Stones from the Sea,

 I have been looking at Stones from the Sea. Having found many Hag Stones while walking the beach I thought it would be interesting to use this in my work.

 The force of the sea is amazing, and the uses of different natural objects in painting  persuaded me to study the stones and create my own habitat for them, which I called 'Ecology'. Eco is the Greek for home and the Study of same.

 These are one of the first paintings made. I followed a series of experiments using individual pieces and the surface qualities that best suited.

 I also looked at layering many forms on top.

This created  my piece called 'Ecology'.

Subject Matter

I chose Backgrounds as my subject matter.  Richters Swiss Alps pictures resemble my photos on top left and this led me to explore Painting using a large window scrapper. The marks this allowed me to make became the main focus. Corrupting and inverting these images brought more possibilities. Exploring surface qualities to allow this process to evolve in a controlled fashion is equally as important now as the initial process. Josh Smiths palette prints and Arturo Herraro felt marks can lead this project further.

Life Painting

Life Painting

I think Eric Fischl and John Currin can rest easy for another few weeks. There is definitely an improvement.

The short quick poses have been very interesting as well as the method of longer poses.

Materiality

While looking at many artists for this project. I found inspiration in Tauba Auerbach's use of materials, folded, creased canvas. The mechanical qualities of paint and the 3D qualities it gave the surface. Kerstin Bratsch use of paint and patterning to create  artwork. Through working with Plaster, wax, PVA and texture I encountered William Daniels work. I love the tones he gets in his paintings of plaster models and impression of texture in his Tin foil paintings

Materiality

All set up in our Studio space. A Good panel of Comedians on either side to keep the spirits lifted. ( Essential maintenance for the days when inspiration gets left behind!)

Our first Project is on Materiality. To explore materials and how they would work in a painterly fashion. Whether to paint on or paint with. I really enjoyed this and it lead me into something I was ready to explore.

I really had fun looking at Alexis Harding's work and pushing the possibilities of Gloss paint and surface qualities. This lead me to using Cling Film both on top of paint and as a surface itself.

The use of Oil based paints with Water based compounds added in to explore the end results was very informative for me. Sometimes the Skin that formed was more interesting also how long it took to fully dry and the possibilities of reshaping while setting.

March 2012

Yippee. We had to Choose between our six disciplines and then compete for places. Delighted to get my 1st preference of Painting. Onwards and upwards from here!!

Happy St Patrick's Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU


You can't beat the Classics..

Painting, Painting, Painting

Loads of Research on painting techniques, and put it into practice. Delighted to be painting for the next 8 weeks. It would take weeks to research all of Anselm Kiefers work, but will give it a go.

Rírá and Ruaille Buaille

What struck me greatly about this print and the process behind this is how in the blink of an eye Kids stretch and mature. Life never stands still! The Drama that enfolds is both challenging and rewarding.

Space

The theme for our Project was Space. I interpreted this as my need for Outdoor Space, Fresh Air and all the enjoyment this brings for me with my offspring. The Hub Bub and banter that goes with family life. The Irish Language sums it up beautifully RíRá agus Ruaille Buaille

Print

Our last Elective is Printing. Thoroughly enjoying the process. You wouldn't even notice that you are covered in ink because the day passes so Quickly. We got to try new pieces and this opens up great possibilities for me.

Will uploads as soon as I decide which I like best.

Rag Week

Newsflash! we  made it to Dolans after a lively detour! Do we get medals for suffering for our art? We'll just have to head out more often and build up resistance.
After a cracking Rag week I'm headed for Print next Elective. Looking forward to getting stuck into a different aspect of Print than we saw in first term.

Freud lookalike

One of the tasks was to replicate a L. Freud painting of your choice. I picked Frank. Hope you  like the results.

Painting Elective

Ceramics was a good introduction to our Painting Elective. We had great fun Painting with Card, mixing all our colours and testing our existing knowledge. See can you figure out what is in the paintings..

ceramics

I have a good grounding in Ceramics now after two super weeks. Making vessels of different types and trying the Naked Raku finish. The crackle glaze turned out rather nice. We also had fun wheel throwing bowls, painting and  glazing

Ceramics

Started our two week trials in our 3 of the areas we have chosen. It is lovely to start off in Ceramics. An Air of calm descended on us on Monday. We knew we were in the hands of experts in their fields. What genius. They make it look amazingly simple. If only the clay would behave for me as it does for our instructors. There is nothing else for it only a sense of humour and a bucket load of patience. Throwing on the pottery wheel will be a novel way of testing my staying power. Will keep you posted. Looking forward to seeing the finished results, watch this space CCOI.

Printing

Thanks to J.O'R. for the photo's.

The Starlings do it better that any Artist I've seen yet.

All Answers on a post card to .....