creativity
Artists must unite and set up arts villages across Europe. After the devastation of the COVID pandemic, the world needs the creative industry more than ever. It is for the good of the creative industry and for the rest of the world.
Read MoreThe past 3 months were like I was living in one of Salvador Dali’s paintings. Empty roads, empty schools, empty malls, empty airports. It was surreal. It took me a while to comprehend what was going on. Who would have imagined that the whole planet would come at a standstill?
Like many, I observed the health authorities’ recommendation and complied with a self lock-down in my apartment on my own. I knew that this was going to be a challenge. At first, I thought that this was going to be only a two-week task but then it was very clear that it will take much longer than that.
There was no single day or moment during this lockdown that I felt lonely or sad or annoyed. I created the best company I could have had. I imposed on my self the daily routine to sketch or paint anything. I discovered new media like watercolor and ink. As days went by, I’ve seen progress in my new technique and was getting good reviews on social media. I was always looking forward to my next painting, my next inspiration. I mainly painted people, from young to old. The human figure was always my favorite subject irrespective of the medium I’ll use.
There were moments where I was thinking of what I would have done should I did not paint. Would I have gone nuts? Would I be bored? Knowing me, I would have kept myself busy anyways however, the fact that I kept myself busy with my passion was a very healthy move to my sanity. I was positive all the way. COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise. It was great. I loved every day that passed by. I created so much that I had to create a new section on my website for my watercolor and ink paintings.
My creativity kept me away from the fear that was constantly being showered on us by the media in general. I was aware of what was going on in my country and around the world but I did not let the news affect me. My art was my buffer. My art was my refuge. My art was a safe place. My art kept me sane.
Jose’ Micallef
June 2020
Creativity comes in various forms and colors. One has to be bold enough to create art that represents or expresses oneself. All big artists achieved so much only because they challenged the norm.
Read MoreThere are moments where I am scared of the paint brush. Moments where I do not know what to do with the colours, how to mix them. My mind simply goes boom. Nothing is connected inside my brain. I lose all sense of making art. I stare at an empty white canvas without any reaction. I feel soul less.
Many times I forced myself to sketch and paint during this black period but I create only garbage. I feel like I am a toddler get hold of the pencil for the first time in his life. The feeling is devastating. There were times where I thought that I lost it. That I cannot paint or draw anymore. I despair. What will happen of me should I stop painting? Who will I be?
I do go through these moments. Sometimes it’s only days but other times they take weeks even months. I cannot say they are happy days. I simply exist. It is very frustrating but now I know that the colours will eventually come back. So I’ve learnt not to fight it. I simply let it be until that moment where I am friends again with my paint brushes. I see the reds, the blues, the greens, the yellows, the greys. I don’t care what medium I use. As long as I create, I’m fine. I’m in the right place. I’m in my world of colours.
