Irish Arts Blog

a long time

by cliodhna

I had almost forgotten about this place. I have been really busy, traveling, moving, doing two weeks in the pyramids of Teotihuacan and then in Tepoztlan for a course in dreaming. Keeping up my own blog at the same time. Thanks to 'post in the future', I could arrange it for a week or so in advance and then forget about it.
I come here and see some beautiful art posted while I have been gone. Mosaics, photos, a pair of cuff links. I bought a bracelet from Lynn and I still haven't seen it yet! Its for a Christmas present for an Aunt and it is sitting with my sister waiting for the right time. I will have to get them to send me a photo of it on someones wrist.
Art wise, I have done some embroideries and have set up my oil studio again. Something about the smell of oil paint. Nothing like it. It smells magical, opens doors in my imagination, calms me, peaceful. I have just finished a picture which I have not taken a photo of yet. AboveI have posted a work from a couple of years ago which it seems I am returning to this simplistic style, swirls, dots, decorative, symbolic. Next one is a recent one

It is from the rainy season here in Mexico. We have finished with the rain and now it is COLD! I am surprised by this. I have four years in sunny heat and now suddenly with the altitude its got cold. Might even snow! (which for me being from Ireland and very exciting).

xx clio

Honky tonk man

By Patrick Naughton

After my grandmothers birthday party in Lawrenceburg (a fine age of 100) some of us ventured into the city of Nashville. I wandered off the tourist trail taking in the smells, sounds and sights of downtown Nashville:

Scratch the surface of this promised land,

American dreams can fall away,

The Vietnam Vet gazes at the stars,

Gimme a dollar, if not a dime,

Believe, that’s what they say,

But reality is just a block away,

Honky tonk music looking for the honky tonk man,

Follow the vibe, dreams fall away,

Here cometh the time, repent ye souls,

Baptist church all about town,

Scratch the surface of this promised land,

American dreams can fall away.

Country Cufflinks

These are cufflinks that I made for an Irish chap who lives in Oz.
Little Ireland and Australia cut out of silver and placed on an indigo
pignented resin and then covered in clear resin. All set into silver
domes. I really enjoy working with resin, it has such a beautiful
glassy shine and also has a slight magnifying effect.

I also deceided to try a different cufflink back this time. The old
fashioned chain instead of the hinge I usually use. Takes a lot
longer to make but I like the effect.

'Wicklow Portfolio'

Kilmantin Art Gallery is holding it's winter exhibition entitled 'Wicklow Portfolio' from the 17th November through to the end of December so do drop in if you are passing.   Here are my three photographic entries, all taken around the Wicklow area.

Powerscourt Rose Garden Gates by Ellen McDermott

Wicklow Lighthouse (through the viewfinder) by Ellen McDermott

Hopkins Hill by Ellen McDermott

It's my first time to enter my photography rather than my oil paintings into an art exhibition and I'm off to Arklow in the morning to have them framed in this wonderful little camera/printing/framing shop I discovered last week. I cant remember the name of the shop and they have no website or I would link to them here.  Anyhow,  I'm hoping these photos are successful and sell and on that note I'm reminded of an old saying I heard once;

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?