Studio 2006

April 2006: (Triptych) 'Saturday Night Fever'

Three years ago I watched 'Common Cranes' performing their mating ritual during a documentary on the National Geographic Channel::

"Relishing belches and cockles resound as they swagger and flirt the strutting ground- tails fanned in dazzling array, wattles and combs in vibrant display. On stomping rhythms they dally along drumming their wings to the jubilant throng- scrutinizing the seasons best, in pompous splendour’ manifest."

During the interval somebody' took control of the remote and switched over to an 'MTV Fashion Show' where I observed the same behaviour from the models on platform:

"Exiguous bodies flaunt and hawk their ‘haute couture’ on the cat walk- in graceful gait to and fro, to hip-hop pop and laser show. Cashmere, chiffon, velvet, voile, mixing matching, alluring styles- to a wallowing crowd in joyful clamour, consumed in the orgy of glitz and glamour."

This sparked a series of 'Cat Walk' paintings:

'Cat Walk' March 2003 Sold

'Cat Walk' March 2005 Sold 'Cat Walk A' February 2006 Sold 'Cat Walk B' February 2006 Sold

Since that first painting my brushstroke has loosened up considerably and I have grown more confident in my use of colour. I plan to re-visit this subject with a new 'Triptych' which I have already titled 'Saturday Night Fever'. It shall be the first project showcased over the coming weeks. Here are some preliminary sketches which will form the bones of the composition.

Meet My Models- 'Dublin Zoo 2006'

I visit these 'Birds' on the corners and alleyways of Dublin Zoo, where they sit pretty! perfectly still and never talk back! When they are not posing, these outcasts are gate-crashing the Sea-lion and Penguin exhibits during feeding time.

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May 2006: 'The Spire'

'The Pin In The Bin', 'The Nail In The Pale', 'The Stiffy By The Liffey', The Gleaming Tower Of Pizza-land'- The Sculpture rises One hundred and twenty meters high, above 'O Connell Street', Dublin's' main thoroughfare. This stainless steel structure twice the height of Liberty Hall and seven times as high as the GPO was completed in January 2003. The spire can be seen from most parts of the city and is likely to dominate the Dublin skyline for decades if not centuries to come. I think it's cool and last week decided to pin it on canvas-

'Photo' 'The Spire A' 'The Spire B'

The first image shows a photo which I snapped, looking down 'Henry Street' towards the Spire. I have loosely based the structure of both compositions on this image. I was surprised at how well the 'Spire A' looked having applied a simple wash of block colours. Divided as to whether I should further define and simplify the painting or continue with a more detailed image which I had envisaged from the start, I resolved to do both, hence 'The Spire B'. I will set up two easels, painting both in unison and compare to very different paintings on completion.

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June 2006: Re-visit, (Triptych) 'Saturday Night Fever'

Sketched out composition on three large Canvases 80cm x 120cm x 4.5cm, which will make up the Triptych 120cm x 240cm x 4.5cm. Again covered the whole canvas in a quick wash, playing around with light and shadow before I apply any colour.

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July 2006: Re-visit, (Triptych) 'Saturday Night Fever'

(Diptych) 'Blame It On The Boogie' July 2006 Sold

I took the Models from a recent painting 'Oh! I Do Like To Be Beside The Sea-side' and brought them to a 'Night Club'- Painted this Diptych in order to experiment with palette before continuing with Saturday Night Fever.

'The Dogs'

Visited the 'Dogs' (greyhounds) last week and from the track-side took some dodgy photos (all blurred). With 'Primal' and 'Speed' in mind I sketched out a canvas the following day. Will paint it this month while the subject still excites me.

Re-visit: 'The Spire A'

Painted over the road in 'Spire A' changing the direction of my brushstroke to gain further drama and perspective. I have also worked on the buildings on both sides of the street. The 'right-hand side', bathe in sunshine, the 'left' in the shadows.

Starting to add detail-

Re-visit: 'The Dogs'

Finished canvas in two sittings this week:

'The Dogs' July 2005 Sold

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August 2006: Re-visit, 'The Spire'

Both paintings are coming together as detail is added and colour sharpened. I am careful not to let the hoarding of that well known department store dominate the painting as it does in the photo.

'Figure On Bench' & 'Figure On Branch'

Concentrating on light and shadow, I began two new paintings this month. In both, light will appear from the top left corner. I intend to be more daring when painting the shaded areas, and will use a lot of black and dark ultramarine.

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September 2006: Re-visit, 'The Spire B'

'The Spire B' before final sitting- 'The Spire B' September 2006 Sold

'Wakey Wakey!' September 2006 Sold

Over the last three years I have kept a simple palette of primary colours: Cadmium Yellow, Naples Yellow, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine and Cerulean Blue. Not content with my secondary colours, I have recently added 'Violet Windsor' which you will now notice in some of my new paintings.