Long Ago and Far Away

"Long Ago and Far Away" encaustic on panel, 2014

Tread Softly

"Circles of Stone" oil on canvas, 2013

Thesis

"The Faery Tree" oil on canvas 2013

Over the past few months I have been working on my final year thesis project. Art school requires slightly different criteria then most thesis output and in this case the goal is to produce a cohesive body of art work along with the research to back it up. 

Over the past summer, I spent much of it travelling around various parts of Ireland, and this trip is what is inspiring my current projects.

I seek to interpret humanity’s mark on nature through a historical and mythological lens. Throughout my experiences in travelling through Ireland I have reconsidered my own relationship to nature. Ireland is a country that is full of myths and memories. The evidence of this is present in its landscapes from the crumbling ruins and ancient stone circles, to the ribbons tied around the branches of a “faery tree.” These narratives become an integral part of land and in becoming aware of these stories become a part of our perception of the land.

I've been meaning to call you

I've been meaning to call you... from 1windowbird on 8tracks Radio.

Portrait

L-R: self-portrait with full palette, monochrome study, three colour palette study

   The amount of portraits I've done in the past can probably be counted on two hands. Ok, if you include any faces incorporated into my paintings you'd have to have some feet in there too, and maybe a friend. But I have never concentrated on portraiture as a vehicle for expression. This fall I decided to take a portraiture class on a whim (and to fill an elective) and it has opened my eyes exponentially to the potential for depicting the human face. Its especially fascinating to see the variety of interpretations of one single subject.
  Its also made me more aware of the way in which I paint. What I interpret as my own incompetences reads to others as a distinct style and not necessarily incompetent at all, so in that way I've come to embrace my own way of painting a little more rather than what I aspire to.    
                                                             
   "Reading" portraiture for me is one of the most difficult aspects–what is the artist trying to convey through their choices? Each decision leads to another narrative. While some say that portraits allow the real, true essence of the subject to be shared, I find my interpretations take a complete 180º and I'm left baffled. Ultimately the artist sees what they want to see and even then, the image put down becomes something entirely different to another viewer. But this mystery is what makes portraits so intriguing. As with real people, you can never really know them, only think that you do though the lens of your own milieu.
   These are just some brief thoughts but the world of portraiture is wide and its history is long. I look forward to continuing my explorations in painting the face.

* all portraits studies from life–from top, left to right: monochrome, self-portrait with full palette, full palette with colour interruption, full palette study

Release

"Release" mixed media on wood, 2013

Studio Tour 2013

Hello all, I will be participating in the Mary Allen Studio Tour this year, so come out and see some great  art–painting, pottery, jewellery and much, much more (not all by me fyi!). The tour consists of several different locations to visit and view artists' work, many of them in their homes or studios.
It's a fun way to see some more of the neighbourhood as well as to get glimpse of some artists' studios and to speak with local artists about their work. There will be live music at several locations and, as well, opportunities to explore some local architecture and history–and these events are all free.
By visiting all the studio locations there is also a chance to win a gift card to be spent with an artist of your choice–not that you needed the extra incentive, right? Right!
So do something extraordinary with your weekend and come out and explore the Mary Allen 2013 Studio Tour.

Old School

Acrylic on board, 2011

Gallery Visit: Hugh Lane

While I haven't mentioned it much on this blog, over the summer I backpacked around Ireland–which as you can imagine was a most fantastic experience. One of the amazing highlights that I hadn't considered previous to arriving was the amount of galleries and museums that are free to the public, not to mention the sheer volume of arts related events and festivals that inundated half the cities I visited. It was truly wonderful.
The Hugh Lane Gallery was a fantastic highlight in my visit to Dublin city. From their impressive collection of well known artists (Monet! Manet! Renoir! Morrisot! ..umm, I was very excited to see my art history text book come to life) to the perfectly preserved studio of Francis Bacon (yes, in the gallery!) to the wonderful stained glass windows by Harry Clarke illustrating Keats' poem "The Eve of St Agnes" this gallery is lovely.

I was also impressed with the range of Irish artist that was showcased from the historical to the contemporary. There was quite a wide range that allowed for a brief historical overview of major movements in Ireland and hi-lighting many historical events as artists reacted to the times.