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.
Painted in one day in five and a half hours from life at the side of a road into my nearest town.
Painted this in the open air by the side of a road over two days. Spent 11 hours at it. Thickened the white areas that were closer to the viewer. Satisfied with the result.
Time of year was November, marram grass is another name for this.
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.
I’ve a fair few paintings of suns, so I put the title in Spanish for this one. Down on Garryvoe Beach, tide way out, and the setting sun over Ardnahinch, casting its long rays over the rock banks.
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.
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