The artist Antoine Paul Camilleri, is showing another selection from his collection of pyrography on wood. He has explored other localities in Malta apart from the capital city, Valletta. These villages include Imdina, Birgu, Senglea, Qormi, Balzan, Rabat, Gozo ( Mgarr) and Valletta.
The artist explains: "The process of pyrography is time consuming and requires precision and control. If a mistake is made, this cannot be corrected, as the line drawing is burned in the wood.
The artist starts with the drawing, which has to be precise. After, he takes note of the light and shade of the particular street/scene he is working on. He then starts to burn the line drawing. This process takes days, as one has to stop for breaks due to the smoke coming from the burning wood. After this process, colour is applied on the wood. This is carefully studied and controlled. The next step is the dyes/varnishes applied to render more contrast for light and shade. After drying, a coat of clear varnish is applied to reserve the wood. The beech wood has a very interesting colour, and this together with the grain of the wood, Antoine uses as the highlight of the painting, similar to the summer sun on the Maltese stone."
In this exhibition the artist is also showing a variety of ceramic sculptures, some mounted on wood and others three dimensional. The themes vary from the religious to figures and horses.
Antoine Paul Camilleri's exhibition Art Works 2024 is now open to the general public at the Postal Museum, Archbishop Street, Valletta until 3rd January, 2025.