Impressions of Life

'Cottage off Rathdrum'

This is a small sketch done quite some time ago. It shows the ‘little sugar loaf’ in the distant, with farmland in the fore ground. I did it: ‘on-the-spot’; (I painted it there on the location, outdoors). I love this way of painting. as it conveys a reality of my work. I think a ‘cunning eye’ knows if a painting/sketch is done from nature  directly - especially a fellow artist! I also believe it can tell a lot about the artist and their work. I despise copying work in any shape or form.

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'Trotting Out'

This watercolour was done just this week from a sketch  and a photo when i was walking along the Enniskerry Road near Kilternan, Co. Dublin. It was a beautiful afternoon and as i approched around this corner i heard these ‘hoofing’ sounds that was getting closer and closer. Luckily i had my camera and a sketch pad in tow. I then saw these four people on horseback trot slowly by me and  gave me a wave too!  As they went by me, I had to take a photo, infact several. I knew this would make a fantastic painting. It did - last week this was the final outcome. I had to leave out the detailed foreground hills as this would have taken from the main interest: the horses and riders. I love the colours of the stable riders jackets especially.

'Lewis's Woodpecker' (US)

This wood pecker struck me some months ago from a magazine my girlfriend regularly buys: ‘Birdwatcher’. This particular bird was featured in the magazine and i had to sketch it. Firstly i had to associate myself with bird anatomy and habits, etc. My girlfriend and I are into nature and she in particular loves birds. I suppose i was ‘lured’ in a bit to drawing and painting these small..(ish) creatures, which is certainly great fun - and very different to my normal and usual work - marine scapes and landscapes.  The work above of this popular American woodpecker to their woodlands has really stunning plumage along with an elongated bill for ‘pecking’ through that tough tree to make for it’s primary nest.  This work was done on watercolour paper with watercolour pencils, some of the work was smudged and other parts was not. Watercolour pencils are not my first port of call, however, i really felt this type of work needed and deserved this as i believe it’s a technical subject

'Yachts West Pier Marina Dun Laoire'

This is a recent oil painting i done two weeks ago. I was delighted with the colours of the yachts. The water is very blue as the weather was cold. I was happy with the varied sky as its colours are interesting to the viewer. I exaggerated the colours also. The ‘Stena line’ ship/catamaran  is now finished for the winter, due to financial cut backs. This was an 365 daily crossing, and it’s missed on the pier by many! I loved this vessel entering the pier on an overcast day, it is highlighted against a dark sky and shows the beautiful white of it’s hull and stern. The pure cadmium yellows and reds really do justice to the yachts, well worth the extra cash if buying oil paints!

'Red Kite over Rathdrum' Co. Wicklow

This is a Red Kite. A bird of prey that was re-introduced into Co. Wicklow in the summer of 2007 thanks to the: ‘Red Kite Project’ and the: ‘Irish Eagle Trust’. If you ever get a chance to visit any part of South Wicklow, or surrounding Counties, and throw your head back, observe above, and if you happen to be lucky and see a hovering large bird souring freely in the open countryside - it’s probably a Red Kite! These stunning raptures are breeding successfully now in Co. Wicklow and other Leinster counties: Co. Kilkenny, Co Carlow, and Co. Kildare and probably more scattered now to the West and North of the country. I can’t be sure of the No’s of pairs there are, but something like eighty pairs!! The original Kites were kindly donated to us from the ‘Welsh Red Kite Trust’. About 14 birds were given to us from the kind hearted Welsh folk. It’s truly a re markable story of how after 100 years without these glorious bird of prey what can be achieved.

I painted the Red Kite as best as i could. I’m NOT an Ornithologist  artist. So, the Kite proportions and ‘markings’ may not be a true representation of this raptor, but I’m happy overall, especially my first attempt. The landscape makes all the difference too. The Red Kite is at ‘home’ over this territory; seeking carrion, fox and lambs! I wanted to observe this in watercolour as best as i could. I’m relatively happy with the finish. I didn’t show the birds ‘number tags’ on it’s wings which i wanted.

'Road to Glencullen'

Here is an example of a sketch which was done ‘loosely’. It had to be done quickly and accurately as possible if used on a final painting. I need notes beside the sketch to give me a ‘diary like’ memorandum as i go along. This is VITAL to me. As you can see at the bottom - it says : ‘cold’ and description of the sky, etc. I know there’s not as many notes here as some of my previous sketches , but it was SO cold and my hands/fingers we’re freezing, literately! This road caught my attention as i loved the sign post and the bunch of trees to the right along with the man-made stone wall - altogether, a lovely perspective for a painting in waiting.

'Wilton Terrace' Grand Canal

A very loose and quick example of one of my many, many watercolour sketches i did last year. I always had a fascination with this area. There’s a certain magnetic pull for me to this lovely and quaint canal. I believe many Dubliners, and Irish in general, are not familiar with the many bridges this has to offer. Emmett Bridge for one is the most spectacular bridge for me personally situated near Rialto. The whiteness of the bridge’s reflection against the clear water on a fine summers day is a sight to behold! The many swans and ducks that grace the canal also make a real finish to any painting or photograph.

'Smelting Tower' Kilternen

This is a watercolour sketch i did not so long ago. I liked the fluidity  and sky colour, as it was done very rapidly and spontaneously. This is a gem of a place to go for any nature enthusiastic person. The colours are vivid in the summer, and in the winter if your lucky, snow on the hills is a magnificent sight to behold. Kilternan is on the foothold of the Dublin Mountains.

'Smelting Tower' From Carrickmines.

This was a sketch i did a good few months ago when it was COLD , but sunny. I have never done a complete oil or watercolour painting of this scene - odd, as it’s such a beautiful scene. It’s literately a ’stones throw’ from my house…couple of miles really. Sketches remind me of a personal diary that have inner meaning and a sense of ‘oneness’. It show the viewer the real artist i believe. this particular one was done in less than ten minutes. The Smelting Tower is an ancient tower on this sedentary hill that looks so haunting and yet powerfully strong.

'Ballybetgh Road, Stepaside'

Here is another sketch from a different view and place, still not a ‘million miles’ apart. I did this from Ballybetagh Road off Kilternan Road, Co. Dublin. It’s a lovely scene looking at the Dublin Mountains. The mountains were majestic and very dark blue in colour. I love the pines sticking out from the brow of the large hills, as i feel it’s not a mountain as such. However, the sketch provided me with all the notes i needed to keep it in my mind of the natural beauty and openness of the varied landscape with the tapestry of colours, etc.  The foreground trees are lovely at any time of year. It was difficult to achieve all the various elements in one sketch, so i only hinted on them - that’s the idea of a sketch.

'Regatta in Dun Laoire'

This is a painting i did only last week. It celebrates the beginning of the annual Regatta Yacht weekend on Dunlaoire’s harbour- First weekend in July. I love looking at all the variety of boats and yachts on the bay and harbour. This painting done in watercolour and it blends well in for this scene - watercolour responds more than oils, which have a ‘hard’ appearence. The water/sea was actually this colour: Ultra Marine or dark blue.  It was a sunny day and the sea was very blue reflecting the sky’s blue also. The yachts were white as the ‘driven snow’ in contrast to the sea which was glorious to watch. I was very happy with the over all watercolour and the sky in particular - ‘wet into wet’ is never easy to achieve. The fishermen on the far harbour wall give life and scale to the final painting.

'Scotsman's Bay' Sandycove

This painting was done about ten seven years ago. So gives you an idea of how my work has progressed and ‘loosened’ up. You can tell it’s ridged and stiff in looking at it. Saying that: i was/am happy with the sky, as it’s your typical Irish sky. It’s a beautiful place to go: Scotsman’s bay. I went there as a child swimming on my summer holidays with my friends - many happy memories there. The famous ‘Forty Foot’ is right behind this bay. Oils works well in this winter scene - it captures the ‘cold feel’ and the textures work well for the choppy waters also.