I saw precious little on my tour of charity shops and some of the plusher outlets (I was surprised that there was so little in Brown Thomas. I expected more). I also got another Chinese blue and white decorated jar in an oriental food shop. Anyhuff, I ended up back in Avoca and bought two pretty little jugs, one of which I’ve painted here.

Incidentally, I have to say how much I enjoy those Saturday mornings. I take my daughter into the Alliance française for her weekly class which leaves me two hours -two whole hours! - to stare into space or draw figures or whatever leaps unbidden into my imagination. That’s like a holiday. The staff are just great, too. I lift my large cup of coffee and scone with jam up in salute.

8″ x 8″ Oils on panel.

Well I can’t afford linen, can I? Dirty sacking from the mill is all that I can lay my rough peasant’s hands on these days. The landlord’s agent, Mr. Finn O’Gael was distracted, marching around, quill in hand, trying to translate commands in German and bark them at us in Irish and  whooosh! Out with my grubby hand and under my sodden, stinking greatcoat with the dish and under my stovepipe hat with the napkin.

I can’t wait to show the other boys in our Kinnegad Slashers faction down at the bothy.

Anyway, white isn’t white and that’s why it’s a good thing to practice painting white objects.

Next week, I’ll be painting the chalice at the Mass rock. An raibh tú ag an gCarraig? Not me, Guard.

These exclusive lessons provides students with the best of painting tuition, clearly and simply imparted to novice and intermediate alike. These small workshops are held in the warm and friendly environment of my studio and everyone gets maximum attention. Over the 6 weeks, students will be encouraged and nurtured in a convivial atmosphere; so don’t be daunted!

Still Life Painting: [Adults: All levels] Students will learn and practice drawing technique, preparation of canvases, technique, composition, colour-mixing and brushwork.

Tuesday mornings: 10:00am – 12:30pm Fee: €175 per 6 week course. 3 places remaining.

Tuesday evenings: 7:00pm – 9:30pm Fee: €175 per 6 week course. 1 place remaining.

Thursday mornings: 10:00am – 12:30pm Fee: €175 per 6 week course. 1 place remaining.

Thursday evenings: 7:00pm – 9:30pm Fee: €175 per 6 week course. 1 place remaining.

Address: The Studio, 17 Aideen Avenue, Terenure. Dublin 6W. See map below

Telephone: 086 247 0737

Email: art@mcsherry.ie

View Art Classes Ireland in a larger map

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.

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…

Coincidentally, Some time ago, Tom Dunne’s wireless programme on Newstalk ran a segment on the Honda 50 and its place in Irish hearts. I answered a tweet with my piece of family lore and wound up talking to Tom himself on the wireless.  It was enough to kickstart the project which has been at the back of my mind for years. I now intend to take the project at a leisurely pace, putt-putting down the pot-holed road to that destination in my mind. Sure, my knees will get cold, I’ll become boggle-eyed and partially deaf from the wind-rush, but I’ll get there. It’s only over that hill…or maybe the next one…and the wind will bluster and the petrol tank will run dry from time to time but I’ll replenish my flagging spirits with roadside mugs of hot tea; I’ll shift my drowsy young pillion passenger from the back seat of my 90cc step-through to the back seat of their uncle’s Renault 10 and we’ll wend our way down the emptying roads; past country towns and villages, by the darkening ocean, chasing the red tail-lights and red number plates towards Kells Bay. And there, Dad will speak Irish with local men and buy useless bamboo fishing rods for us to cast our lines from the bridge at Kilorglin but he’ll neglect to buy bait. Mum will be young and strong again and hide her health fears from us and we’ll pick blackberries by the roadside and I will stand at the edge of the pier, peering down into the clear water while my brothers take the plunge. Only this time, I’ll dive before the tide ebbs too far.

I look forward to seeing you there. Kevin

 Feb 25th. ‘Acrylics Dry-brushing’. Saturday 1 day painting workshop. Email Me or pay directly by clicking the button above.

Here’s the full list of art one day workshops for 2012. You can also see the list, with links to pages for each individual workshop here. Workshops on: drawing,acrylics painting, oils painting including oils glazing and alla prima. Workshops are limited to 15 students only. Join my Facebook page here for more direct updates and information as it becomes available.