Across a Field

Across a Field - oil/panel -7"x5" - sold

Across a Field' is a recent sketch in oils made in during my time spent in Mayo and was one of the first pieces to sell at my shows opening last night in the County Hall is Swords.

A very special thank you to all who came along to the exhibit on such a bitterly cold night. Its got off to a really great start and am delighted with how the Work has been received and all the encouragement and support I have been shown over the past few days.

To all who didn't get the chance to call last night to the Official opening the show will run until Friday December 17th, so please do pop along to see this 74 piece show of the next couple of weeks.

Any remaining Works may be reserved and purchased by you at the hall by simply putting a red sticker on the corresponding number(s) of the piece(s) and then by leaving your detail in the red visitors book provided. You can then give me a quick call and I will arrange to get the painting(s) to you at the shows commencement.

Of course you can also reserve any available pieces here through this blog on facebook or by email to info@richardhearns.com

Fingal County Hall opening hours are:
Mon to Fri - 9am to 6pm

Kindest Regards,
Richard Hearns

The Red and Green Shed

The Red and Green Shed - oil/panel - 5"x5" - sold

Began preparation to hang my latest show yesterday at the County Hall. Its a mammoth space to work in, but am confident that the show will look brilliant.

The piece above will appear in the show along with about 30 other recent miniature studies in oil. I love the textures and atmosphere in this painting. Its such a simple composition but believe I got the scale and positioning of the various elements just right.

Hope you can come along to see this work. The show ' Like a River Flows', opens this Thursday at 6.30pm with a wine reception at the Fingal County Hall in Swords Village, County Dublin.

- Richard

Caher Valley

Caher Valley - oil/panel - 5"x5" - sold

It's just around the corner! My upcoming exhibition in Dublin, 'Like a River Flows' officially opens this day next week - Thursday 25th of November at 6.30pm in the Fingal County Hall, Swords Village, Co. Dublin.

Really excited about the interest and feedback I have been receiving and can't wait to tackle this space during the installation process. It will be a huge undertaking to hang the show in such a big space but I am sure with a bit of help it can be accomplished.

The Show will be opened by the Mayor of Fingal - Mr Ken Farrell, and will run until Friday 18th of December. Opening hours are Mon – Thurs 9.00 am – 5.00 pm & Fri 9.00 am to 4.30 pm.

This fluid sketch in oil above was created on location in North County Clare at the end of a walk through the beautiful Khyber Pass or Caher River Valley near Fanore.
A whole series of these miniature observational plein air (in open air) sketches in oil will feature in this upcoming show. I hope to tie the various bodies of Work together in this show by using the almost narrative quality of these intimate studies in oil.

All pieces to feature in the show from this blog and my website can be reserved in advance of the opening by contacting me here through the blog group, on facebook or by email to info@richardhearns.com

Western Wall

Western Wall - oil/panel - 5"x5"

These Walls of stone have become a recurrent subject in my Work over the past few years.
In Mayo and during my time spent in Kerry and the Burren I have been studying the walls for all there expressive qualities. The numberless patterns, textures and forms they take really move me.

In my upcoming show, 'Like a River Flows' which opens in ten days time, there will be a great over view on my treatment of this subject. From the repeated large rock island shapes that formed my vision as a young painter in and around Thailand to the more recent exploration of the rocks that surround us here on this island of Ireland.

Hope you can join me at this show to see my Work and enjoy the Wine and Refreshments.
Until then here is a link to a new blog specially created which will feature a selection of the diverse Works of creativity to feature in the upcoming Show. http://www.richardhearns-likeariverflows.blogspot.com/

- Richard

* 'Like a River Flows' - Exhibition Notice

Atlantic Edge - oil on canvas - 40" x 30"

This piece above entitled 'Atlantic Edge' will feature in my upcoming show entitled 'Like a River Flows'. I am using this exhibition to showcase and celebrate a large and very diverse selection of paintings that I have created over the years.

The Official Opening takes place in two weeks time on Thusday 25th of November 2010 in the ultra modern Fingal County Hall in Swords Village, Co. Dublin. Guest Speaker Mr Ken Brown - Mayor of Fingal.

The show will be divided into two main areas. The ground floor will feature more recent Works ranging from Still Life to Interior and Landscape while the second floor will feature a selection of large scale works created both here in Ireland and during time spent in Thailand.

When it comes to painting and image making my creative output has always been very diverse.
I have never allowed myself to become comfortable in any particular style, subject matter or medium. Working this way I feel enables me to really master my chosen craft and means of expression while at the same time keeps a real sense of excitement and achievement.

I think John O' Donohue best sums up this feeling of endless realms of expansion, excitement and artistic endeavor in the following poem.

'I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding'.

From ' Fluent' by John o' Donohue

The Shadow Mountain

The Shadow Mountain - oil/panel -7"x5" - sold

In the winter night
By the lake edge
A stern breeze makes
The young novices
Of reed bend
Low and bow
To the mystery
Of a shadow-mountain,
Gathered the moment,
The cloud freed the moon.

- John O' Donohue
From a poem entitled 'Decorum'

It never ceases to astonish me how I find titles for my work time and time again. There can be a great sense of a 'connectivity' when I stumble across the written word which seems to encapsulate the piece I have just created. I never put this down to chance but prefer to grab the opportunity to place the two arts together side by side in a complementary fashion.

- Richard

Into the West

Into the West - oil/panel - 7"x5" - sold

During the last few weeks I have been settling into my new home and studio appointment on the road to Louisburgh near the Old Quay by Clew bay just outside of Westport in Co. Mayo.

It is a breathtaking spot. There are 365 islands in the bay in front of the cottage and the climb to the majestic Croke Patrick mountain is just down the road.

Over the past few weeks my work has been curving back towards and revisiting subject matter of the past - notably 'Figure in Landscape'. With the sea, sky and islands surrounding me in Co. Mayo I feel similar impulses towards the landscape as those I felt during my travels in and around Thailand.

To survive a winter in the west I'm going to really engage with my environment and continue my outdoor gestural sketches in oil with the idea to paint the weather.

Before the week is out I will give you all details of my upcoming solo show - 'Like a River Flows'.

- Richard

Seventh Heaven

Seventh Heaven - oil/panel - 7"x5" - sold

'Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet'.

- William Butler Yeats

It's been a week or two since I last posted but I promise to update you all with my new Works and news on my most recent studio appointment in Co. Mayo plus information on my upcoming Dublin show entitled 'Like a River Flows' over the next few days.

Best Wishes to all,
- Richard