I had painted direct sunlight a few times before but I wanted something more impressive and eye-catching. I like the composition of the sun and it’s rays balanced on the other side by the dark hawthorn and its branches. And the clouds and long grasses picking up on the light in between.
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.
There was a half eaten carton of summer berries in the freezer a few weeks ago. I took it out and it began rapidly thawing out. This painting shows the berries in a transitional state between being frozen and thawed out. I loved the variety of colours and how unique this piece is.
Painted outside in the open air in fine weather. This field is next to Ballynamona Beach. I liked using Sap Green in the places where green is. For years I’ve been mixing yellow and blue to get green. I didn’t put on sun cream on the third day and my right arm got an unmerciful burning!
Painted in red tones. All these recent portraits were practice for a tv series art competition for doing a portrait. I did well on the day and even though I didn’t win, I was happy with the gameplan I had going into it and how the finished painting turned out.
Painted outdoors, using yellow both as a background and a base skin colouring mix
Painted from life. I was sitting on the scorching hot sand for two hours painting this. A heatwave was in full force.
Painted in four hours, trying out blue as a base colour mix.
Portrait of my sister Anna done in four and a half hours.
Painted on 28th June and 1st July, 2013
Size: 20 inches x 16 inches
Acrylics on painting paper
My sister Claire.
eastcorkpainter 