Standing back after an intense session of painting and trying to work out where it’s going I can sometimes see parts of the chaos in my mind. Usually on a day where I finally tackle my fears, the what, why, when, how, but, all shower down in a deafening noise. Then I stop and I can begin to make sense of something.. sometimes.
This work in progress is perhaps another of those..
Looking out from Crone woods over Powerscourt and Djouce woods.
This came about on the top of Scarr mountain a few days ago. Looking out over the valley and onto the distant hills and forests. I followed the line of trails with my eye like a virtual map in front of me. Trying to work out my surroundings and where I was in relation to what I saw.
Plein air drawing in charcoal on cotton rag paper.
My trails, my ventures, my paths, my presence. It calls to mind a sense of living and where I’ve been in life up until now. Time has no presence, its hard to comprehend sometimes.
Plein air drawing is something I am doing a lot more of lately. It has no comparison to drawing in the studio. I get a sense of place in the studio and I work from memory. The studio forces me in to draw without a subject in the room and work from memory. When I draw out in the open, something else happens. It allows me to connect in the moment and respond there and then when something that catches my eye. In the studio I recall those moments but to bring back an image of my interpretation unlike a captured photographic image, reinforces a strong connection to the landscape and how I see it.
I am thrilled to have my work photographed and now posted to my website here in Work 7. This work came about so fast and is continuing into the next pieces with a small change in direction. I am looking at opening the space more in the work as per my post last week. I am excited with whats happening right now in my painting. The need to be out more in the open sketching plein air seems to be really helping too.
New from the studio, oil and beeswax on stretched paper. The surface of the paper is primed with PVA and layers of gesso. I began with the drawing in charcoal and pencil with thin layers of paint ade transparent to reveal the under drawing detail. I also used oils mixed with cold wax to push and drag over the surface.
Inspired by the surroundings of large boulders and rocks on a walk near Scar mountain a few weeks back.
The direction I want to go with my work is to give space to the painting. It needs more of a way in and an outlet. Out of curiosity I attended this years ‘Speed Curating’ at Get Together 2019 and I gained some good advise from some of Ireland’s top gallery curators. I know most of my strengths and weaknesses and with some been pointed out to me is reassuring and encouraging. Only good can come from constructive criticism and I will make relevant decisions to constantly build and improve my work. I am excited to see where it will take me.
My art is my response to nature and the surrounding landscape. My thoughts often drift from what’s on this planet to the wonder beyond our greater universe. Something that I feel needs no explanation but is always part of the work. . .
