This page showcases sample work from 2007, with updates posted at different intervals as ideas progressed from pencil sketches to varnished paintings.

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January 2007: 'Foxes'

Started this Canvas from an old sketch, setting out a palette of browns, blacks and oranges went straight at it!

'Foxes' January 2007 Sold

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February 2007: 'Dancing Forms'

  Something very different!

I aim to paint movement and light battling two dominant colours 'Red' and 'Green' against each other, working from a sketch which has been hanging in my studio for the last couple of months-

ABC

(A) Firstly I applied a quick wash of colour to the background of the canvas bringing in light from the top left hand corner.  (B) Played around with a few strokes of red and green- 'finding my way in the dark'.  (C,D) Worked on 'Red' and 'Green' simultaneously adding strokes of 'Naples Yellow' and 'White' to each block of colour.  (E,F) Left it hanging for a couple of days before making some final adjustments and signing off!

DEF

'Dancing Forms' February 2007 Sold

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March 2007: Simon Meyler (Senior)

Over the last couple of months I have been asked on a number of occasions about my Fathers' paintings (Simon Senior) and the similarities or influence which they may have on my own work, so with kind permission I have uploaded a small cross-section -

'Portraiture' 1964

                 Detail: 'Portraiture' 1964

 'Portraiture' 1964

                                         'Still Life' 1972                                'Sea-scape' 1988

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April 2007: 'Ugly Goblin'

Here is a rather unusual commission which I started way back in 2005.  It has taken up residence in an alcove at the back of my studio and every couple of weeks I dust it down before another sitting.  Luckily there is no deadline!

At the moment I have not given this painting a title so it goes by the nickname which my daughter has given.  In 2005 I started with a detailed charcoal sketch on Canvas Board, over which I applied a detailed black and white wash which you can see coming through the background.   During sittings I have added layer upon layer of light washes retouching and often redoing parts.  I am  concentrating on light and dark, drawing focus to the effervescent substance in his pot.  What is he up to?

                 June 2005                                                                    February 2006

                     May 2006

                 April 2007

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May 2007: 'Tripp'

Over the past few weeks I have been trying to get on top of my outstanding commissions.  My floors are cluttered with half finished canvasses and negotiating this obstacle course has at times been trying.  Apologies to all concerned and thanks for your patience (Everything comes to those who wait). 

In 2005 I was asked to paint 'Tripp' the pet dog of a client of mine.  I made a start back then placing some early ideas onto a square canvas, returning in March to where I left off.  'Tripp' is a beautiful dog who has been a joy to paint, so much so that I got a little carried away and instead of a single painting, Ger' has ended up with a choice of five.

My brief- "I'll leave it to yourself, just do your thing" (What a guy!)

It started with a couple of photographs from which, I drew up some pencil sketches-

Initially I settled on the first drawing and with a colour scheme in mind I set out my palettes-

                                                               'Tripp 1' May 2007 Sold

On returning, I completed the first painting quite swiftly and during the last sitting while making some final adjustments, I noticed that I had three palettes still loaded with paint.........so without haste I sketched out a second block' and continued-

Over the next couple off days I started two more' and continued painting all three in unison-

                     'Tripp 2' May 2007  Sold                  'Tripp & Tyler' May 2007  Sold         'Tripp 3' May 2007

Having hung the finished paintings around the house to live with them for a while, I fancied painting 'Tripp 2' again but in an entirely different palette of 'Blue and Orange'.  In order to avoid any replication I covered the finished painting and started the new' from the same pencil sketch.  Instead of the 'Left' I brought the light in from the 'Right-hand side' and also worked on a Canvas Board of different dimensions.

                     'Dog On Blue And Orange' May 2007 Sold

Apart from the palette, on first glance these paintings look quite similar.  Studying both a little closer however, it is interesting to note the way in which the paint has been applied - in constructing both images, the placing of brush strokes are completely different.

Enjoyed working with this 'Blue & Orange' palette and hope to explore it a little more over the coming weeks with some different subjects.

'Happy Ever After!'

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Un-enhanced photo of sunset' from my new studio window, 9.30pm 1/5/2007

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June 2007: 'Blue And Orange Paintings'

 Inspiration- 'Orange lilies, back garden', May 2007

  Following the 'May' painting 'Dog On Blue And Orange', over the last month I continued to explore this palette in a number of new paintings of varying subjects-

                                                                                                                                 'Sitting Pretty!' June 2007 Sold

                              'Full Speed' June 2007 Sold          'Sisters' June 2007  Sold                                  'Bubbles' June 2007

'Who are you' staring at!'

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July 2007: 'Ships In The Night'

Began two large canvases, both seascapes and similar in composition.  In both paintings I want to concentrate on movement and light.  I have limited my colours to a dark palette of Ultramarine, Phthalocyanine Blue and Naples Yellow.  My plan is to mix and set out my paint and brushes before starting, everything at the ready, so I can swiftly apply the paint in an effort to keep the background as loose as I can. 

Having finished a feverish first sitting, I scraped away the excess paint to reveal the charcoal  guidelines of the ships.  When completely dry I will work on both painting separately, consciously balancing and exploiting the spontaneous swirls and strokes of colour within the background as I work on each ship.

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August 2007: Re-visit, 'Ships In The Night'

                                 'Windswept A' August 2007 Sold                                  'Windswept B' August 2007 Sold

Completed both paintings, detailing ships and adding some finishing strokes of Crimson red to lead the eye of the viewer around the Canvas.  A thin coat of Oil varnish and they're ready for the next voyage!

'Quality Control 2007'

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September 2007: 'Musicians'

This month I have returned to a favourite subject, 'Music'.  One Evening I gathered a bunch of  players, both young and old who brought with them a variety of instruments.  In no time the house was filled with the sounds of  Mandolins, Banjos, Guitars, Flutes, Whistles, Concertinas, Drums, Zitars and more.......

Between sets and songs I snapped and sketched, building up a ream of studies on which I will base a series of paintings.

Here's the first -

'Practice Makes Perfect!' September 2007

On the completion of this picture I decided that I would like to paint something similar on a grander scale, life-size.  I Settled on a Landscape Canvas 200cm x 120cm x 4.5cm.  Because of the large dimensions it is more practical to build the canvas myself from scratch, in the comfort of my studio.  Up to a few years ago I made all my own Block Canvas, so good to brush up on old skills.

Armed with large Set Squares and Levels I began assembling four stretcher bars and two centre supports which all slotted nicely together.  Using a Canvas pliers I stretched and stapled the raw canvas working from the centres, leaving the corners to be tucked in last.  Primed it with two coats of Artists Gesso and no sooner was it dry I began to draw, roughly putting down all that was fresh in my head:

I plan to paint a group of traditional musicians from the perspective of the viewer as if sitting among them.  In the previous painting 'Practice Makes Perfect' the most difficult part of the picture was getting the instrument right.  The fiddle' and most of the other instruments are pieces of art in themselves and in these paintings  I want to be true to their technical and aesthetic construction and beauty.  My drawing needs to be tight.

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October 2007: 'Dublin'

Began another large scale Canvas this month 200cm x 120cm x 4.5cm, which I hope to finish in time for November exhibition.  This will be my centre piece and is going to be quite detailed (have about six weeks to finish it!).  Again I will be concentrating on technical accuracy and will also be dealing with a lot of perspective.  I will exaggerate and change the light present in the original photo bringing it in from the top left corner in order to create some definite shadow to make it more dramatic and interesting.  The composition will be based on some drab photos and drawings which I made earlier this year (apologies for paint stains!)

Half-way there-

Re-visit, Musicians:

Here are two new paintings originating from the same drawing.  The square picture is much larger than life 100cm x 100cm x 4.5cm, good practice for my large Canvas.

'Musician' October 2007' Sold                                                                'A Reel To The Drop' October 2007

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November 2007: Re-visit: 'Dublin'

                                                    'Eventide' November 2007'

Very pleased with finished painting, and just in time! (Varnish was still tacky when Hung!)

Re-visit: 'Musicians'

Sketched and painted this' in one sitting, a day after it entered my head.  It is nicely different-

'Jig' November 2007' Sold

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December 2007: Re-visit: 'Musicians'

Happy with my composition and after cleaning up my charcoal outlines, I began to paint the second of my large canvasses which I started back in October.  I have four musicians centre stage- Whistle, Mandolin, Fiddle player and guitarist.  With definite colours in mind I am skipping ahead of any quick washes, instead painting in layers.  Will continue to work on this painting right into the New year.

Re-visit: 'Goblin'

After another long hiatus I returned and finished this painting last week, May 2006- December 2007.

'Nimson Shepard' December 2007' Sold  

'Seasons Greetings'