Irish Arts Blog

Liquid Lust

Susanne Iles

What is the most delicious thing you can get an artist as a gift? Here's a hint, it's something sexy and exciting. Can you guess?

That's right....new art supplies!

I've discovered the best way to get out of the box is to use new "toys" that are fresh and unfamiliar. I usually paint with tiny brushes and acrylic paints, but wanted to try something different. This time around I've decided to play with some fat brushes, splashes of water,India ink and ink pencils. So much fun!


The following pictures show the progression of my new painting entitled, "Kimono". You can see how the colours were allowed to pool and bleed before adding the woman painted in black ink. Using a fat paintbrush gave the painting a more organic, free flowing movement and shape. Spontaneity and surprise made this piece a lot of fun to paint!


Here's a look at the finished piece entitled "Kimono". The flowers on her kimono were painted to contrast the liquid look of the rest of the artwork.

West Cork Day Dream

7:12 a.m: The West Cork sun creeps through the blinds. I decide to get some exercise. I decide to get up immediately. I decide just not now.

12:16 a.m: Drag myself out of bed and have a coffee.

12:55 a.m: His deep voice from kitchen floats into the lounge ‘Your omelet is ready’.

12:56 a.m: ‘A mimosa would be good about now’ I mumble into his ear

12:57 a.m: Mmmmm. It is.

1:23 p.m: ‘that’s it I can’t eat another bite.’ I softly sigh

1:26 p.m: I stare out the window at beautiful, calm, peaceful West Cork, aimlessly, dreaming, floating away on the waves.

2:11 p.m: In middle of my West Cork day dream, he who cooked my breakfast begins touching my foot with his. He never leaves me day dream in peace!

5:45 p.m: I wake up (again). We are both upstairs. He is sound asleep, wearing apparently only one sock.

I turn to look out the window and resume my west cork day dream.

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NORMA JEAN IS ALIVE & WELL AND LIVING IN MY HOUSE

Painting by Ellen McDermott

Whenever I'm doing a painting I learn a little during my research on the subject I'm working on like these facts about Marilyn;  She is the only female on the Forbes rich list of dead celebrities and that my husband would like me to look like this when we go out to the local on Friday night.

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River Sanctuary

By Ed P

River Sanctuary is a somewhere you can go to find peace, enlightenment and wisdom. It is in a forgotten place, where people no longer go. It is too far away and most people won’t bother looking for it. This remoteness is part of its appeal. You know you won’t be disturbed as you spend some quiet time with your self, reflecting on the things which are important to you. There are challenges in reaching this place but you know it will be worth the effort when you get there.

On arrival at the river sanctuary you can sit by the banks and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the water as you soak in the sunshine. You can drink from the sanctuary falls. It is cool, fresh and pure. Somehow it clears your mind and sharpens your vision.

As you ramble over the bridge you notice some steps leading up the hill. Further up there’s some kind of bridge. Where does it lead?

Blog Background
While creating River Sanctuary I put images of it as it progressed on my blog. Emma Barone left a few comments, here’s how our conversation went.

Emma:
“Hi Ed P, I really like this image, River Sanctuary. I want to go there stand at the bridge & hear the water, smell the fresh air, see the beautiful greenery & the trippy blue sky. There is probably a secret cave above the waterfall. It’s magical. “
Ed P:
“Hi Emma, You're right about the secret cave. Have a look at the larger version, click the image and new window will open. There's someone in the cave waiting for you but you have to convince him you are the person he is expecting so that he'll let down the bridge for you.
“Thanks for dropping by. Keep an eye on the blog so you will know when the picture is finished. You'll be able to explore it fully then.”
Emma:
“Hi Ed P, how cool is that, when I took a closer look I seen the draw bridge & the bridge keeper. I wonder will he let me into the magic cave, I am curious & I want to see inside.”
Ed P:
"Hi Emma, Be careful as you climb the hill. If you are wearing high heels you might end up with your heels to heaven..."

There are few more detail pictures in my Spiritual Art Gallery.

*Ed P

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THE JUGGLER

By Ellen McDermott

I had to juggle around with my canvas sizes to find just the right one for this  fella.  I eventually painted him on a large 4ft canvas so that I could  accommodate his alter ego who's balancing on his finger.   

This is a commissioned painting for Karen Harper, founder of Irish Craft Association and one that I am going to be sorry to part with, as are my kids and I can hear that little voice in my head telling me to 'just paint a second one for Christsakes.  Can't you imagine the look on Audrey's and Sarah's face when they find him hanging in their bedroom?'

But I'm too busy to paint him twice as I'm trying to get together a body of my own work right now.   Then again, I suppose I could always juggle my time management plans.  Hmmm

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GOODBYE JULIET

by  Ellen McDermott

Because I'm bordering on paranoidal insecurity when it comes to my art I worry all the time that people will think I can't paint. 

'Sure, we can see you can paint large abstract portraits and you can whip up a couple of  zebras in a week but can you paint?  Can you really paint?  Real grown up proper Art,  I think I hear them saying to themselves.  So here you are.  Here's one of my 'real' paintings.

I started her on Wednesday 6th of February and on the 7th day, yesterday, I finished creating her and rested.      While it's not my favourite style I do find it important to paint realistically every now and then just to keep my hand in and of course to remind my real and imaginary skeptics, myself included, that yes,  I can really paint.

Well, I think I can.

I can.   Paint that is.

Can't I?

My four daughters and I came to a unanimous decision that her name is Juliet.  I've told my youngest daughter that no she can't hang her in her bedroom and that she has to say goodbye to Juliet because I am giving her away.  Yep.  She is going to be framed and then given away to a Charity Art Auction for The Peter Bradley Foundation for acquired brain injury services who do such important and much needed work.

So if you fancy picking up some original paintings at affordable prices come along to:
Expose Yourself Gallery, level 3
Dunaloire Shopping Center, 7pm 13th March 08.

Drinks in Lime Bar (level 2) after Auction.

See here for further information.

And if you happen to see me there don't forget to say hello

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Red Water

by Mairead deBlaca

'Water, your exhibition is on water? But why water?' He asked as we stood in The Mill Theatre in Dundurm. 

We were at my current exhibition’s opening, and it struck me how appropriate the title seemed as the 19th of January gave us about 5 inches of rain.  Nice when Mother Nature complements my work. 

He persists, 'So, why did you choose water as a theme?’

Sometimes, he is very good at asking me why. 

I have always had something of a love-hate relationship with water. I love the colours, movement and sounds it creates, but I have a fear of its enormous power.  I am not a strong swimmer and have vivid memories of being pulled beneath the waves on various family holidays. And never once were there mermaids or dolphins there to save me!  As a result, I hate to put my face beneath the water. So I suppose I will never get to swim the channel.  Another thing to cross off the endless list of life - swim the channel, learn Swahili, marry George Clooney, world domination.....

Red Water reminds me of many trips to warmer waters, sitting on boats staring into the sea and watching the colours float by. The sound and colour of water can be such an evocative thing, can’t it? I only need to hear gentle waves and I find myself transported back in time to literally floating my way around the Virgin Islands. I can almost feel the sun on my face just thinking about it.

As the evening ended, he quipped, 'I know why you picked water, it’s a mixer for my whiskey and makes ice for your gins!'

Ah yes. Perhaps he had a point. He knows me so well . . .

Red Water, acrylic on board and other water themes can be seen at my current exhibition, Water in Abstraction, The Mill Theatre in Dundrum, Dublin.

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REGAL

By Ellen McDermott

This lady is the third in a series of large 3.5ft x 2.5ft x 2 inch oil painting portraits of women that I have painted recently and can be viewed in the flesh in Kilmantin Art Gallery, Wicklow Town in two weeks time.

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