The open door

the open door 40x40cm oil on canvas

Scary Monsters

So today is the day. I’ve reached my spring deadline!

20 paintings for the London Affordable Art Fair in March (tick) 14 for a joint show in at the Killarney Art Gallery at Easter (tick) and a small number spread across galleries in Ireland (tick).

The work is done now but I have a little touching up to do, lots of varnishing and then sorting and shipping.

It’s fantastic of course but I am, as usual, racked with the worry of whether or not they’re any good or good enough.

But these doubts are familiar by now. This is where I have to take my courage in my hands, take a leap of faith and let them go!

Scary monsters!

I Believe I can Fly ( flight of the frenchies). Trailer from sebastien montaz-rosset on Vimeo.

Watch this on full screen. Talk about scaring the bejeesus out of you!

Whirly burly birds

hurly whirly birds 80x80cm oil on canvas

The Sartorialist – Lunch for 25

You know that thing that people sometimes ask? “Who would you most like to have dinner with?” People often answer with folks like Morgan freeman or Pelie or Martin Luther king?

Well, I came across this video from the Sartorialist on a lunch he held for his fashion icons in Florence. Now I’m fully aware that I wouldn’t be invited and even if I was I’d stick out like a sore thumb but, in the spirtit of that “who’d you like to have lunch with” game, I wouldn’t mind  joining joining these guys for lunch.

The Sartorialist: Lunch for 25 from The Sartorialist on Vimeo.

By the way, The Sartorialist is a guy who is a fashion photographer/people watcher/artist. I’ve bloged an amazing video about him here before and this video is full of his usual style.

Bright skies after the storm

Not doing so many wellies these days but here’s one to match the weather of the weekend.

bright shies after the storm 60cmx60cm oil on canvas

Kilkenny getaway

About 10 years ago, I decided some interesting company and chat about books might be a good plan. So 10 or so of us began to meet to read and talk about books and of course have some good food and wine. Ten years on, our lives have moved on too but I am so blessed to have this very diverse group of intelegent, interesting, creative and fun women in my life.

We spent this weekend in Kilkenny to celebrate our “first” 10 years.

Really, what’s not to love about Kilkenny town, even in the rain. Fabulous food, art galleries, great little shops.

There’s the cathedral and the castle, where we met a really interesting guy who regaled us with tales about the Butler’s portrait and painting collection, which was both important and substantial in it’s day.

and it wouldn’t have been the same without a bit of music and of course a lock-in!

or here

I’m back at the easel today, a little the worse for wear but strangely energized at the same time. Wonderful!

Shabby Chic

Shabby Chic 60x60cm oil on canvas

Poetry and Craft

You may be aware of the discussion currently going on between Damien Hirst and David Hockey. David Hockey recently said that Art is about craft and Poetry. That art school was about teaching the craft, but that it can’t teach poetry.

In the past Hirst has used his assistants or students to do the actual work of his paintings. As in the case of his dot paintings they’re not painted by him at all but bear his name all the same.

So in essence we could argue that Hirst’s dot paintings are his idea, his poetry if you like, but someone else’s craft. Hockney and others are asking the question if you don’t have the craft, ie. if you can’t paint, sculpt, draw etc. Then are you an artist?

Questions for the small hours with a good glass a whiskey me thinks.

Anyway, all this by way of preamble. I visited Oliver Sears gallery on Monday to see Joseph Walsh‘s exhibit. We’ve seen beautifully crafted pieces of furniture that transcend the furniture/art divide. These pieces however were on a different level.

To my mind this is poetry and craft.

Enigmum Chair

Barely 31, The Irish Craftsman Joseph Walsh has become one of the most sought after names in furniture, his distinctive free flowing style and sinuous curvilinear forms makes his work highly coveted by collectors and museums alike.”                                                                                                  Bespoke person, Financial Times 

Enignum Table

His wood pieces move like the wind, bend like paper, mold like clay and have the strength of bone. Yatzer

and my favourite piece

Enignum shelf

Poetry and craft indeed.

Leaving Home from Chris Kunnert on Vimeo.