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!
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
It's been a very busy week. One commission, two submissions and possibly a second gallery to represent my work.
The two submissions are for a small gallery here in bray. The first for a solo exhibition entitled "diary of a daily painter" and the second called "generation" to feature
published short stories from my nana,
watercolours from my mum and
my oil paintings.
They still have to go through a selection process so fingers crossed.
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.
I just received a message from an artist friend and blogger, Susan Roux, who is taking a short break from daily painting. She's been feeling her energy ebb with the daily comitment to create on top of a busy life. I have to say I can empathise with that. Being an artist and particularily a daily painter has all the advantages and disadvantages of being self employed and sometimes I can find it hard to work out where the bounderies should be, between creative preparation, painting and the business side of things. Not to mention other work and family commitments. Have a great break Susan and see you soon!
There's a blackbird in our garden that keeps me company while I paint. I hear his lovely song even when the doors are closed. But every time I try to get a picture of him he gets stage fright so this is not actually him but he is my muse!
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
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!
How can painting sunflowers fail to lift your mood? I don't know, but I do know that loosing the website you've been working on since moses was a baby might do it!
It's amazing the effect it has on us. I suddenly feel energized and ready to get stuff done! I'm still having to scrape the frost of the windscreen in the mornings with a credit card - must get one of those scraper things - but by 11am it's gorgeous.
Only problem with all this sun is getting directional light on my still life subjects. I paint in a very bright kitchen. The light comes from all around and from big skylights so it's difficult. I do use a box and a lamp. Do you have any suggestions?
Well I hate to be rude but it seems so folks. I was at a seminar on blogging at the weekend by Mary Rose Lyons. She is one of those punctuation police types who should be incredibly boring but is in fact fascinating. She dropped one nerdy little fact in particular about our brains and how we read text. It turns out that when we get to the end of a line of text on a screen, our lazy brains need something to hang onto, as it were. Otherwise they can’t find their way back across again. If the text has been justified the lines all end at the same point and our brains start to melt. So, when writing on screen i.e. on a blog, one should never use the justify button. You probably all knew that but I will dine out on that little gem for months, not that I “dine out” much. You can get a full explanation on Mary Rose’s Blog.
Green Apple Punctuation
16"x16" Oil on Canvas Framed €450
This weekend I've decided to attend the wordpress ireland camp. Basically a two conference in wordpress and in blogging generally.
I have an idea for a two day workshop of my own. Designed for artists, hobbyists and others who would like a basic website or blog but have neither the skills nor the cash to set it up. The idea is that at the end of the two days they would have a basic but working website and/or blog that they know how to use themselves.
So although I'm pretty comfortable around the whole blogging/website thing I thought a little up skilling might be a good idea, so off to Killkenny.
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.
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.
If you're expecting a painting, there isn't one and if your expecting Róisín, she not here. Last seen heading south from the blarny stone! We are not amused.
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!
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!
I am an Irish artist of impeccable pedigree! Coming as I do, from a family of talented and sucessful artists.
Since embracing the daily Painting movement some time ago I paint a small painting, every day or every other day and post them here. Having discovered the fun of regular blogging, I am fired up by the idea of being part of a global discussion around painting that is a varied as there are artists. Sign up for free feed RSS feeds and join in the adventure every other day.
Basically everything on this blog is copyrighted. Please do not use in any form without written permission. All rights reserved. email me here for more info. Please remember that images will always look a little different on the computer screen.
