Using aluminium composite as a surface rather than the usual canvas.
Tag Archives: acrylic
Three Blue Glass Containers on a Mirror
Autumnal Briar Leaves 6
Potted Cylcamen (Red October)
Zeal
Storm Darwin Over Ballycotton Bay From Garryvoe – Sold

On 12th February, 2014 Ireland and Britain were hit by a storm, the last in a series which started in the previous December. That afternoon, the winds whipped up causing the worst gusts experienced in many years. I went down to the nearby strand, Garryvoe, and witnessed the highest waves I’d seen in years. The islands are barely peeping above the sea. For the painting, I darkened the sky a bit, to make the waves stand out more. The sun was shining from the right, highlighting parts of the sea.
Kilcredan Ruined Church and Graveyard

This place is about two miles from home. When I was small I’d pass it everyday heading to and from primary school. Some of my father’s mother’s ancestors are buried here. The church is an old 17th century Protestant church. This is the third painting of a graveyard I’ve done. Snow is a rare thing where I live so it’s featured in only a handful of my paintings. I had trouble doing the tree over on the far left and the walls of the church, they slowed me down a lot. Once I was on the bottom third of the painting I raced through it. The light coloured shadows of dirty purple and light blue were satisfying to paint.
Ballymaloe House

During my most recent exhibition at the Grainstore in Ballymaloe, it was suggested by the owner to do a picture of the house nearby. So after considering various angles, I settled on this view. There is a good sense of depth and the buildings look imposing as they ‘lean’ in with height. I did a very deep blue in the sky which I’ve never done before. I also used sap green and leaf green on the foliage on the wall and the front lawn. The Grainstore has been good to me during the two exhibitions I’ve had there and I was determined to a good job with portraying this well known building.
Foamy Tide At Garryvoe Beach

My biggest painting to date (1 metre x 80cm). The whole idea for it belongs to my older sister Claire. Shortly after last Christmas, she came to me with the idea for doing a picture of the sea when the froth is foamy and thick. I liked the idea because I haven’t seen many paintings of such a view. The picture is based on a photo taken on New Year’s Eve. I took loads of shots and spent time observing the ebb and flow of the tide. 99% of the painting was done with my thin Dalon rigger brush. I was determined to finish it without doing anything else, so for four months I kept at it. I used a palette knife to deposit much Titanium White as an undercoat for the foamy froth in the foreground.
Midleton Library Building: A Study in Red – Sold

Took some time to get into this, I had to translate not just from a reference photo to canvas, but also make up a colour scheme using red in every mix. Challenging but worth it! Sold.




