Abstract Painter – Ireland
New Stitches, 2007
An oil collage on canvas in 70cm x 70cm x 4cm
I’ve been clearing out and reorganising my studio space and I came across this old painting from ‘Urban Trail’ series from 2007, when I lived in Limerick city for a few years. I was surprised to see some old techniques that I seem to be using again but in a different way in my current work. It’s amazing how old tricks sneak back into the work in small ways.. inspired..
A small part of how this painting came about.
The beginnings of a new work. Quick rough sketching and mark making with pencil. The drawing is an opportunity to be expressive and free. They are inspired by my walks and trails I map as I walk. I am also inspired by the rocks and boulders that I come across scattered in the landscape of the Wicklow mountains.
Through line and shape I try to bring a certain order to the drawings with layers of thickened oil paint mixed with coldwax or with thin washes of transparent colour. I love the element of surprise when I peel back some of the thickened layers, where the drawing is revealed or washes of colour. .
This is a small snip of today’s recording of a current work in progress. It is a diptych in 100 x 100 cm (or both at 50cm x 100cm) that I am working on. They can live either together or apart I am hoping, at the finished stage.
I forget to hit record sometimes between stages as the painting progresses. Sometimes I want no distractions at all and recording a work in progress can take from that solitary need that most artists can only work in. However I am trying harder with this one as I feel it is good to look back on a video piece from time to time to simple learn from it. I have some other works finished that I recorded, so I will get working on getting those put together for anyone who would like to see my process, which is new enough to me.
This piece I am working on is a play on colours I have chosen so far, that really lift the spirits in this current COVID19 atmosphere. I am still at the early stages and it will be more defined as the work progresses. So more to come!
The music was written by me from back in July 2016, in better times I suppose. I am not a musician or even a piano player by any standards but I love using the piano as another way to express, just for myself. So don’t judge me! I love to sit down to it and just start on a key and when I find one that appeals to me, I start playing until something emerges and go with it. It all depends on my mood. In a way it is not too dissimilar to how I paint. Music is another passion of mine but clearly from a hobby point of view. This short piece was recorded on my iPhone while it was placed awkwardly on my piano as I played.
Here is my finishing stage from today’s session in the studio, shapes are taking form and I am starting to see a way onto the next stage here, so I look forward to tomorrow! Its just a phone photo so I’m sorry about the fuzziness.
This is one of the fun parts of making the painting. One of the expressive parts for colour, as the values form from lights into darks. It’s almost like the colour is dancing along with the under drawing’s lead.
