Category — Uncategorized

My Sketch Books

Here is my various sketch books, all coming in various thickness and weight, etc. I use these out doors a lot. They look new - rest assured, these are mangy & grubby inside. The hard back (right side) is useful if leaning it on a steering wheel as a support.

Watercolour Palette & Paint Tubes etc.

Here is an example of my Watercolour palette. It’s a Windsor & Newton make, a very good and thrust worthy brand. I have it many years now and it’s terrific! Very versatile and robust. The palette is made from tin and coated with an enamel substance which enables it to keep from rusting, etc. It holds many ‘pan’s of colour, which i can top up with the tubes that are here in the image above. The foreground brush is a ‘rigger’ brush - used for lines and tree branches, etc.

Watercolour Brushes

Above is my various brushes, some i have for the last ten years. The bottom brush is synthetic/sable mix - i can’t afford one of this size in a kolinsky sable make - €200! They are magical and very versatile brushes, no doubt, any watercolour artist will tell you this. However, the synthetic/sable mix is a great and complimentary substitution to a real Kolinsky brush - which are a dream come true to use, i guess you get what you pay for. Maybe I’ll treat myself one day soon!

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'Seapoint from Dun Laoire Harbour'

Here we have a very loose sketch/watercolour that was literately done in about ten minutes give or take. No messing about, just about concentrating on the job in hand - the subject. This one was all about tone and harmony - effect in a word. Simplicity is the key to painting, nothing else matters…to me anyhow. I think i wanted to put this image in just to show these two examples…(including the image below). if i had done the cloud formation in more detail i would confuse the viewer - there’s enough going on in the middle-ground to look at, it goes for the water also in the fore-ground.

'The Ice Box' West Pier Dun laoire

As above, this was done in a ‘heart beat’. When you are working quickly and totally focused on the job in hand, it can be better than spending hours upon hours working in the studio with no time constraints or pressure. Working quickly makes you concentrate and make mistakes! This is how we all learn. Mistakes show us our selves in the raw..so to speak. In painting in particular, i feel it shows us all how we get from A to B through the work in progress - like these two examples above. The colour and blotched and un tidy - this is ‘plein air’ painting in it’s ‘naked’ form. It’s a spirituality to me. Loosing my sketch books is like cutting my arms off - I’m lost.

'Canal at Sallins'

This was a very loosely based watercolour that was never turned to a ‘finished’ watercolour painting. Not sure really why. I loved the boldness of the colour  as it was done in a flash  to be honest. The sun was literally blazing down in midday, so, this is a watercolourist’s dream - fast drying!  The cast shadows drew me in totally here, that’s why i painted it. Kildare is a truly beautiful part of the country - flat and rich land, admired my artists and photographers a like.

'Yachts Moored at Dun Laoghaire'

Very similar as above - simplicity and speed. Watercolour is so beautiful when it’s NOT overdone. Experience and age teach you these qualities. When i was in my twenties i was always  trying too much to be ‘me’ - not copying, but, looking at artists that inspired me to paint to my best. Little did i know, i was actually copying and not been myself. It took all those years to find a ‘balance’ of  happiness within myself and my work. I don’t need to look at books now when painting to inspire me. I found an ‘internal map’ and i can guide myself  through instinctively. I believe, when you paint from out doors - you will learn quickly to find your niche - this way, you will NOT need art  classes or courses - paint what you see, and follow your instincts!

'Farm Land Kilternan'

This is similar to the one i posted earlier this month…Stone wall house, Kilternan. I really like this place, it’s open and so full of life. I saw a Hooded Crow on this particular day: it’s vivid in my mind!…That’s the beauty of sketching - it’s like a diary, and reminds you of many thinks, apart from painting/drawing. (We don’t have many Hooded Crows in this country, Britain, lots) What i love in this sketch is the beige and umber colours - subtle and easy on the eye.

'Houses on N11 at Foxrock'

Here is an idea of a really quick sketch - ten minutes only, including drawing. NOT including the drying time unfortunately!  This is the type of work i love - quick & simple. I seem to take more from this kind of work to be honest. It’s more a ‘narrative’ than a painting. I love trees, and, there’s so many different colours and shades to hand. Green is NOT just green in painting terms, you have to study trees to really see their true colours. Weather and light factors play a massive roll to their appearance.

The Pigeon House from Seapoint

Seapoint was a place i used to sketch & paint on a regular weekend basis. Now i seem to never go there for some reason or other - a rut, maybe. I get tired i guess of the same ‘ole place. This was one of many sketches i did. I wanted to show you the vivid colour of the sea and sky in harmonious symphony with each other. This always gives a painting ‘balance’ and depth. I like the looseness of the watercolour sketch - it shows unity and speed, which i feel is like an author writing  a novel and can’t stop - if he does, he looses the flow of the story and fluidity of words in his mind.  Artists are similar: if  I’d stopped painting immediately - i knew i would never have the same fire and sense of awareness of my subject.

Church Spire. Monkstown

What attracted me here was the two different buildings - the old Georgian building (far  left) and the church spire. The perspective i liked. The very old stone walls of the church  spire was ‘cold’ and very grey. The Georgian house, warm and bright. Things like this is very interesting to me - it tells me more than a painting to be honest. So, it’s true what they say: ‘a picture can tell a thousand words’ - correct, it absolutely does! I wanted to add the cars to show the modern touch and a splash of colour also. The trees add contrast and stability.

'Goggin's Pub' Monkstown. Co Dublin.

This is again on the theme of on the spot painting: I seem to be posting these since the first post. This is me though. I’m primarily an out door painter/artist. The watercolour sketch above is unusual for me to paint these type of compositions - pubs…(public house) and houses. It seems like there’s a sub-conscious ‘magnet’, as i love building’s as much as landscapes. This pub in question is full of history and i pass it as much as I’ve hot dinners.. lol!  The sun awnings had me drawing to it, just like the ‘Coffee Dock’ post below. It was the most unusual colour of green I’ve seen: a sort of  jade/minty green which looked glorious in the full sun. If you look closer, you can see the Eircom phone box in the fore ground, which shows the ‘new from old’  structures.

'Georgian Houses' Monkstown. Co. Dublin.

Here as above, colour is, and always was my hidden theme or ‘language’. The colour of the far left house with it’s most unusual colour slated roof: (a purplish/umber shade) has given me encouragement to paint this. I seem to extract pretty mundane subjects and then turn them on they’re head, so to speak. this appears to be the case here. The backround tree’s we’re so nice and crisp. The leaf hasn’t budded as yet, and trees in this state can look as beautiful bare, than in full foliage - to me anyhow. Roofs can differ in many sizes, colours and styles. This is why i experiment as often as possible with the so many variations - Loft, concave, apex; etc. Drawing them too can give many complex and frustrating surprises.

'Coffee Dock' East Pier Dun Laoghaire

This was one of my favourite watercolours this year. I hate to sound ‘cocky’, but, it sold out at a local gallery the week i put in up for sale. I was happy as i worked hard to get this right - it’s one chance with watercolour, no mistakes can be rectified…without doing serious damage that can be really noticed. I loved this composition - it has near infinity beyond the coffee dock, that’s what makes it special. Also what i loved doing this watercolour was the awning/ canvas roof. It has those ‘inviting’ stripes that say: “come in we’re here to serve you”.

'The Bandstand. St, Stephen's Green'

Another ‘finished’ watercolour. I liked the more loose style I’m slowly gaining over time. This is a true example above  from: St, Stephen’s Green in the heart of the city centre. A truly beautiful park. Has so many, many different tree’s and shrubs. A gardeners dream - guess that’s me! (I’m a landscape gardener) What attracted me to this particular area of the park was the bandstand, left of centre. A lovely piece of ‘furniture’ contrasted by the dark trees, this shows up it’s  cone type roof. The figures have given the whole painting purpose - without these, it would be ‘lost’ for sure, particularly the day that it was - very hot!

'The Barn House. Kilternan'

This is more vague in appearance than the ones’ above. maybe ’cause it’s a sketch. However, my favourite pieces of art are my sketches, they quite honestly say more to me than finished one’s at the best of times. I feel more can go into a sketch than a finished piece of art. As you can see - there’s no holds barred. Splotches, marks and stains with notes here and there. Thats a sketch, or a map as i say here a lot. The re-furbished house, or, barn to be specific, was gorgeous in the back round and against the  farmstead wild landscape. The natural stone walls attracted me to this scene. I had to whip out my sketch pad and did it in about fifteen minutes. it’s speed in learning to work out doors - the elements are your nemesis!

'Herbert Park' Ballsbridge.

This is a sketch i’d recently done. I am turning it into a finished painting soon. I was happy with the perspective and colour. The only thing i find is that the green colour of the grass is a bit mundane and flat, other than that, i was relativity happy with the sketch. The main element/objective of the sketch was the water fountain at the centre - it gives a sense of depth and ‘hold’ for the viewer to look beyond this object. It’s a lovely ‘hidden’ park near the centre of the city centre. Pretty large and very old with features such as: football grounds, children’s fun areas,  ponds, and an abundance of trees and shrubbery.

'Lough Fey' Co. Wicklow.

This is a really stunning part of Co. Wicklow. The ‘Garden of Ireland’ as it’s called here. This truly lives up to it’s name for sure. The place in question was a little gem to see and find. I didn’t come to ‘discover’ it until recently - i was totally impressed. The day that was in it made it all the better - sunny and bright. Wicklow is my absolute favourite county without a shadow of doubt. I know it’s my neighbouring County; none the less, I’ve been to many Counties, inc : Co. Galway, Co. Westmeath, Co. Waterford, etc. I always feel my heart is only here. One thing I’ve never mentioned on my blogs: I am so sorry to the viewers that they cannot appreciate the larger view of my work. I’m afraid it’s Wordpress to blame…(the blog site I’m using) who lay the foundations to what size photos i can display - and i can’t make the images any larger unfortunately! this can be irritating, as the work should be viewed larger i honestly feel - to really appreciate them.

'Toppers at Dusk' Dun Laoire

This painting was done about a year ago. I like the colours in the sky and wanted to show you the beauty of the sky at dusk, or late evening. I was very happy with this painting as it shows the variation in colour from sky to water. At the same token: there’s harmony in the whole painting. This gives total balance and form i believe to it. the Toppers as they’re called, are light sailing boats used mostly by children and teenagers learning how to sail in larger sail boats: yachts, etc. They display beautiful colours in their masts. You can see the true example above.

'Summer Sun on the Harbour'

This painting is not too dis similar to the one above - colour wise. You can see i love blues, and to ‘exaggerate’ their colours to the limits. This painting above was taken from some sketches i had recently done, how ever, the sun was very strong and bright. The sea wasn’t as ‘blue’ as you can see in the painting. So, what i did was i ‘tinkered’…(experimented) with my paints to produce this lovely cobalt/ cerulean blue effect. In reality: the sea’s colour was in fact a greenish/blue and pretty flat. This is the tremendous hold you have on been your own ‘editor’ in painting - cut, crop, remove and play with the paint to your imagination allows you.

'The Riasc' Grand Canal. Dublin.

This is the Riasc Barge. It’s turned now to a ‘floating restaurant’ on Dublin’s favourite canal: The Grand Canal. The red of the hull is what struck me first…so illuminating! I absolutely love this place.  I’m sure i’ve mentioned it before on my site. It’s a great walk any time of the year. Bustling with activity with adults, children running after their dogs etc. I’m not too sure i have this painting (image) on here. If so, it’s worth the look again! I love  bark on trees i have above, the complexity of their colours is always interesting and unusual. This is why when you look hard at the bark - you will see they look a sort of ‘navy’ colour. this is what i studied hard when i did a watercolour sketch. It’s called ‘in harmony’ with nature. Reflection of light from the sky and land determines what’s in the middle - so to speak - in this case; the trees, foliage, and water - in fact, most material objects also: buildings,vehicles & boats too show colours from above within. All colours of the sky ‘in that moment of that time’ absorbed and reflected from other elements…(sky & land). Isn’t it so interesting and a little philosophical…(or confusing in my case above…LOL)