Garryvoe Church and Graveyard

Garryvoe Church and Graveyard

About half a mile from my home stands an old Medival church, surrounded by headstones dating as early as the late 18th century. It’s one of the most intact churches in the region. I was pleased with the soft indirect lighting effect on the stonework. I spent over a month painting it.

Mam’s Arthritic Left Hand

Mam's Arthritic Left Hand

My mother suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis, a painful, auto-immune disease. Over time, it has distorted her joints, making them bulge. I found it a compelling subject for painting. I spent about a week doing this in February 2006 when I was 23. This painting got a lot of favourable attention during my first exhibition in 2011.

Irish Medieval Ambush Scene

Irish Medieval Ambush Scene

Painted from my mind’s eye. I wanted to do an historical scene, and I’ve an interest in Later Medieval Ireland. I spent some time at it. The result was a let down; even though the sky and landscape were good, the figures looked a bit simple and not fully realised. I’ve never attempted an historical painting since.

Isolated

Isolated

Painted from my mind’s eye in February, 2005. After college I worked in archaeological digs around the country. But not continuously; there were stretches where I wasn’t working and helping out at home because my mother suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis. This was painted during one of those times. I had lost touch with a lot of the people I worked with and went to school with. So I wanted to do a simple, symbolic picture representing my situation.

Imaginary Starlit Night

Imaginary Starlit Night

Done entirely from my mind’s eye, no references. Some people think the orange and yellow lights down towards the bottom show a train, but I meant it to be a housing estate. I suppose my favourite colour is blue and I think this painting shows this. Painted in October and November, 2004.

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain

Not satisfied with my previous attempt at depicting the Nirvana musician, I painted this over a few months in 2003 and 2004. Despite using a reference photo, the colour scheme was my own idea. I remember taking my time doing his face and head in particular. This is a landmark painting, after this picture my paintings got more colourful and diverse.

Kurt Cobain MTV Unplugged

Kurt Cobain MTV Unplugged

I’m a big Nirvana fan since discovering them aged 18. So sooner or later I was going to do a picture of Kurt who is a popular subject in drawings and paintings. I did this the last week of December, 2002. This was the first picture I got framed. It’s ok, the head is a bit too small and I wasn’t satisfied with it. So I did another painting of him.

Long Garden Field and Shed – Sold

Long Garden Field and Shed

The laneway from our farm leads into the field depicted here, called the ‘Long Garden’. The shed is of a neighbouring farmer’s. I painted this in one sitting, positioned in the middle of the field surrounded by wheat. Painted on 5th August, 2002.