Carmel Bonello is a family man who has spent his life painting, he has a diploma in fine arts and teaches at the lyceum in Hamrun. Whilst building on his artist skills, he also worked in the dry docks for 15 years but eventually gave that up to become a full time artist. His numerous paintings can be found across the globe in both private and public collections.
Carmel’s work is characterized by bold colours which are illuminated by solid lines that he uses to establish his composition and produce the emotional intensity of his images. Carmel portrays his subconscious thought on canvas, his various topics encompass his need for expression, he uses a spontaneous and physical process with his painting that in turn present an immediate response to his expressive personality.
Carmel takes life easy and in his stride. He describes his work as rough with a romantic flair, he takes pleasure in creating something out of nothing. Whilst painting, he travels on a voyage with no particular end, his mood directs him to his final objective with his pieces. Carmel is influenced by his surroundings and he is drawn to faces and in particular, eyes, his observations serve as a means to exploring and relating to a subjects personality. Losing his mother at an early age had a profound impact on Carmel and subsequently she is portrayed frequently in his work.
A self professed abstract expressionist, one needn’t look further than his paintings to understand that Carmel is passionate about his work and that he uses his style to evoke value and meaning. His art is expressive yet unobtrusive, the movement and energy flow continuously keep your eyes guessing. He frequently uses mixed media which add depth and vigour to his work, some of them are reticent of picasso’s style, one of his favoured artists. The observer is left with the desire to look deeper into the significance of the painting thus creating a sense of debate between one’s self and the piece.
His life experiences have moulded him into the person he is today and have allowed him to adapt his art to share his conscious and unconscious thoughts. Walking through his gallery is like a roller coaster ride of sentiment versus hues, it is hard to decide where to look, the strength and the lure of his work is indisputable, your eyes darting between paintings with excitement and curiosity.
For more information you can visit his website at www.carmelbonello.webs.com or visit his Art gallery in Mellieha to browse through his work.
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