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| Gilbert can tell me something about your childhood? |
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| I am 28 years old and my father, George Fenech, is currently over 80. When I was 5 my father was already retired. Thus, my father was very present in my childhood. He was always either at home or in his studio, which at that time was just round the corner from our house. I used to spend most of my free time watching my father, drawing, painting, stretching canvases, or building frames for his completed works |
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| During the weekend my father used to take me out with him in the countryside. Sometimes I watched him painting. Otherwise I used wander about in the fields nearby, playing, like every other kid my age. As I grew older, my father often placed objects on the table, for me to draw. In this way I slowly entered the world of art. As far as I can remember, I can say that I almost breathed art everyday, even in the corridors and rooms of the house I grew up in. The walls of our house are literally a fixed exhibition of artistic works, mostly by my father, and some by his friends, themselves amongst the island’s most talented artists. |
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| My father used to take me with him for to several exhibitions by various artists. |
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| When I was at secondary school, art was a mandatory subject. I furthered my Art studies by sitting for the Advanced Level at the Junior college. My art teachers were Ceaser Attard, Joseph Paul Cassar and Fr. Gino Gauci. |
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| Following Junior College, I decided to further my studies at the University of Malta by reading for a Bachelors Degree in Design and Technology. It was not an easy choice as back then I already knew that employment for art teachers was difficult to find. |
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| During my time at university I hardly had time for painting and drawing. I painted little, but I learned different techniques as part of the extra curriculum activities. I studied tempra and fresco techniques under Lino Borg and Joseph Paul Cassar. |
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| Soon after I graduated, I landed a job as an art teacher. Later, I changed to a technical drawing teacher. Once I started working, I had more free time. My parents, especially my mother, always encouraged me to dedicate more time to developing my artistic talents. I was afraid to grab a paint brush and start painting again. I thought I had lost the skill after spending almost seven years without hardly ever producing any paintings. This was until Easter of about 2 years ago when I finally overcame my fear and set to the canvas to paint once more. I was satisfied with the results. I still treasure that painting that I did at the time – it was the confirmation of a new beginning in my artistic career. Since then, I never turned back. I am not yet fully satisfied with my work, and I may never be as I always feel I have lots more to learn and improve on. |
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| What is your preferred medium? |
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