gus

I’m taking it easy on the blogging front today. This painting is a favorite of mine from last year. It’s a commission of a sweet lab called Gus and I saw it again recently in the client’s home and I was delighted that I still liked it one year on. (not always true with every painting)

Gus 20×20 inch oil on canvas

Speaking of dogs…

what men have in common with dogs

• Both take up too much space on the bed.
• Both have irrational fears about vacuum cleaning.
• Neither tells you what’s bothering them.
• The smaller ones tend to be more nervous.
• Neither does any dishes.
• Both fart shamelessly.
• Both mark their territory.
• Both like dominance games.
• Both have an inordinate fascination with women’s crotches.
• Neither of them notices when you get your hair cut.
• Neither understands what you see in cats.

(Source: originally attributed to FL Saucy)

new work at the bad art gallery

The final five paintings (you can see them all here) left for The Bad Art Gallery last night and you should be able to see all or most of them by Culture night, this coming Friday.

My old friend Kevin McSherry will be doing a painting demonstration in the window and that alone will be worth a look see.

Dr. Sketchy (part of the anti art movement of artists) will also be there on the night. Basically you can bring along a notebook and pen and you get to sketch burlesque dancers! It’s life drawing but with all the stuffiness taken away! Go on give it a go!

best bib and tucker

The painting above is one that I’m trying out and I like it so far. I’ve had to explain the title already so It’s obviously a bit obtuse. Basically the scene is rather grand and the cat is all puffed up in his “best bib and tucker” to meet the ocasion!

best bib and tucker 16×16 oil on canvas

yesterday was a red dot day!

Green Apple Punctuation is off to a new owner somewhere and I hope it’s very happy with them!

Killarney Art Gallery have sellected another 8 paintings to replace those that have sold. I’m working on new paintings for the Whalley Gallery up north and Kenny‘s in Lahinch. Once those are in the bag it will be straight on to working on new work for the Bad Art Gallery’s Christmas Show and Killarney Art Gallery’s Christmas Show.

Honestly, I don’t recognise my life from a year ago. I couldn’t even have hoped for it. And it’s great to be busy!

since pussy was a cat

Now if you’re not from Northern Ireland you’ll be wondering what on earth that title is all about. I can’t find it anywhere on the internet (that’s a first!) but my mother-law from the north uses this expression. She uses it in the same way as we might say “since the year dot” or “since before time”.  I love these local expressions. Another good northern one is  “go get on ya” which means go get dressed or get your clothes on. Rob’s granny had a great one she used about her wee dog. “He runs round like a masty” no one to this day has been able to tell me what a masty is!

loving hearing Italian spoken in the house again

We have two Italian students with us for a week. They’re two gorgeous Italian boys from the north near Milan (completley biased here as we love Italians) and it really is lovely to hear the language in the house again. We’ve had two Italian aupairs over the years who became very dear to us and we’ve been to Itally many times.  And… they brought really good Italian parmesan and biscuits with them. Mmmmm

If (I mean when – see, thinking positively like Oprah says) When I win the lotto I will buy a little house in Alassio in Liguria and paint outside on the terrace over looking the rocks and the sea.

Meanwhile….

Slinky Malini

The first painting of the new arrival. Not the first he has been in unfortunately but the first he has been the subject of. He was swatting something, actually I think he was just attacking the air for no aparent reason – kittens eh?

slinky malini 7×7 inch oil on gesso bord