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My essentials ELAINE MIFSUD Artist and teacher Mum of twins, Luke and Danielle. Art and teaching have always been my passions from a very young age. I am quite the philosophical kind. The rational side of me takes the lead most of the time as I reason out everything. Lately, I am exploring more my emotive side by expressing my emotions through abstract art. 1. Online story 2. Film 3. Internet 4. Music 5. Place I love listening to Chopin's pieces, especially Waltz in A minor and the many Noc- turnes, as well as pieces by Debussy like Arabesque and Clair de Lune. These pieces help me get into a medi- tative and creative mood when I paint. I also love all the pieces by two Italian composers and pianists Lu- dovico Einaudi and Andrea Vanzo both of whom I have heard live in Verona and Milan last year. I feel that their music transmits a lot of emotions and transports you to another dimension. A place which I have want- ed to visit for so long and have finally managed to visit is Claude Monet's residence and gardens in Giverny, France. I have always admired the im- pressionistic works of this artist and the good use of colours and light in his many plein air composi- tions. This place especial- ly the water lily pond is a painter's paradise in my opinion with all the differ- ent blooming water lilies and the ref lections of the sky in the water, together with the iconic bridge. A book that I have read in the last year is Everything For Art by Tizian Balding- er and Timon R. Böse. I picked it since it has a lot of useful tips for artists, es- pecially emerging ones like me. In this book the au- thors discuss blunt quotes from an established art- ist who wanted to remain anonymous. I'm not that much into films, however I often end up watching movies with my kids. A film my kids love is A Minecraft Movie. I was surprisingly intrigued by it, even though the only small briefing I have about the Minecraft game is from my son. The scene which struck me most is the one in which Dennis the dog reunites with his owner Steve. I guess I imagined myself reuniting again with my Springer Bella who just passed away after almost 12 years with us. SOMETIMES as I am scroll- ing on social media, I often come across deep messages from people who know that their days of life are count- ed due to a terminal illness. Their messages about life capture my attention. They make us realise that we take many things for granted, es- pecially the simplest things… like waking up each morn- ing, hearing the sound of the wind or the chirping of birds in trees, smelling the first raindrops on the grass, tuck- ing your small kids in bed and the list goes on! Compiled by Laura Calleja suggestions by email lcalleja@mediatoday.com 4 5 1 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2026 ALMANAC 3 2