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.
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 over a few nights from life using a headlight mounted on my forehead. It was an amazing experience to paint out in the night air, so still and memorable. I’m moving away from using photographs as references.
Painted from life. I parked my car in the garden car park and painted the view out the front passenger window. There was continuous fine weather in the first week of June that allowed me to do this.
Painted on 3rd and 4th June, 2013
Size: 11.3 inches x 8.7 inches
Oils on Acrylic Painting Paper
In late May and early June, the buttercups come out in their full yellow glory. I was looking for a field which wasn’t mown for silage and had plenty of these wild flowers. I found one not too far from home. We’re having great fine weather and I’m trying to get the most out of it by painting outdoors every day.
Painted on 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th June, 2013
Size: 12 x 9 inches
Oils on Oil Painting Paper
We’re having a rare week of continuous fine weather. So I’ve been doing a lot of painting outdoors, which is how I began my art 14 years ago. Also I’m using oils which I haven’t been using since September, 2012. I went to a nearby car park by a beach, Ballinwilling strand. I decided to do four little pictures of the same view at different times of the day and the sea at different tide levels. They are on the one page so you get the idea of how the sea constantly changes. I’m satisfied with this work.
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.
This bird was wading around in the pond in Fota Gardens.
Rain is coming in the distance over the hills. In Ireland when dark, rainy clouds approach over seas, the seas can turn a deep green.
