Galway Cathedral at Dusk

Galway Cathedral at Dusk

I had noticed before I started painting this, that there is a fine contrast between street lighting and the twilight sky, between the yellow/orange glow and deep indigo of the sky. I was staying in Galway when I started on this, a fine town with an impressive cathedral. I like this painting a lot.

Autumnal View of Garryvoe

Autumnal View Of Garryvoe Watermark

I hadn’t painted for 6 months before I started this. I was determined to make a highly detailed painting as I was a little disappointed with the previous painting’s foreground. Based on a reference photo; the day I took it I wasn’t in the area, I was down by the prom walk in Garryvoe and noticed bales in the field on the higher ground. When I got there I found that they were in every field towards the sea. So I spent the next 6 months painting. The last 3 were spent on the foreground, doing those stubbles trying to depict the sunlight reflecting off of them. No compromise!

Abbey at Kenyon Street, Nenagh

Abbey at Kenyon Street, Nenagh

I was working on an archaeological dig not far from the Tipperary town of Nenagh when I painted this. I was returning to my rented house from home the Sunday I started this. I’d forgotten my blue paints. I was annoyed for a while, thinking I’d have to wait another week before I’d start. Then I had the idea of doing the painting without blue and, using the colours I had, came up with an unusual colour scheme. Every day after work, I’d spend a few hours at it in the evening. I was very pleased with the result.