there’s always one

20×20 inch oil on canvas

sell out at the AFF

All 20 of my paintings sold at the Affordable Art Fair at the weekend. They were  sold out by Saturday morning, with orders for more.

Sometimes when something happens that subsequently changes things, the moment can slip by unnoticed and it’s only in looking back that we see it was a turning point or an important moment. Other times you can feel you’re right in it.

I don’t know where my particular road is leading but today certainly feels like an important one. In fact I am feeling both excited (that’s woop woop dance around the kitchen excited) and numb ( stare out the window, too much to take in kind of numb). But I’m also fired up by the trip and already onto the next big painting.

So kind of alternating wildly between three moods, would ya say that’s normal?

The Tallantyre Gallery stand

Chattting to Martin Tallantyre

A view of “Afternoon delight” in the distance as we made our way down the lane of stands.

We got a chance to meet two generations of the Tallantyre family. Robin, center and Martin far right.

And Finally, It’s Rob’s birthday today. Happy Birthday sweetheart!

you lookin’ at me kid?

The second of the bottle paintings. I’ve been struggling to get the effect I want out of my brushes so I moved to a palette knife on this one. I find it very hard to get brushes big enough and that give me what I want for paintings over about 16 inches. So when we are in london at the weekend I’m dragging my other half to do some art supply shopping! You can imagine, he’s over the moon! I, however will be like a kid in a candy shop.

you lookin’ at me kid? 24×24 inch oil on canvas

my bags are packed

Actually there wont be much in the way of bags, but all the better. Rob and I will travel light, in fact footloose and fancy free. We’re going over to visit the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park, London this weekend where 20 of my paintings will be available on the Tallantyre Gallery‘s stand A1. I can’t wait to see my paintings and check out what else is on offer.

The organisation to go however is like planning the Olympics and involves among other things;

• 1 mother staying over 2 nights
• 1 aunt babysitting one evening
• 2 friends to do school and activity runs
• 2 prepared meals for 4
• 3 different run rotas to be swapped and reorganized
• 5 pages of lists with times, people, pets, food, cooking temperatures and much else
• 1 petty cash kitty organized  (with correct change) for buses, scouts, school discos etc

But it’s great to be off for the weekend. No real agenda and no one else to worry about. Big smoke – here we come.

Iain Archer gig – Monday 21st

We’re also really looking forward to Iain’s gig here in our house on Friday week. It’s full up now and the one on Monday 21st is now booking. It will be in one of my galleries – The Doorway Gallery which is in an old georgian building and is a really beautiful venue for an intimate gig. If your’re in the Dublin area and would like to come along, just drop me an email. I guarantee you, it will be a night to remember.

monday 21st 8pm / the doorway gallery / 24 st. frederick st. D2 /€17 incl wine

The gallery will also have up to ten of my new interior paintings on show and you will also get a chance to preview Padraig McCaul‘s new show.

bottle it

This is the first of some paintings of glass bottles. This is 20×20 inch oil on canvas

a second gig with Iain Archer – Monday 21st

The Friday night gig in our kitchen has only room for a couple of extremely skinny people so we’re adding a second “living room” style gig on Monday the 21st of March at 8pm.

The venue this time will be The Doorway Gallery just off Nassau Street in Dublin city centre, just beside the Santana car park. It will be another intimate gig and in a gorgeous setting.

“As well as a singer in his own right Iain Archer is a member of Tired Pony (with members of REM and Snow Patrol) and a regular collaborator with Snow Patrol. He has an Ivor Novello Songwriting Award for Run with Snow Patrol and is an acclaimed recording artist (To The Pine Roots), producer, lecturer in songwriting and expert panelist at Music Events across the world.” S. Stockman.

Iain Archer is a solo artist of great depth and resonance. Mojo’s assessment is ‘evocative, windswept, romantic’ and uncut magazine calls his music ‘unassuming, but gripping’. Prepare to be gripped!

Don’t miss this chance to hear one of Ireland’s top singer songwriters perform for a small but perfectly formed audience.

Iain with Tired Pony on Letterman – Iain is sitting down playing slide guitar.

or watch here

Date: Monday March 21st  8pm

Venue:  The Doorway Gallery, South Frederick Street, D2.

Tickets: €17 includes wine

To get tickets just email me using the contact button.