art

With the sudden departure of last week’s summer to be replaced by freezing sleet and more bad economic news, I went out yesterday and bought myself a couple of large canvases in Evans’ art shop in order to paint some sunshine into my world. I’m currently exploring stained glass windows; in particular, Harry Clarke’s work (My daughter was confirmed recently in St. Joseph’s, Terenure, and when we walked out of the church, there was a magnificent Clarke above us in all it’s sparkling slendour -and I never knew it was there until somebody told me!).

Anyway, looking at stained glass has provided me with some inspiration to explore a style very different from my other work. Technically, these will be based around dry-brushing, which is most easily done using acrylics. I’m about mid-way into the above piece, a still life of sunflowers. I’ll get a picture of it up on my site as soon as I can figure out how to scan such a large area!

I’m planning to take a course in stained glass later on in the year. Incidentally, I went looking for a book on Clarke, to get a closer view at his work and I came across the book, ‘Strangest Genius’ on Amazon. I’d have loved to be able to buy it but the price was €1600. It might be quite a while before I can part with that much cash…It turned out that my local lending library in Terenure have a copy which I’m going to collect tomorrow. I’m looking forward to soaking up all that sunlight.

My latest solo show, ‘The Exile’s Return’, will run from March 29 to April 14 at the Copperhouse Gallery, Off Synge Street, Dublin 8. I’ll be showing all original paintings in oils and acrylics but there will also be archival museum quality reproductions available through the gallery’s sister company FIRE.

Further to that, I’ll be giving an artist’s talk on Saturday 31st March at 2pm if I haven’t burst a ventricle due to the stress. Sounds attractive? See you there.

The painting at left is, ‘Yankee Dan Halligan-and-a-Half’, Acrylics on Arches paper.

If you’d like to have more information about the exhibition, please contact the curator, Tony Strickland or myself at 086 247 0737.

Please feel free to click on one of the social media buttons below to share this fantastic news…