CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Dire Straits' guitarist Mark Knopfler was once asked why he abandoned a safe career as a teacher in order to become a rock musician. In essence he threw away a safe secure job with a guaranteed pension in order to toss the rock and roll dice. Instead of the classroom and blackboard he chose the seedier side of London's pub rock circuit as described in Dire Straits' first hit Sultans ofSluing. His answer was quite simple: "If it's inside you it's got to come out."

This is the driving force of all artists whose deci sions are not made on the basis of logic or"common sense." Instead they are driven by the desire deep inside them to express the creative side of their per sonalities. Indeed to do anything else would con demn them to a life of unfulfillmentand unhappiness.

I thought of the words of Mark Knopfler as I in terviewed Gibraltar artist Jenica Pizarro at her beau tiful home along Europa Road,one she shares with her husband, well known local vet Mark Pizarro. As jenica told me of how her interest in art developed it became clear that this is more than a hobby. It is, quite simply, a funda mental part of her person ality that needs to be ex pressed on canvas. And the talented artist has al ready had serious recog nition on the Rock by winning several prizes for her work.Last year she won the Gibraltar theme prize for her study of Casemates and this year she has another piece exhibited at the 30th Gibraltar International Art Exhibi tion, at John Macintosh Hall.

What fascinated me about her development as an artist is the sin gle-minded determination she has shown in achieving her goal. Inter est began, not surprisingly, as a youngster. She recalls, "My sister used to draw and she was very good at drawing animals. I used to scribble on her books trying to copy.

"We lived in Africa,Zambia to be precise, for five years, and my teacher there taught me a lot. School would start early and finish at midday.It was a dangerous place so I tended to be home a lot draw ing."

When, I asked, did you begin to paint?"This began when I returned to the UK for my O levels, and it came very naturally. In school my first paintings were of ships but my teacher gave me space.It developed into a passion and I got lost in it, the time just flew by." She contin- ture student of 21 at Stevenage Art College, which is now part of Hatfield University. She likes real ism, portraits and figurative work. his work. Also Vela Zamez, who did The Wa ter Seller of Seville. Locally Jenica really admires Adrian Cabedo's work. ued, "I did graphics and art. My teacher said you can be a fine art ist,or a graphic designer and be rich and famous.Half way through my A levels my parents moved to Gi braltar."

Speaking of her own work she discussed the award-winning picture of Casemates, "It's bright, modern and textured and I really enjoyed doing it. I got lost in the painting completely. 1 did it very quickly, if something's go ing really well I don't eat or drink. When 1 get a good reaction there's a lot ofsat isfaction for me."

Jenica, who works with oils and pastels, is plan ning to do a lot more paint ing in the future. In recent times, not surprisingly, her marriage and the birth of her children have taken precedence.In addition the project that is their beauti ful colonial home has also taken up a lot of time. However,she pays tribute to the immense amount of support and encourage ment she gets from her husband. In the short term she hopes to contribute to an exhibition taldng place as part of the May Fes tival in Gibraltar.She also hopes to participate in the San Roque one as well. But she plans much more in the future,"I'd like to have people ask mc for portraits. I do the life classes in Gibraltar every Thursday. The year before last we did the Miss Gibraltar girls, and out of ten girls seven took my paintings. I enjoy murals as well;I'm open to those."

Even then the promise was there. Jenica won the under 25s'competi tion in the Rock's international art exhibition. In 1991 she left Gibral tar,determined to continue her pas sion for art. She enrolled as a ma

She adds,"1 can do other things but portraits appeal. I am more open now to experimenting.I do this be cause 1 love it, and I wouldn't put something on the wall I hated. I don't like artists en bloc,I like paint ings." However,she does naturally have her favourites,"1 love Lucian Freud,80 years old and still alive, he's the top live artist in the UK.He refused to paint Princess Diana but painted the Queen.I really admire

Jenica's achievements speak for themselves.Her forma!artistic edu cation wascharacterised by several interruptions which mav well have put off le.ss focussed individuals. It is a tribute to her determination to express her art thatshe is still paint ing today.

Given her obvious potential,and whatshe has already achieved,one can only speculate as to what the future holds once she can commit herself full time!