Posts

Showing posts with the label acrylics

A Popular Mechanic

-
Image
A very satisfying and enjoyable project reached its conclusion last Friday. The Director of the Alliance Française, Philippe Milloux, has just completed his term at the Alliance and is moving on to an even more exalted position in Paris. I think it's very useful to show you something of the planning, care and attention to that what went into it from me and the group of his colleagues who clubbed together to commission this art.

As usual, in preparation for the composition, I interviewed his colleagues and tried to get a picture of how he could be best represented. Part of the work that Philippe carried out over the last few years was to restructure the Alliance and make sure it remains a healthy and vibrant institution into the future. Happily, I also discovered that he has always had an interest in car mechanics and has been fixing them since he was ten years old, since his father was a car mechanic.

My objective with these artworks is to make a gift that is unique, imaginative a…
Post a Comment
Read more

OPIUM

-
Image
In response to all that's GUBU here on the Emerald Isle (to those outside of Ireland, GUBU is an acronym first used during a late 1980s political scandal: Grotesque; Unprecedented; Bizarre and Unbelievable - and it never seems to stop), I have my own newly-coined acronym for these hand-painted gift artworks: OPIUM: Original; Personal; Imaginative; Unique; Memorable.

I should add; addictive but that quality is inherent in the word and it would mess up my lovely new acronym.

Let me explain: I create these unique artworks to order, usually for retiring or otherwise departing executives. These projects are fun -with all the secret meetings and development, sketches and the growing feelings of expectation -and the party at the end where the presentation of the framed art is made.

So, I'm after all the PAs I can get my hands on (so to speak). That's my goal. PAs are the 'go-to' people when an unusual project comes up within a company: Something like procuring a retireme…
Post a Comment
Read more

The Wren, the Wren, King of all Birds!

-
Image
Little Fairy Wren. Gilded Acrylics on canvas. For sale €350. 6" x 6" framed behind glass.
Not the wee brown bird of the ancient Irish tradition of hunting the wren (An Dreoilín) on Saint Stephen's Day, but a native bird of Australia. I wish we had more such colourful birds here. Maybe we wouldn't have been buck-lepping around and battering them with sticks...  The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
Although he was little his honour was great,
Jump up me lads and give him a treat.

Chorus:
Up with the kettle and down with the pan,
And give us a penny to bury the wren.
2. As I was going to Killenaule,
I met a wren upon the wall.
I took me stick and knocked him down,
And brought him in to Carrick Town.

Chorus:3. Droolin, Droolin, where’'s your nest?
Tis in the bush that I love best
In the tree the holly tree,
Where all the boys do follow me.

Chorus:4. We followed the wren three miles or more,
Three mile or more three miles or more.
W…
Post a Comment
Read more

Bird of a Feather

-
Image
Well, 2016 has arrived. I hope that the rain will abate soon because if it goes on the way it has, we'll all be washed down the Swanee. We'll all end up doing a spot of trout fishing.

Continuing with the work I've been at over the last while, here's another of my favourite birds. This one is 'Halcyon III'. Gilded Acrylics on canvas. 8" x 8".

Post a Comment
Read more

A Bad Hair Day

-
Image
I did a small demo for my morning students yesterday. I wanted to show them how to make a warm monochrome underpainting.

I think he looks a little like the actor Paddy Considine having a bad hair day.

Acrylics 6" x 6".

.
Post a Comment
Read more

Step by Step Movie

-
Image
A Very Bouncy Project
I've just completed a small movie, tracking the course of a single illustration. It should go some way to explain how I work -at least once rough sketches have been approved by the client. I had enormous fun making it. Basically, it's a series of still shots taken while the artwork was being hand-painted in acrylic on Arches watercolour paper [my preferred method!].
Click here for the movie
You'll notice that I decided some way into the work to eliminate the background. It's a decision I allowed myself as I had complete control over the final look; the final art not being created for a client.

The thing that really got me excited about the project was licencing the music. It's the first time I've ever ventured into the whole area of licencing a piece of art as a client. Joanna at www.penguincafe.com was wonderful, however, and seemed enthused about the idea. I was sad to learn of Simon Jeffes' [the Penguin's composer and founder] unt…
7 comments
Read more