Low Rock, Malahide

Low Rock, Malahide - oil/panel - sold

A recent gestural and fluid plein air sketch in oils created close to my family home at Low Rock on Malahide beach.

New Path

New Path - oil/panel - sold

Yesterday was the varnishing day at the Royal Hibernian Academy.
Artists, collectors and friends of the RHA were invited along to celebrate prize giving and a preview of the launch of the 182nd annual exhibition.
To see my art work hanging there is a real privilege and honour for me. We were told by the Academy President that there were over 3000 submissions by artists and only 300 artists works taken. Only 10% of all entries gained a place!

The Academy artists are allocated about 3 pieces each (or more in some cases) which takes up a large percentage of the gallery rooms, then there are also invited artists. They also get quite a bit of room to show work. I had a thought that it could be beneficial if they had a show for open submissions and a separate annual show for the full and part time members of the academy!

Anyway, I feel this marks a new place on my path as an artist and am now just reeling, rearing and ready to work towards the chance to expand and develop myself, my practice and my vision further.

Sharing Knowledge and Experience

A recent local article on my second New York Solo Exhibit, the chance to show work at the Royal Hibernian Academy and my plans to share knowledge and experience in a School of Painting.

Fanore, in pictorial relief

Fanore - oil/panel  - sold

In this quick sketch I was interested in capturing the space created by the interplay of simple overlapping forms. Also, the light and diffused colour presented me with the chance to experiment with edges and minimal thin washes of colour to create a vast illusion of space on this small panel.

For purchase information please email, info@richardhearns.com

Expression and Vincent Van Gogh

An Expression, Fanore Beach -oil/panel - sold

Over the last couple of weeks, and during my recent trip out west I had been thinking about Vincent, Vincent Van Gogh. How, over a 10 year period, he produced over 1000 paintings and many more hundreds of drawings in a prolific expression during his short time here.
His paintings seem effortless with an almost child like touch, but are in fact complex, passionate, expressive and the record of intense study as well as feeling.

He communicated such powerful feelings through line and his brush, by bringing his own expressive vision to a scene, rather then faithfully copying or creating what was in front of his easel or in a photo.

His paintings have all the measures of what makes a wonderful and enduring piece of Art. Their sometimes edginess, boldness, delicacy and precariousness coupled with radiating light energy and feeling.

Thank you Vincent. You were here, you were true and you free my spirit!
For purchase information, please email info@richardhearns.com

A detail from 'An Expression on Fanore Beach'. -sold

Clouds above Black Head

Clouds above Black head, the Burren, County Clare - oil/panel - sold

Along the Road

Along the Road, Khyber Pass, Fanore, County Clare -oil/panel - sold

'If Painters, gazing upon nature, could only look forth with the simplicity of a new-born child, which opens its eyes for the first time on a fresh and virgin world, the principal problem of art would be solved in an instant'.
 - Birge Harrison

For purchase information, please email info@richardhearns.com

Under the Bridge

Under the Bridge - oil/panel - sold

In this sketch I revisited a place I stood before just outside Ballyvaughan village in the heart of the Burren landscape in County Clare. The tide had been out for sometime and the inlet was dry. A great place of grazing for the local donkeys, swans and smaller birds.

These sketches in oil are true and fluid records of my own 'impressions'.

I often think of Winslow Homer - the things he said in his work were so vital, the vision so clear-cut and although the paint is simlpy flung at the canvas, it does not matter. 'The mood has been rendered-the message has carried, and we do not stop to consider the phraseology'.

For purchase information please email, info@richardhearns.com

Path among the Marsh, Mayo

Path among the Marsh, Mayo - oil/panel - sold

Will start to post images of outdoor plein air pieces made during and after my recent trip of the west coast of Ireland. Starting in an overcasted but lush Mayo landscape.

In Memory of Liam Ayudhkij O'Keefe

Yesterday I celebrated the life of a wonderful friend of mine with his closest family and colleagues in Ireland.

Liam Ayudhkij O'Keefe was an Irish born man who at the age of 18 left Ireland for Thailand where he remained for the rest of his life.

In Thailand under Liam's directorship he grew a company from a team of 5 staff to its present size of more than 23,000 employees!

Liam also dedicated a very large part of his time and energies to a mind blowing range of charities and worthwhile causes, including setting up the Junior Dublin Literary Award, the Thailand Business Coalition on Aids, in which Liam was the Founding Chairman. The Siriwattana Cheshire Home for the Disabled of whom Liam was a Director, The Medical Scholarship Foundation under the patronage of HRH Princess Galyani and the PCS foundation which was founded by Liam in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami with the mission to deliver help and immediate directly to those who were in most need.

In addition, Liam was a founder and highly active member of the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok,
here he worked to straighten ties between Thailand and Ireland, and as such received multiple international business achievement awards. In fact, I know that our former president Mary McAleese honoured Liam by attending the launch of the Chamber in Thailand and that subsequently Liam was asked over to Ireland to talk to and advise our government officials at the recent Farmleigh meetings.

Liam was a famed art and antiques collector and he first came across my work in 2006. Over the years of collecting and investing in art he built one of Thailand's premier art collections of which I am honoured and humbled to be a part of.
Yesterday I was informed that after the famous Irish artist Patrick Scott, who is a contemporary of  the late Louis Le Brocquy, Liam had more of my paintings in his collection than any other Irish artist!
Liam was a most supportive, encouraging and loving patron of my art work. He showed me such enthusiasm in regard to what I was doing and encouraged my development continually.

I miss you Liam. Your wonderful friendship, the regular emails and get togethers we would have in Ireland and Thailand. Until we meet again.

Love Always,
Richard x