Burren Landscape

Burren Landscape - oil/panel - 26"x12"

This panoramic landscape, which was created during my recent studio residency, depicts a view towards Mullaghmór mountain and the greater Burren national park in Co. Clare.

I couldn't stop thinking of a young Turner while painting the expansive moody skies.

This painting will feature in my solo show at the Grange Gallery which officially opens this Thursday 19th of November at 7pm with a wine reception. Hope you can come along to see the work.

- Richard

Over the Hills

Over the Hills - oil/canvas - 14"x12" - sold

“Enthusiasm is a telescope that yanks the misty, distant future into the radiant, tangible present.”

A Great Epic

A Great Epic, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry - oil/canvas - 27"x15" - sold

A walk up along the curving path at the cliffs edge, Bolas head - the last road in Ireland. The rain and mist came down in sheets of wetness - covering me - soaked but happy. I could hear the roar of the Atlantic but it was barely visible - I looked at the path in front of me and inland at the green sod earth, hills and steams bursting with life and colour.

Refreshed, I walked fast - back to the studio - paints out - a memory captured forever.

Patchwork Fields on Bolus

Patchwork Fields on Bolus- oil/panel - 6"x6" - sold

The piece above was created during a stay at the Cill Rialaig Art Foundation located on Bolus head in Co. Kerry.

I created a series of these patchwork like pieces one late evening during my stay from just outside the door of my cottage/studio. I adopted a lose kind of almost graphic approach to the landscape and simplified the shapes and details down to single strokes and dabs of paint.

This view above is looking onto the fields that roll and rise up and out towards the head land and sky over Bolus.

Patchwork verge on Bolas

Patchwork verge on Bolus - oil/panel -6"x6" - sold

This is the second of a series of patchwork like delineated small studies created during an evenings painting at the Cill Rialaig project.

I would like to create a large series of pieces made in this fashion because it really makes you concentrate on effortless and simplistic application while at the same time forces you to look at shapes and how they relate to each other.

- Richard

Through the Burren

Through the Burren - oil/panel - 12"x9" - sold

A Plein air piece inspired by many walks through the Burren close to Abbey Hill.

Using muted colours and happening on a range of greys I painted quickly to capture the feeling of the surrounding landscape and approaching misty showers.

The Bend in the Road

The Bend in the Road, The Burren,Co. Clare - oil/canvas - 46"x24"

This large painting was created during my last couple of weeks in the Burren .
The piece is based on memories of roads traveled and rocks and stones.
Using a limited palette I endeavored to evoke a dream like quality - a representation of the feelings I had on approach to the Burren.

Hope you like this piece.
-Richard

The Old Harbour, Roundstone

The Old Harbour, Roundstone -oil on canvas wrapped panel - 10"x8" - sold

A Plein Air painting I made during my painting trip to Roundstone last June.

It was this fantastic light gleaming on the water behind the pile of lobster pots that really captured my attention when I walked down to the old pier in Roundstone.
Worked really quickly using a limited palette of 4 colours to create this piece and am happy with the muted feeling and captured light.

Hope you like it.
-Richard

Maam Turks

Maam Turks -a Landscape of Form - oil/panel - 12"x9" - sold

A piece I made back in late June or early July of this year during a painting trip to the village of Roundstone in Connamara.
Put the finishing touches to this piece a few weeks ago in my Burren studio.

Dahlia

Dahila - Composition in Green and White - oil/panel - 12"x9"

Just returned to Dublin yesterday evening after my first residency in the Cill Rialaig artist retreat in Ballinskeilligs, South West Co.Kerry.
I really can't begin to fathom the whole experience of Cill Rialaig - the feeling of being perched above the Atlantic Ocean on the edge of cliffs on Bolus Head in such a rural place - It was just magical.
I am sure now that being by the sea acts as is real comfort and driving force in my work.
Ballyvaughan was fabulous, but this place, words can't describe.
Hopefully my paintings made there will give you a greater insight into the inspiration I felt living and working from my ( c1790 ) cottage studio.

This painting marks the last image I created before ending my residency in the Burren on September 5th. Looking back at this piece I admire the way I handled the paint, from the subtle shifts in tone across the picture surface, and the blending and harmonious colour changes.
All this I feel gives the painting a real unifying aura.

Several paintings created during my time spent in the Burren have yet to be posted on the blog here, and now that I am finished my stay in Cill Rialaig I hope to quickly catch up with myself (which always seems to be an impossibility) as regards posting images of works made.

Inspired and productive as I was in the Burren I regularly averaged four paintings a day in Cill Rialaig along with sketches and studies! Looking forward to getting them up here on my blog for you to view.

-Richard

Arrangement with Dried Flowers

Arrangement with Dried Flowers - oil/panel -5"x5" - sold

This arrangement of ornate dried flowers marks the last painting I will post to my blog here from the Burren College of Art.

Tomorrow I will make my way down to the Cill Riallaig Art centre in Ballinskeilligs, Co. Kerry.

I was recently awarded a residency by Noelle Cambell Sharp - the founder and Director.

Its quite exciting for me - packing up all my work here in the studio and getting ready for a new adventure and studio space in such a rural area.

There are still quite a few finished Works made here during my residency that I am anxious to get up on the blog for you to view but don't think there will be any Internet access in Cill Rialliag. - So till next time wish me good luck.

-Richard

Not To Be Taken

Not To Be Taken ( A Lament ) - oil/panel - 5"x5" - nfs

Composition in Green and Red with Medicine Bottle and Red Rose.

Single Red Rose

Single Red Rose - oil/panel - 5"x5" - sold