Curiosity

These colourful studies of Purdy seem to get lots of atention so I've decided to do a small series. I probably won't blog them all as I know how short the ol' attention span is, but this one is slightly larger than the others at 8" x6".

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Standing on the shoulders of giants

I did this one last night before tea, but this morning's offering was a definite wiper. I need some good music, so I'm blogging and creating a new playlist at the same time. Creative multitasker me!

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Deep Dargle

Exciting day today! An art dealer has shown interest in some of my paintings for two galleries down the country, a local gallery has invited me to enter a submission for a show next year, one painting sold this week and I got a commision for another. Hey hey.

Today has however been crazy, I brought my eldest to the orthodontist where he decided to "pop" that last baby tooth out. No numbing gel, no nothing, just pulled it out with his fingers before anyone could restle him to the ground.

We're home now and recovering with icecream!

Three's a magic number

When is a pear not a pair?
Oh come on... it's not that bad. Ok it is, but frankly what do you say about a still life of three pears? 
Anyway, I'm head, tooth and claws into searching for a website theme or template that fits with my ideas for the website. I'm going with the "shoot for the stars - hit the trees" theory of web design. I want something that looks fantastic, great clean design and clear intuitive navigation. I am happy to pay (with a small p) for the right theme but of course that's like the Holy Grail. I know I will have to make major compromises by the end but right now I'm still in the shoot for the stars end of thinking and hoping I will stumble onto the perfect design. I feel another two hours in front of the computer screen coming on. What joy!

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Orange Jar

I started work on an artitst's website today. When I say started, of course I mean this in the widest possible sense. I know once I get into it, it will be fine but already knowing how long it takes and having decided to use wordpress, which is new to me, I think I'd rather go back to bed.

I have used dreamweaver before but wordpress seems a lot easier and it's also free. I am looking into free themes at the moment for artists sites but I think I may have to go with something more general and then customise it. (more fear)

So, the thing is to start right? and I did that today!



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Leaving platform one

Pearse Station late one cold evening last week.

Painted from a photo that was taken by my train photographer cousin in-law, Finny Kennedy. Thanks Finny. I came across this photo on Finny's facebook page and loved the contrast of the really dark night and the pools of warm light on the platform. I was somewhat less taken by the very boy fact that the train was a 2900 class - whatever that is!

SOLD

Three Sisters

Something about this compostition reminds me of the Three Sister star constellation. Maybe too much time alone?

You heard it here first!

Here's the word on two blogs worthy on some lurv..

So, the thing is..
written by Barb Cooper, a self confessed writer, mum and reborn knitter blessed with a witty and sometimes dark sense of humour. " Struggling to learn to live in my head, in my body and in this world, all at the same time. It's not as easy as you'd think." Well worth checking out if you are a thinking woman dealing with family life. The other is

Totalfeckineejit
In his own words " Hypocrite,Langer, Louser.Pizza manafacturer/delivery boy and part-time astronaut also a poet/photographer extraordinaire.A self-made Billionaire. I live in a large medieval castle set in 200 acres of woodland. we raise herds of wild Haggis for our exclusive EEjit pizza range.I founded and run Ireland's only eco and alien -friendly space exploration centre. I have been variously described as 'Irelands greatest poet' and 'a total tosser who couldn't write a decent poem if his life depended on it' or 'as a poet he makes a great photographer' and 'as a photographer he makes me sick' Not too hot on poetry, potograffee, grammar,punctuation, or Sunday afternoons.Me spelin is perfik dough."

So there, check them out and spread the lurv.

When it all goes pear shaped

A hundred dead people in my truck.

Half are the bodies of babies, up to 20 in one coffin. Cause of death - starvation. This, only 90 minutes from Miami. This was Haiti - before the earthquake.

I was deeply affected by a documentary shown last night on RTE about Irish people working in Haiti last year. It was called “A hundred dead people in my truck.” If you missed it it’s worth catching up on their iplayer here.

What was moving in so many ways, both then and now was the strength of spirit of the Haitians. Dr. Louise Ivers, an Irish aid worker says in the documentary “There is an old Haitian saying here, As long as your head isn't cut off, you can always dream of wearing a hat. The Haitians are very resilient."

If you haven’t already donated a few Euros here’s a link to two of my favorite charities, Goal and Oxfam. Both are in Haiti now.

Slopes of Bray Head

So I thought might paint this scene overlooking Bray and then paint the same scene after the snow was gone. With this in mind I went for a walk up there yesterday but it was so wet you could barely see the big trees in the forground. Maybe I'll wait till the sun comes back - of course with our weather one could be waiting so I'll put his one up for now.

In a bit of a Jam!

Barter Heaven.

Yesterday I bartered some of my homemade rasberry jam for some gessoed boards - this one included. What started off as a bit of a joke on facebook ended up saving me a few euros. Now, I'm not going to brag about my jam (much) but he asked for more, so Happy days! Thanks Kevin and I hope you like the jam!

It got me thinking though, lots of people and in particular artists are turning to bartering as a way of navigating this cheery time we like to call "The Recession". I know of an artist who has bartered a painting for weekends away for the family and I've heard of artists bartering for anything from dental treatment, to website optimisation services. It's really not a bad idea and I guess it it just take a little creative thinking.

So if you happen to have a villa in the south of france.... talk to me.