This is a view just outside home of our field that borders Garryvoe Beach. Painted from life over several weekends from 14th January to 17th February, 2007. I was lucky with the weather; it was remarkablly settled at the time. I wanted to show the vastness of the field and give a sense of perspective with the bales.
This is the first of my views of Garryvoe the place where I live. The view is from one of our fields, the ‘High Field’. I had been wanting to do this view for a few years before getting around to doing it. At the time, it was a very ambitious goal. The sky appealed to me a lot, I like how over in the east and south opposite to where the sun sets, the sky goes purple to a deep blue near the horizon.
Painted from 28th June to 23rd September, 2006.
A view from the field outside my home. Painted from life in one sitting. Sold.
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.
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.
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.
A quick, simple painting. The inspiration was a doodle my father did on one of the black painted boarded windows on one of the farm sheds.
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.
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.
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.
eastcorkpainter 