All the pretty little things

Another from the trip to Hunters hotel this one is 80×80 cms sq oil on canvas.

Slow paint movement

I’m a fan of the slow food movement, actually I’m a fan of food generally. Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. The Slow Movement grew out of the slow food idea and it advocates a cultural shift toward slowing down life’s pace. I’ve been working on it for a while now and I’m slowly (sorry) starting to get it.

Although 2012 will be as busy as ever with shows and events, the first being in the Spring at London’s Affordable Art Fair, I will be painting to a somewhat slower schedule this year. The plan is to allow time to focus more, improve and be present to what I’m doing. And it started today with the first new painting of the new year.

I’m hoping 2012 with be happier and healthier for all of us.

In the meantime, I can’t think of a better more hopeful way to start the new year than with Jorge and Alexa Narvaez signing Adele’s Rolling in the deep.

or watch it here

rose cottage

Rose Cottage. 80x80cm oil on canvas

news from edinburgh art fair

The Tallantyre team are back from Edinburgh. The art fair was busy for them and they came back  7 paintings lighter from my end of things anyway. A great result, so I’m delighted.

For your Diary…

The dates for upcoming Christmas shows at my galleries;

• The Doorway Gallery, Dublin  - December 8th
• Killarney Art Gallery, Kerry – December 10th & 11th and December 17th & 18th
• Buckleys Fine Art, Cork – November 25th
• The Tallantyre Gallery, Northumberland, UK – December 4th

All the shows will run throughout the Christmas period.

P.S.

So much for a bit of help with the filling…..

fine and dandy

I whisked my eldest daughter off for lunch the other day. Just the two of us, impromptu! We went to Avoca and while there I spotted this table and chair. I did get a few looks as we moved around baskets, rugs and wellies but we couldn’t help ourselves.

Fine and Dandy 32x32inch 80x80cm oil on canvas

bristol affordable art fair this weekend

The Tallantyre Gallery are taking a bunch of my paintings to the Affordable Art Fair in Bristol this weekend. Fingers crossed my paintings will find lots of good homes!

Here’s a taste of some of the paintngs that will be available at the fair

all talk and no trousers

This was the last painting I painted for the AAF in Bristol. It’s a big one. So that’s the 14 done. Hallelujah! This morning I am photographing them and getting them ready to be shipped. Thankfully this can be done safely even while wet, thanks to my amazing framer Rory.

All talk and no trousers 32×32 inch oil on canvas

a grown up party

I finished the last painting (this one) on Saturday about noon and my daughter was having her 12th birthday party at seven. Now, so far I have pretty much done most of the prep for the birthday parties, even if the girls have had lots of input.  Baking, games, themes, invitations, all that and we’ve had some great parties.

However, it been crazy busy and I wanted to postpone so I could help more but my eldest said that A) they were too old for all that and B) she would do everything. Basically she wanted a grown up party.

Was I skeptical?  Damn right. But she got her way by virtue of the fact that I was simply too busy to help. But guess what? She shopped, cleaned the house, got the place ready and lit candles around the garden. There was music and her Dad did a barbecue. And, you know, she was right! The 30 or so kids milled around and chatted and it was like a grown up party.

I had nothing to do! She and her Dad even bought the cake. I’m still in shell shock but you know it was a lovely party. And it seems like another milestone crossed, even if a little reluctantly on my part.