2017

The body of work I had started in 2016 while on retreat continued in 2017 culminating in a solo show during September of 2017, Work already started was finished off including paper mache sculpture I had begun in 2015. Mostly after june as i was busy on a course up till then, but the vast majority of it was finished already from the summer before anyway.

Small selfie from sketchpad Black biro and some watercolour pencil for colour, June 2017

“The guardian”.Paper mache & mixed media..26 x 18 x 34 in.

“The guardian” Paper mache 3 x 2 ft. 2017

“Don’t look back, you’re not going that way” Mixed media on fabriano, 37 x 29 in 2017

Selection of a series of 14 mixed media works on paper 2017

Meditation stones in gallery case full selection

Meditation stones, Uni posca drawing on acrylic base 2017

‘Hope’ paper mache 33 x 12 x 20 in 2017

Embracing the now mixmedia on board 2017

Embracing the now, mixed media on board 2017

The show opened on Sept 1st 2017 and was a great success, there was a huge crowd and even the gallery owners said it was the largest crowd they had ever had since the gallery opened. Fun was had by all and there was lots of love in the room… I opened the show myself and all was good which included a respectable amount of red dots!

Many lovely friends supporting me on the night! Thank you all x x x

“Wishes & Dreams” paper mache & origami house in Gallery 1 Solas Solo Show Sept 1st 2017

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

Gallery 3 with wall of self portraits from 1999 to 2015

Depression, Quote from martha manning undercurrents

Gallery 3 with Hope paper mache sculpture and auglin series 22, 23, 24,

Gallery 3 with Emotional poetry from 1998

Gallery 4 with positive affirming statements on mirrors, plaques and a central piece entitled “Fishcat singing for joy while standing on a monumental pillar of inspiration”. The mobile above is titled “Arc over a triumph of stability”

As it was, the day the day after the show opened I went on holidays to wexford to Animal & caravan sit for friends who were away & had been let down at the last minute. I was delighted as I had spent many of my childhood summers in wexford and hadn’t been back in over 40 years. The weather was windy and somewhat rainy but when the sun came out which it did frequently, it was just like I remembered it. Especially when I visited those long sandy beaches which really were one beach which went up the entire east coast.

Hook head lighthouse, the second oldest used lighthouse in the world, fethard on sea, wexford Sept 2017

Wexford beach in black sketchpad with uni posca paint markers sept 2017 n

Black sketchpad doodling on the beach…….bliss!

Wexford beacch acrylic on board sept 2017

Acrylic on board 2017

Apon returning home I started into a whole new body of work as I always generally do after a show. At the same time I had collected a pile of Shells and driftwood from my ramblings on the beaches and put them together in a mobile.

Sea goddess Painted driftwood, beads and seashells 40 x 24 in 10. 2017

Sea Goddess, mixed media mobile 51 x 32 in. October 2017

New work in what looks like an untidy studio October 2017

I love this now when I look at it, but sadly it has been simplified….Sometimes one just overpaints…..Thats the way it goes.

Artwork 2018

As part of my final few pieces in the studio before it got too cold I experimented with paint pouring, which i had wanted to do for a long time. Interesting but somewhat hit and miss and ok i think as background…….Maybe.

Pouring play nov 2017

Emotional self portrait Dec 2017 Feeling Good

Emotional selfie, feeling good, acrylic & uni posca paint markers on canvas Dec 2017

As the year turned to winter my studio became too cold to work in even as I lit the stove daily, with an uninsulated roof and several drafts, so as usual I resorted to working more on smaller pieces where i could paint in my living room and have a fire lit and the door firmly closed!