not listening

If you're sitting on the edge of your seat  waiting for this new website of mine.(how likely is that?) I am here to tell you that yes its coming but actually I'm no further along with resolving the uploading issue. However, I fall back on the knowledge that "I am a human; it (my computer) is just plastic and circuit boards. Ergo I am bound to win. (eventually)

Thankfully my trusty blogger site never lets me down so here we will stay until I can sort it out or bribe some 10 year nerd to fix the problem for me.(if you know any please send them my way)

Thankfully the house is almost clear of chocolate now. Easter is a bit like how drug dealers start their customers off. Loads of stuff freely available, then suddenly it drys up and you have to “pony up” for more supplies. I have to say I am fighting the temptation to go buy more (my daughter helpfully pointed out that Easter eggs would be very cheap now!) But no. It’s all cold turkey from here on!

This painting is a larger version of "purdy in the pink". A 6x6inch painting I could of sold at least a couple of times over but which I'm too fond of to part with.

not listening
16x16 inch oil on stretched canvas

Perry Party

Happy Easter by the way!

If I see anymore chocolate between now and next year I swear I will turn a walk away. No really!

Anyway, I have hit a hitch on the website. (of course you have, I hear you say wearily) The final proofing changes wont' upload and I can't talk to the server people till tomorrow so hold on, don't unpack your bags. We'll be back on track tomorrow.

By the way if there's anything you'd like to purchase I can still officially charge the lower prices for another week or so. So grab'm while they're a steal!



perry party
16x16 inch oil on canvas €450

Any way the wind blows

So the new website is done. Ta da!

Well, almost, almost done. But that's the nature of websites, there’s always something else you can do. I’ll continue to work on improving it over time but for now everything is there and all the buttons an’ stuff work. So let’s go!

Now the next thing I have to do is pack up all my subscribers from feedburner etc. to bring with me. I’ll take some time over this because I really don’t want to leave anyone behind. There’s always one who had to nip back to use the loo at the last minute or go get something to eat.

Anyway the most important thing is, if you don’t hear from me again, please come find me and re subscribe. I'll miss you otherwise.

I willl post the new website address here before we go like a bread crumb trail for blog readers lost in the cyber woods.

Rob named this painting after a JJ Cale song (apparently)

16x16 inch oil on stretched canvas

Stacked

It’s easter break here and the kids are off. The weather is good – for ducks and cold to boot. So it’s a day for pj’s till noon, clearing out cubboards and putting on plays (the kids, not me!)

I am slacking off a little on the painting too as I’ve set myself a deadline of the end of the month to launch the new website (it’s the 29th!). It’s coming on, but one needs the patience of job and a proof reader from the Irish times wouldn’t go a miss either.

This is a little study I did this morning almost in black and white

Stacked 7×7 inch oil on gesso bord €195

Mr. Frawley takes a nap

Feeling sleepy? There's a nap for that!

Well. I think I've managed to persuade my family to holiday in Lahinch this summer. I have been campaigning solidly for a few weeks now and the votes are almost in.

The other candidate is a lovely house in Marseille who's family is interested in a house swap. Something we've done a number of times with great sucess, however I just don't have the energy or the will to clean behind the toilets this year!

So Lahinch it is (for me anyway) I am dropping "surf school" casually within hearing of the kids and hoping that will clinch it.

Anyway, as I'm thinking all things Lahinch here's a little painting of a tiny bar/shop in Lahinch where the owner is often seen taking the air outside. A bit of a gem really.

6x6inch oil on gesso bord €195

Whites Wash

This is a larger version of a painting that I did some months agao. In this case it's 16x16inch.

Whites Wash

16x16 inch on streched canvas €450

Room for one more?

Mommalooney Day

So we had Mother's day here yesterday, I know it's a different day across the big pond but it's March 14th here. So, Mother's day times, my mother-in-law, my Mum and me. It was also my hubbies' birthday yesterday, his Dad's birthday tomorrow and eldest's birthday on Sunday next.

My Mum's birthday is somewhat of a moveable feast. The story goes that when she was born on the 13th of March the nurse couldn't bring herself to put the 13th on the child's birth certificate. Presumably condeming her to a life of bad luck. So she entered the 12th instead. Growing up in bording school my Mum celebrated her birthday on the nearest day off - St. Patrick's Day and during my childhood on the day myself and my sister saw her, a Sunday. So, now it's anyone's guess as to when we celebrate. This year for us it will be today. so happy birthday Mum! See you soon.

I hope that if you're a Mum, Mom, Gran, Nana or whatever, that you had a lovely day.

Writing for blogs

A few people asked me about the seminar that I went to on writing for blogs given by Mary Rose Lyons. Here she is giving the talk in 4 minutes! Don't say I'm not good to ya!




Room for one more?
16 x 16 inch oil on canvas €450

Coventry

Posting in rush once again. It seems I am unwitingly taking part in a challenge to visit all of the island in the shortest number of weekends.  We head off to the inlaws up north shortly.

Coventry
16x16 inch €450

Btw, I came across a post from Jeff Mahorney on his painting set up and was so impressed at how he has got it organised. Here is a photo of his set up using a guerilla box which holds pretty much everything he needs, included turps, brush and paper towel holders etc.

and by contrast one of mine! I paint in my kitchen as it's really the only space available and the mess does bother me (this is pretty tidy!) but hey you can't make an omelette... I have a utility room where I store the rest of my stuff but this is where I paint.

I'd love to see the set up of other painters. Particularily those who don't have the luxury of a studio!

Pear drops

So I have some news today! From the end of the month, Killarney Art Gallery will be representing my work.

As you know I was invited to visit the gallery last weekend and I was really impressed with both the gallery and with Declan and Amelie who run it.

Here's to much happy colaboration.

Pear Drops
16x16 €350 on deep canvas

Rosey Pose

An experiment in painting flowers. My teacher and friend Kevin, was it seems determined for me to paint that carnation today! I took it out of the compostion a couple of times but it ended up right back in there.
10x8 inch on gesso bord

Also...

I forgot yesterday to show you some of the splendor of the kingdom of Kerry. This photo was taken at Ross Castle but really doesn't do the scene much justice I'm afraid. It felt a bit like where my sister lives in the okanagan valley in BC Canada.

Three pink ladies

Hi there, I'm back from Killarney and back at the easel. Gráinne and I had a blast, and we found Killarney waiting in the sunshine for us despite Odette's best efforts. Odette is our sat nav, she is at the remedial end of the spectrum and disgraced herself by sending us down the N8 towards Cork instead of the N7 towards Limerick. The fact that we didn't notice until Abbyleix will tell you how much craic there was in the car. (For my American friends that's Irish for fun and not an illegal substance). We did make it in just over 3.5hrs so no harm done.

We stayed with a good friend and native Killarney woman Martina who out did herself in the hospitality stakes at every turn.
The purpose of our trip was to visit a gallery in Killarney called the Killarney Art Gallery, do check it out, but more about that later. In the meantime today’s offering is larger than usual at 12x12inches.

Lemonisnicket

You may or may not be glad to hear I'm coming to the end of the lemons. One can only paint lemons for so long before you start to see yellow spots on the back of your retinas.

So, I'm off to Killarney for the craic. Thank you all those kind friends who have warned me away from the blarney stone. Yes, I am aware that I need no extra help in that department and will take your concern as a compliment. I think!

Lemons in love

So it’s all Thelma and Louise! I’m off on a road trip to Killarney tomorrow morning, with my good friend Gráinne as wingman. Do you remember when a weekend away with the girls involved a week of prep beforehand; choosing your weekend wardrobe, a bit of shopping, some serious grooming, maybe even a hair appointment. Now a weekend away involves organizing work and family up to the nano second before you go and then it’s a mad rush to pack etc. before you fly out the door in a whirlwind having left your toothbrush on the counter and your hair sticking up at the back.


We leave early in the morning, coming back Sunday, but if we meet Brad Pitt along the way…… all I can say is don’t wait up!

Cold Shouldered

Have you heard about the wordpress camp? A two day conference in Killkenny for people who are interested in blogging or are already doing it. It's in Killkenny on March 5th and 6th and costs €50, for the two days. 

If you're interested in stuff like how to blog, how to market and develop your blog, how to write a better blog etc. then this looks like it might be good.

Intrigue

This is another larger painting, about 12 x 16 inches or 30x40cm - in new money as they say.

Heading out the door to class. If anyone is interested in oil painting classes click on art classes ireland. I belive Kevin has two places!

SOLD

Temple Bar

So, Temple Bar again. This time 12 inch square on canvas bord. It's a pretty iconic area of Dublin. This is essentially a larger version of a 6x6 inch painting I did a week or two ago. 

Snow White's Apple

When I saw this apple in the veggie section I immediately thought of Snow White. It was exactly like the one she ate. I was, of course, suspicious to say the least. It was sure to lead to no good, maybe even 100 years of sleep - I wish!

Anyway I bought it to paint and warned all not to touch it, but the painting of it has been harder that you'd think.

Anyway here it is - too look at only!

Lemon Jar and sticky H's

Busy day, running about as usual. Thankfully it's still light enough to photograph (and it's 5.40pm!)

Pancakes are calling so I've hurried into the computer to post this painting to discover my desk has been once again commandeered by 10 year olds. Bits of paper everywhere, (but of course none in the printer) my diary coloured in and stardoll bookmarks put all over my desktop! And the H button on my keyboard is sticky with what looks suspiciously like jam. Does anyone else have to suffer this kind of thing!
Painting is 10 x 8 inch on gesso bord

Lemon impasto

Doesn't "Lemon impasto" sound a bit like an italian starter?

Anyway, I took some time to paint these two lemons before they met their fate in a glass of Jameson last night after dinner.  Perfect!

Loose lemons

Feelin’ all loose and jiggedy jig today and this is the result! I wouldn't be surprised if you see more lemons featuring in the next week or so as Pancake Tuesday is coming up and that is as close to a national holiday as it gets in my house.

When I was little my dad, who my sister and I lived with, was fanatical about Pancake Tuesday. We usually went to my Nana's house that day but one year for some reason we couldn't go. So after work he put us in the car and took us to a nearby hotel, marched us into the fancy restaurant and asked to speak to the Maitre D . "Ok he said we'll have pancakes all round with plenty of lemon and golden syrup" The Maitre D explained that this was a gourmet type of place and they didn’t have golden syrup etc. My Dad shifted himself a little and slowly explained that here were two little girls who otherwise would not get pancakes on Pancake Tuesday and, in the circumstances, could they not send the commis chef down to Dalkey village on his bike to get some golden syrup. We’d wait! And they did!