as so many of our loved ones wander into their own forgotten landscapes. Please contact Kristina for details.

"Down Deep" from the Arbor Vitae exhibition

Meanwhile, I'm experimenting with textural surfaces in my work, and encouraging my students at Villa Bologna to do the same on Friday mornings

Today the Painting in the Park classes begin - Sunday afternoons in and around the Majjistral Visitors Centre drawing, painting and generally having a creative time together.

In March I will be running a Crash Course in Drawing Skills - three classes to get you going! They will also be held at the Majjistral Centre on Wednesday mornings from 10am - 12.30pm on the 8th, 15th and 29th March.

I'm also planning to start a life class on Tuesday evenings at the Centre, but more of that another time!

I am looking forward to two painting holidays in May. We are going to Trapani again; I think we only scratched the surface of the endless locations last time!

May also sees the first Malta Art Fair in aid of ALS. I will be taking part by remote control as I will be away in Sicily.

In between all that I will be playing happily in my studio or out in a field somewhere splashing paint around.... and also obsessing about my latest Big Idea which isn't really painting or drawing at all. If it works, I will tell you all about it.
If it doesn't, well ssssssssh !!

Please contact me for more details of classes or paintings

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The Golden Hour

7/12/2016

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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.

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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Arbor Vitae in the Park

19/11/2016

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It really is a pleasure to have my collection of paintings inspired by trees "Arbor Vitae" hanging in the Visitor's Centre of the Majjistral Nature and History Park.

Not many people seem to know where the Park is, let alone about the significance of the work done here. The entrance to the Visitor's Centre is situated between Golden Bay and Manikata.... see the map below.

The centre itself is a beautifully renovated building in the old British barracks situated between Golden Bay and Manikata. It is packed with leaflets, displays, maps and information about the local environment.

Guided Nature Walks are run every Sunday from October to May, but the Park is otherwise open to the public, free of charge. Email info@majjistral.org , call 21521291 or visit their website http://mt.majjistral.org/home

The Majjistral Nature and History Park is the only area of protected natural land in Malta. It is situated along the Northwest coast of Malta and stretches from Golden Bay to Anchor Bay.

As well as a few small farmer’s structures and interesting remains thought to date back to the Bronze Age, the Park encompasses a sandy beach, dunes, clay slopes, boulder screes and wild clifftop and maritime garigue. It has a rich ecological and rural heritage, home to many indigenous species of wildlife and rare flora and fauna.
Much work has been done in the clearance of rubbish and planting of thousands of indigenous shrubs and trees.

Sunset walks are a popular activity in the Park

The whole area was declared a National Park in 2007 after plans for a golf course were defeated by public outcry. The land was turned over to the governance of three NGO’s; Din l-Art Helwa, Nature Trust Malta and the Gaia Foundation.

The barracks themselves date back to the early 20th century and became Government property about 40 years ago. They have been allowed to fall into dereliction, but one of the ambitious plans that the Majjistral Park would like to oversee is the rehabilitation of these fine examples of British military architecture. The officer’s quarters are earmarked for short lets, the barracks themselves for nature labs for research and education, a cafeteria and activity centres. Support is needed to begin this process, as any funding needs to be met by 20% of the requested amount. This would be a investment in a unique swathe of public land and heritage, to be enjoyed for generations to come.

In the Shade

On the 26th November we are organising a poetry evening at the Centre. Hosted by Vanessa MacDonald, it promises to be a lot of fun. Readers will be sharing their own work or one that they love, on the subject of trees or nature. There will be wine, nibbles,and laughs. We are asking for a donation of 10euro towards the upkeep of the area. Everyone is welcome! 7.30pm onwards

My exhibition of paintings and prose
"Arbor Vitae" opened at the Visitor's Centre on the 4th November and will be on show until the 16th December. I pop in when I can during the week, but the staff are there from 8.30am until 3pm. Call me on 99458286 and I'll meet you there if I can. I open it myself on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm and I would love to see you there!
I am hoping that, in my small way, my exhibition will help to raise awareness about the importance of trees in our lives, and also to encourage people to visit one of Malta's wonderful hidden gems.

Dance for Joy

On the 3rd December Sammy Vella, Director of the Park, will be giving an informative and entertaining talk on the healing properties of plants and herbs at 10am, followed by a guided walk in the park. Again, we are asking for a 10 euro donation. For more details please call the Centre on 21521291 during office hours.

Come and discover the Park!

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Painting in Trapani

29/10/2016

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this is the view from my bedroom window - hello Rainbow Warrior!

A happy little band of us flew to Trapani on October 21st. I'd never been there before so it was adventure all the way!

We stayed at the Belveliero Guest House, run by the charming Giovanni. Spotlessly clean, it is on the dockside, overlooking the busy little hydrofoil ferries running to and from the Egadi Islands.
Malta could do with a few of these!

Giovanni has two guesthouses - the other is the Gran Veliero on the other side of the penisula. See some pics and info HERE

6 of my students from Friday mornings came with me, and we were all raring to explore and get painting.

We spent our first afternoon exploring Trapani - which is full of paintable delights, from baroque buildings, typical Italian architecture, a very active fish market, forts, castles and ooooh endless subjects!

Giovanni recommended our itinerary and I have to thank him for choosing some perfect locations.
On our first morning we went up to the Medieval walled city of Erice, high above Trapani. We had a wonderful day painting there.

We could have taken a bus and then the cable car, but we opted for a taxi, which wound its way up the mountain road through the lovely Sicilian landscape.

On the second day we went off to the salt pans, first the ones nearby Trapani, and then further afield to Marsala. The piles of salt and the windmills were a good subject to practice limited pallette paintings on. Some went on a boat trip around the pans in the afternoon, but the rest of us carried on painting into the setting sun!

Next day we took a hydrofoil to the islands, stopping for the day in Levanso which is absolutely charming. Just a small village clustered around the dock.

On the last day we painted in and around Trapani itself. We didn't even scratch the surface of subjects though. We'll just have to go again!

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Arbor Vitae - the Exhbition

21/10/2016

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To all you lovely followers of my blogs -

There's a map at the bottom of this post to help you find it!

I am really excited to be hanging my work in the most perfect setting for Trees and all things environmental. The Majjistral Nature and History Park is right on my doorstep and I don't know why it took me so long to think of exhibiting there!

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Open Studio Weekend

13/9/2016

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I would like to invite you to my house/gallery to view a wide variety of my artworks; all sizes, prices, subjects and mediums.

Wander around my jazz paintings, landscapes, nudes and sketches - including an exclusive preview of my upcoming 'Arbor Vitae' collection of tree paintings and wood sculptures.

Everyone is welcome