Clare Artist - Wildlife, landscape and Irish Life

2009-10-17T18:49:00.001+01:00

Oils on canvasThe Kilrush Art Group meets every Friday evening at the community hall but on Friday 16 October the hall was being used for another function so our group made our way to the Life Boat Station in Cappa.I wish I had my camera but as usual, its never with me for the most spectacular natural scenes. Purples, pinks, bright yellow and gorgeous blues greeted us as we arrived at the station

METRO Photo Challenge: Tsitsikamma Wave

2009-10-14T15:35:00.001+01:00

METRO Photo Challenge: Tsitsikamma WaveShared via AddThis

"Bluebell Heaven" - oil painting

2009-10-04T16:01:00.006+01:00

Oil on canvas (commissioned) A larger image can be seen on my gallery. This very special painting was commissioned by my dear friend, Bridget. She saw my first bluebell painting and wanted one of her own to commemorate her beloved father and husband. She kindly gave me permission to write the story of this painting. She lost her father to cancer several years ago and her husband was tragically

Art Courses: 2010

2009-09-28T17:53:00.008+01:00

The program of 2010 art courses are posted on my website as well as news about student exhibitions, the working studio and art suppliers. So, if you have the time, pop in to take a look. There are also special one week painting holiday courses next year - only two for the year - so if you are interested, please book early as the courses fill up very quickly.I am very happy about the easels and

"European Otter" - oil painting

2009-09-02T13:51:00.003+01:00

Oils on canvas (40×40cm)I worked on this painting, on and off, for almost two years and now I think I am satisfied that it is finished.This cute little creature is an European Otter and the painting depicts the moment before he slips into the water again. I love the cheeky look on his adorable little face.ISPCA Otter Sanctuary was opened in May 2007 in County Longford, Ireland due to the

Dressing for Art?

2009-08-24T16:29:00.002+01:00

Is it art or do some people just dress for the part? I have seen some really wacky people (they call themselves 'artists') - the work they do speaks for itself - they seem to take more time dressing the part than doing the art! Anyway, its a funny world sometimes and there is a place for all of us. I am probably 'wacky' as well as I really don't care much for dressing up and always wear paint

"Thirsty Elephants" - Oil Painting

2009-08-24T14:16:00.002+01:00

Oils on canvas (20×30 inches)I have been working on this painting for a very long time (probably more than a year – on and off) and I always found something more to do. (Artist’s dilemma – never knowing when to stop!!!)But now I think there is nothing more I can do without ‘over-doing’ so this painting is now finished!Poaching significantly reduced the population of elephants in certain regions

"Sailing past Scattery Island, Kilrush, Ireland" - oil painting

2009-08-24T14:11:00.006+01:00

Oils on a round linen canvas. I had lots of fun painting this view of a boat/yacht sailing past Scattery Island, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland.The view is of the ancient ruins of the church and round tower on Scattery Island.

We must appreciate every day

2009-07-19T15:37:00.005+01:00

My heart breaks for my dearest friend who lost her beloved so tragically July 16 2009. I will never find the words to say how much I feel her sadness but can only be there for her whenever she needs me. Death does not always give us the chance to say goodbye.An Irish PrayerDeath is nothing at all.It does not count.I have only slipped away into the next room.Everything remains as it was.The old

Kilrush From the Marina - Oil Painting

2009-07-11T14:11:00.003+01:00

Oils on canvas. A different view of Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland.

"Laura" - Oil Painting

2009-04-02T16:23:00.003+01:00

Oils on canvas 40 x 50cm Portrait of Laura, a beautiful young lady and I feel very honoured to have painted her. Thank you to Dalia of http://digitalcreationsmyway.com/If you would like to commission me to paint that special person or pet in your life, just send me an email for information.

"Tiger Pool" - Oil Painting

2009-04-02T16:20:00.003+01:00

Oils on canvas 50 by 70cm I have been working on this painting for several months. At last, it is finished. After visiting SA and seeing these beautiful animals at Jukani, I am inspired to paint them. The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four “big cats” in the genus Panthera. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex

Portrait of Boetie - Oil Painting

2009-04-02T16:15:00.003+01:00

A portrait in oils of my darling doggy, Boetie.He is a rescued dog (5 years old now!) and we got him when he was 8 months old. His first months were spent in an atrocious puppy farm and it took him a long while to trust us.Now, he is a real character and, although he still has 'issues', he is the boss of us.Love him to bits and when he looks at me like that with his big brown eyes, I will give

Cheetah Humour

2009-03-24T18:31:00.004Z

I took these photo's of two cheetahs lying in the shade on a very hot, dusty day at a game reserve on the East Coast of South Africa.They could not be bothered with us and seemed to be sharing a little private joke!"Have you heard the one about?......"

Back in Ireland

2009-03-24T14:51:00.001Z

South Africa - land of splendourDear FriendsAnd so we are home again after the most wonderful holiday in South Africa. There are so many stories to tell and I took tonnes of photo’s which I must still work through. My new camera worked like crazy!!To make a very long story really short:We landed in Cape Town in the midst of a heat wave!!! From light snowfall in Ireland to 40 degrees – well, it

Irish Girl Making Butter - oil painting

2009-02-21T21:32:00.004Z

Oils on canvas (40 x 40 cm)Painting depicting an Irish servant girl making butter in her rich master's house. (County Antrim).I had a very old blurry photo to work from and quickly grew fed up from looking at the photo. So, I let my imagination take over and created my own 'scene' using items from my house and a huge amount of artistic license.I spent some time researching old kitchens of the

Lilac Snow - oil painting

2009-02-21T21:23:00.006Z

Oils on canvas.This painting was done with just four colours: alizarin crimson, prussian blue, raw umber and white.The painting of the Marshland (below) also has a limited palette:alizarin crimson, vermillion, lemon yellow, white and raw umber on black gessoed canvas.

News about the exhibition

2009-02-16T10:30:00.001Z

Dear friends, you may have noticed my absence over the last days and I do apologise for not being able to keep up with everything here. I have been so busy lately with the exhibition and art courses. The exhibition opening on Thurs 12 was a great success. Approximately 100 people turned up and it was absolutely wonderful for my students to see all the interest. Their paintings were gorgeous

Art is for Everyone Exhibiton

2009-02-07T10:05:00.004Z

The Art is for Everyone concept was born one evening when I was showing a few friends some of my oil painting techniques that I taught myself over several years. They suggested that I should offer oil painting art courses as they learnt so much in a short time and had lots of fun as well.At first I only did one day courses but gradually the course evolved into weekend and six week courses where I

"Killrush - Cill Rois" - Oil Painting

2009-01-29T13:19:00.006Z

Oils on canvas – (24×20 inches) This painting took several months to complete as I tried to paint it as accurately as possible, using a magnifying glass for certain areas. Kilrush is a lovely town, a few miles from where I live – friendly people, home of Mrs Crotty’s (pub well known for Irish traditional music) and the Vandeleur Gardens. (Vandeleur was the infamous landlord who evicted

County Clare Photographs

2009-01-26T21:31:00.005Z

A few photographs of beautiful County Clare, Ireland, taken with my Nikon D60...I am still learning how to use this lovely camera. I hope you enjoy the photo's!!

"Dolphin Wave" - oil painting

2009-01-10T16:54:00.005Z

Oils on canvas (20×24 inches) Dolphins are wonderful animals to watch as they play in the waves. I blurred them slightly to give the impression of speed as they break through the water. This is a sight familiar to the wonderful people of the RNLI Kilrush as they go out in all weathers, risking their own lives to rescue people in trouble on the sea. The proceeds from this painting will be

Wedding Portrait - oil on canvas

2009-01-10T12:12:00.004Z

Oils on canvas (50×70cm) (sold) Portrait commissioned by Maura as a surprise Christmas gift for her son and daughter-in-law. And, Maura says, they were indeed very pleasantly surprised as a portrait of their wedding of years ago was the last thing they would have thought of. I am very pleased and honoured that Maura chose me to paint this portrait!!

"Peregrine Falcon" - Oil Painting

2008-12-18T13:03:00.002Z

Oils on canvas (10×12 inches) (commissioned – sold) The Peregrine Falcon is often stated to be the fastest animal on the planet in its hunting dive, the stoop, which involves soaring to a great height and then diving steeply at speeds commonly said to be over 322 km/h (200 mph), and hitting one wing of its prey so as not to harm itself on impact. The Peregrine Falcon hunts at dawn and dusk,

Kilbaha Harbour, County Clare, Ireland - oil painting

2008-12-05T16:37:00.004Z

Oils on canvas (20 x 24 inches)Ghosts, ruins and the faith of a small Irish village....Kilbaha is one of my very special places in county Clare, Ireland. It is also the place where my dear friend, Hannah, is buried. On the hill overlooking the harbour, you can see the ruins of a mansion (Dun Dalhin) which belonged to the notorious landlord agent, Marcus Keane. (circa 1850's).One day, I had a