Madeleine is the daughter of Cecil Satariano, the award- winning amateur filmmaker who passed away too early. Cecil used to paint, too, so it is hardly surprising that Madeleine cannot keep away from paint and canvases. Evidence of this can be seen in the home she shares with her husband Joe, whose passion is singing.

Madeleine's present exhibition is her seventh solo exhibition, Creative Force, which opened on May 17, 2025, at Il-Razzett Tal-Markiz Mallia Tabone in Mosta, and closes today.

I had never been to the Razzett before and now that I have seen it, I love it.  It has the patina of age. Plants grow  profusely especially in the courtyard which is also full of busts of people of significance in the life of Mosta.

You start enjoying Madeleine's paintings by entering the room on the left. Even at the doorway I was struck by the contrast of the paintings, in different shades of blue mostly, to the ancient walls of this 300-year-old farmhouse.

For this exhibition Madeleine has painted mostly horses and the sea. The horses and raging waves evoke a sense of movement, power and natural beauty - a celebration of both freedom and force.

Horses symbolize untamed spirit and energy, while the sea represents vastness, mystery, and the rhythmic power of nature. The galloping of horses, the crashing of waves  create a dynamic, almost cinematic experience for viewers. There's also the emotional aspect: the horses convey adventure, freedom.

Madeleine's brushwork, colour choices, and composition bring these elements to life. She loves painting with her fingers (and nails, she likes to add) instead of a brush. This technique adds a raw, intimate quality to the artwork. She tells me it allows her to connect more directly with the canvas, shaping forms and textures through personal touch rather than the mediation of a tool. She also likes to point out, that certain objects, such as spectacles for example, cannot be drawn with fingers but need a brush. Fine lines need a brush.

Painting with her fingers brings a sense of spontaneity and fluidity to her work. This technique mirrors the movement of waves and the energy of galloping horses. The tactile nature of finger painting can give the works a sculptural feel, with visible strokes and textures that make the pieces more dynamic and expressive.

These paintings have a particularly bold, emotional quality. They feel instinctive and alive.

She seems to have a deeply personal connection between her and her work - almost as if she's shaping the image with her own energy rather than relying on tools. This approach adds a raw, expressive intensity to her paintings, with every stroke carrying the physicality of her hands and nails - yes nails, too.

Perhaps this technique also influences the textures and movement within her pieces, making them more tactile and dynamic - especially fitting for themes like horses and waves, which embody motion and force. There's something almost sculptural about using one's fingers to paint; it's direct, unfiltered, and deeply personal. She feels that brushes simply don't give her the same level of expression.

I don't think this painting with her fingers is just a preference but an intrinsic part of her artistic identity. The way she paints with her fingers and nails seems to infuse her works with a certain rawness and intensity that other methods might not achieve.

Perhaps the direct contact with the canvas allows for a stronger, more visceral connection that translates into a bolder presence. The energy of her strokes, the tactile nature of her technique - it all adds to the dynamism of her subjects, especially horses and waves, which are inherently full of movement and power.

She doesn't simply depict her subjects; she feels them, moulds them, and breathes life into them with every stroke of her fingertips. The horses and seascapes leave quite an impression.

An artist's technique is one of the strongest forces behind emotional expression in art. The way they apply paint, carve forms, or shape compositions can amplify or soften emotions, making a piece feel raw, serene, chaotic, or deeply intimate. Bold, forceful strokes convey energy and intensity, while delicate, smooth strokes evoke calmness and subtlety. There is a huge difference between Madeleine's horses and seas and her other paintings. In fact I got the feeling that the calmer paintings were the work of a different artist altogether. They are not of course. Simply Madeleine in a calmer mood.

Vivid, high-contrast colours can create drama and excitement. In the rest of her paintings, which are hung in another two rooms, the colours of the paintings are mostly muted, blended tones suggesting melancholy or nostalgia. They radiate tranquility and harmony.

Artists don't just depict subjects; they shape experiences. Their technique is their emotional fingerprint, leaving traces of feeling in every stroke, shape, and texture.

I loved being there in a farmhouse which has a story to tell and those lovely paintings to enjoy. Bliss. Peace and beauty in a chaotic world are hard to find these days.

If you are interested in Madeleine's paintings but could no go to the exhibition here is how to contact her.

Email: [email protected]

Contact No. 9984 9468

Website: https://madeleinevellasatariano.mt/

[email protected]