Spring has arrived

Do I smell grass? Not that kind! About time she says!

 

This has been a very busy couple of months. I am now finished for a while with most of my groups. My two modules in KCAT are over and I have to say I love working there…pity ii this so far away. My paintings and textile selfies are still in Lennons restaurant in Visual in Carlow.

DANESFORT GOING STRONG

Danesfort Going strong group are nearly finished their amazing wall hanging. There will be a grand unveiling at some point in the not too distant future!

 

FERRYBANK TEXTILES GROUP

Ferrybank Textiles finished their amazing pieces and we will be having an exhibition in the main Waterford library probably November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I still have a few days left with Borris ARA, then after Easter I start with a group of clients in the watergardens….we will be felting….yippee!

COMMISSIONS

I have been working on a repeat commission, a woman was so p,eased with a painting she did of her husbands family home, as a present, which had to be knocked that she asked me to do it again! Happy days! Though doing a repeat brings it own challenges. What do you think

 

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Danesfort going strong group

 

Nearly done

 

This is the wall hanging. It still ha to have a border and a few other elements added but I think it is fantastic.

I have to say this group are such a pleasure to work with. They are a true example of how a community group can work. They are self driven and are so supportive and good for and to each other. We are working on a large wall hanging for their parish hall. I knew there was talent but had realised the range of skills I had to work with. If I had a big ego it would be hard but I love this aspect of my work. I just give em a push and EU do all the work! Ha ha

 

This is hand sewn and everyone has had some kind of input into the piece, proper community art

 

 

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Teacher training workshop in Enniscorthy Education centre……

 

Tuesday I did what is called CPD…..a continuing professional development workshop with a group of National School teachers. I was as usual apprehensive as I had not done information a long time. The thought of keeping the attention of all those high achievers scared the bejaysus out of me……but sure what was the worse thing they could do to me?

Any way it was fine. I often think that what I do is a bit like acting and the pre workshop nerves make it work better?

The idea was that I would adapt one of my lesson plans from my book for teachers on textiles using an Easter theme. I out a lot of pre workshop time into this, hinting and doing as all but it was worth it. I did a bunny rabbit or hare depending on how correct you want to be. I think they enjoyed it and got some new ideas out of it. Only one of them had used Mod Rock before which was great S they are always looking for new ideas and it is a great Papier Mâché substitute.

 

 

 

 

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2016 the start of a new year!

February 2016

Boy I have been busy. I was very sick for a week and the rest of this year so far has been a blur!

I was asked to hang my work in Lennons restaurant in the amazing Visual Centre!

Here are a few images from that…..not great quality a shoe light is not fantastic.

 

 

 

 

 

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Cill Rialig

This is a short blog Which is taking ages to post as I am having trouble with my images, they keep disappearing, that I did while staying in Cill Rialig the artists retreat in county Kerry. It is an Amazing windswept wild spot. On the edge of the world, close to Valencia Island. The home of the the chocolate factory is nearby…….yummy

 

Day one

I arrived about three o clock. It is a wild desolate spot. A thing of beauty. First night I went for drinks to Noelle’s house, very pleasant and some lovely company.

We are on the edge of the world here. I will have to get used to being alone. I smell a scaredy cat.

I went out ASAP and took some photos with the camera of Cill Rialig and the views as I know tomorrow is to be a wash out. Then I did a couple of little watercolours from the camera To get the ball rolling.

I think my aim while I am here is to experiment with different media and see which really fires me. I want to get out and do pleine air watercolours and oils. I may not move far, I’ll see how I feel.

 

Day two

I want to get that started and later I will put on my waterproofs and get out to feel the mountain that sits above the sea!The wind and rain are howling out side. I peeped out at the sea it is spectacular. I am working on a commission of a dog a who is not well for an Xmas present. In the evening a few of were entertained by Noelle Campbell Sharp in her amazing house. Lovely evening. Nice people.

 

 

Day three

This morning I woke up feeling relaxed and decided to have a look out the window. There looking up at me was the sheep who Lives in the field between me and the sea. Lovely look on his face.

Sunday afternoon, listening to Gay Byrne because I can get nothing else and the CD player won’t work. This morning I took a trip to Ballinskelligs and Dungeagan. The car was making a strange noise and I think it was smelling funny when I got back. I tried yo do a quick watercolour inside here before I went out…..disaster! Then I took my sheet of drawing paper that I had flattened last night on my board, out the back door and attempted a charcoal of the view. I then brought it inside to finish it off

I also finished the dog……I t

At lunchtime I paid a visit to the meeting room to check it out out. It is lovely and I do hope to get together with some of the residents in it! Had a lovely supper provided by an English sculptor for a few of us.

 

Day four

 

Today has been a struggle. This morning was not bad. I got some lovely photos and got to meet Mary. Before that I went up the hill behind, feeling very brave and out of breath to be honest by the time I got to the top…..well the first top anyway! I tried to do a sketch of the islands but got worried by a rather large cloud that I thought was coming my way so I slid back down being careful as I did not fancy breaking my ankle in the bog! Had a chat with two lovely cows on the way down. I got some nice shots of the village. The light was beautiful today. I must get out and paint more landscapes at home.

 

 

 

After meeting Mary I went for a walk on the beach, beautiful spot and got some lovely shots.

 

 

 

Ballinskelligs beach…..beautiful

 

I spent the afternoon trying to do an oil of my house here. Not the happiest with it…..maybe it will look better in the morning. I really need to practice my landscapes. I also tried the view of the islands opposite Bolus head.

All in all the more I do the more I need to do. The more I realise the need to just keep producing work

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Looking back over the years….

Here are some images from my archives. Work in schools from nealry ten years ago till recent years!

the first 5 images are from Johnswell NS PerCent for Art Scheme

 

Wall hanging for Ferns NS for CRAFTed 

BallyMurphy CRAFTed Rathegeran Stone

It is funny how something that seems all consuming when I am doing it can be almost erased from my memory until I look back at it. Here are some images from projects with schools from the past ten years!

 

Autumn is here and I’m horsing around

 

Selfie

Just Reynolds in the Spanish style

Arab horse head and bum

 

Bertram Allen brilliant young Irish showjumping

 

Carlow Farmers

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Olly

A picture speaks a thousand words and this one upsets a lot of people and makes a lot of people very happy. Who is to say who is right and wrong. Both sides believe in their arguments. I know people on both sides and they are not bad people, they just see the world differently. Of course the moral high ground does go to the antis I guess but I’ve always found the moral high ground a dangerous place. I mean where does it stop…..a woman has a right to kill a child in her body…but don’t kill animals to eat them? I am firmly on the fence, my head says ‘this’ and and my heart says ‘that’!

While I love to watch the spectacle of the hunt I do realise that I am slightly uncomfortable about the ethics of it all. To those of you who have never seen a hunt it is not what you imagine. I have a lurcher and all she thinks about when she sees anything that is not a dog or bigger than her is kill! However I am going to park that as this picture sums up Autumn for so many people that I know. If you look at it uncritically and just take the images in it without knowledge of the intent it is a picture of joy….horse, hounds and beautiful autumn colours.

 

Just Reynolds Irish Dressage rider…..Olympic hope! Maggie the lurcher….’please let me kill that cat?’

 

 

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New doors opening

Children’s camp all done

My studio is not very big so I take only 6-8 children max and for silk painting workshops I take 4 adults max.

I did two tester children's workshops this summer. We started out with a mini children's camp which though low in numbers was very successful. It was good really as I had not done them for three years so it was a good toe in th water…..seems I ain't lost it! Then Saturday I had three lovely ladies for a silk scarf workshop….this was very successful and all three went home beaming.Then I did a second week in August this was equally satisfactory, again only three but boy were they really good.

This time the puppets were made from tights and plenty of sewing and stapling!

 

Then there were these selfies!

 

Then to wind up the summer I had a lovely group of pals for a silk scarf workshop…..the pictures tell the stories

 

 

 

 

 

#art#painting#workshops#atelier

 

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Silk scarf painting workshop

I have just had a great day. Three lovely women did a silk scarf painting workshop. It went really well. Thank you Margaret, Edeline and Miriam!

 

 

 

#Silk painting#silk scarves# workshops#studio#atelier#painting holidays#

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