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I would say that Francis Camilleri has not only managed to overcome his obstacles but he has also rediscovered the "joie de vivre" through art. Painting has helped him to become aware of his talents, to realize himself. It has brought the best out of him: a keen sense of observation, a searching eye for contrasts and a sensitivity for natural forms and shapes.
His love of the local environment is mirrored in his landscapes and seascapes. Vernacular architecture, corner niches, chapels and baroque domes provide ample inspiration. Camilleri paints them with such articulation that he betrays a love for detail. At other times he uses the medium with dexterity, creating pictures which animate freshness and which are balanced and poetic. Open spaces are rendered with sweeping washes, sometimes merging colours with the wet-into-wet technique.
Painting is very often a solitary pursuit. It is only through personal interaction, rigorous practice and discipline as well as through developing a keen sense of observation and critique that the various problems of painting are addressed. Through his unflinching perseverance, Francis Camilleri has sharpened his sensitivity and gained more control on structure and technique.
In fact, the paintings currently on display show a more simplified form, an immediacy of interpretation and at times, a certain fleeting effect. This is a no mean feat, considering the difficulty of the watercolour medium and the many constraints Camilleri has to face as a mouth painter. His brush control in merging colours and applying sweeping washes is a bravura. At other times, patches of colour juxtaposed next to each other create a brilliant and impressionistic effect.
In fact, the paintings currently on display show a more simplified form, an immediacy of interpretation and at times, a certain fleeting effect. This is a no mean feat, considering the difficulty of the watercolor medium and the many constraints has to face as a mouth painter. This is a no mean feat, considering the difficulty of the watercolor medium and the many constraints has to face as a mouth painter.In fact, the paintings currently on display show a more simplified form, an immediacy of interpretation and at times, a certain fleeting effect. This is a no mean feat, considering the difficulty of the watercolor medium and the many constraints has to face as a mouth painter. This is a no mean feat, considering the difficulty of the watercolor medium and the many constraints has to face as a mouth painter.