I’ve been wanting to paint this sunset for a long time, the original reference photo was taken in January 2013. I painted it in my homemade oil paints. There’s nothing like a sunset at winter when the tide is going out and the sky is reflected in the wet sand. Twice the magic!
The highlighted parts of a rock I saw last December reminded me of a fetus. This led me thinking about the Kerry baby and Ann Lovett cases in the Eighties and how, up until recently in Irish society, the absolute worst thing for a young woman in Ireland to do was to get pregnant outside of marriage.
I love the winter light on the beach, it feels like the genuine character of the place comes out.
This piece was well received at my recent solo exhibition in the Grainstore Ballymaloe. It depicts a rough sea, I only got into the sea for a proper dip twice in February. The lighthouse island can barely be seen above the sea. Homemade oils used, silver for the shadows around the waves.
Commission
eastcorkpainter 