Foxrock & Stillorgan Sketches

'The Park, Cabinteely'

This is sort of a ‘new dimension’ to my work: i’ve been painting and sketching for years and never knew exactly why i didn’t bother to draw in my area! I mean a 3/4 mile radius….what a revelation to me. Not only is it exciting and ‘different’, but i’m able to refer back to the places i most admire, or areas of interest. Take the watercolour sketch above - the area: Cabinteely Park is very synonymous to me - i run and walk in the park quite a bit. One day last year i opened my sketch pad and just started to draw a house and field with a beautiful stream in the middle. I haven’t looked back. I feel a deep sense of joy when i did it and look at the finished watercolour, it’s like a reference point, and, i have it in a pad to open and reminisce  to my hearts content. I just love the houses in this painting above; they remind me of a ‘villa’ type house in Spain or France  some what. Just a feel of grace i cannot pinpoint what it IS. Beauty is every where is my point, not just your conventional ‘landscapes with rolling hills and perfect rivers’ - beauty IS in the eye of the beholder.

'Kilmacud Lower Rd, from Stillorgan Car Park'

Now i have to say myself: the car needs to be ’stretched’ a little bit. It’s out of proportion for sure. Guess i need more practice. You see: you need to perfect the area’s you are weak in, to be proficient - same for most things in life really! Stillorgan is without a doubt my absolute favourite village in Dublin. I don’t know why, just is. My Grandfather loved to come here to buy clocks and pocket watches by the dozen in a Jewellers called: ‘Fedderen’s’ - an obsession i guess; many years ago. It probably rubbed off me…lol. This scene is from the ‘overflow’ car park for the Shopping Centre’s main car park  which ironically is nearly always full - recession how are ye!!