Where would we be without eachother?

It's hard to believe we are over one month into this visit and studio residency in Barcelona!
I feel very blessed to be able to do this - to be able to visit a special city like this for an extended period, get to know how it ticks, and have the chance to create my work all at the same time. Great friends have played a huge roll in being able to settle in so quickly, work out a space and get down to painting. For that I am truly grateful! 

Last weekend my Mum and Dad arrived for a visit. They left this morning. It was so nice to have them here to share in our experience.
Again, helped by friends, we found them a wonderful place to stay at the Navas (workshops) which my Mum said was the highlight of her visit. We spent the entire time together walking around the city visiting new sites, museums, and even had the chance to watch Barcelona FC play last night in a packed local bar, which I know will be my Dad's highlight! 

Their visit coincided with my birthday which was a huge bonus. We used it as an excuse to get everyone together. As my Mum said to me these times together are 'Treasured Memories'.

Get-together at Navas Studios, Barcelona.

Heading into the city together.

Spot the messers play acting on Miro's roof garden.

Winter notes from Barcelona

Hola, Buenos Dias, 

I'm just about to publish my first quarterly newsletter! You can sign up to receive it by entering your email address in the subscribe feature on my new improved website www.richardhearns.com
I'll post in about two hours. Hope you can join me.

Until then here are a couple of images of new works in progress in my Barcelona studio space.

Ciao. - RH

Over Two Weeks Passed

Over two weeks have now passed since our arrival in Barcelona. It's turning out to be such an inspirational trip filled with museum and gallery visits, long walks around the various areas of the Catalan capital and quality time spent with friends over long lunches and the occasional Vermouth!
But don't get me wrong it's not all fun and games!

Since I last wrote my concentration has been on getting all my equipment and further materials gathered and prepared in order to concentrate solely on the development of my studio painting here.
With the help of a skilled designer and his work shop machinery I now have seven top quality large canvas stretcher frames made. I've been preparing the linen that I stretch over them with three coats of glue sizing - stretching and re stretching as I go. It's a lot of work, but a process I really enjoy.

Five of my stretched canvases are made from a very fine Belgian linen and the other two from a courser Spanish linen. I'll write more about my painting process and this considered body of work as it develops further.

At home in Ireland I have seven canvases of this size that I've been working on for some time in near or total completion. Right now I am close to resolving three pieces here in the studio but I'm never quite sure when these pieces will be 'finished' as they are less to do with a technical or conceptual finish and more about a deep intuitive feeling or perhaps a surprise as the work unfolds and announces itself.

I'll leave you now with this image of the studio space taken earlier today as well as a couple of pics from this weeks trips around the city of Barcelona.

-RH

Studio Space, Barcelona, January 13th 2015.

A pot of Glue Sizing with some raw umber powered pigment mixed in.

Outstanding guitarist Mariano Olivera in Park Guell.

A sneak peek over the city of Barcelona from Goudi's Park Guell.

Streets in light and shade close to Barri Gotic.

Detail of a work included in an incredibly frightening but alluring exhibition entitled The Passion according to Carol Rama at the Musey d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona, MACBA.

Life size video projection piece as part of an exhibit entitled Nonumental at MACBA which tackles the whole idea of the imagery of historical events that occupy and many times vulgarises our urban landscapes with it's inherent ideological and symbolic power.

Brand New Website On-line

I'm really excited to share with you my brand new website on-line richardhearns.com. It's designed to work on all personal computers, tablets and smart phones! I'll be editing, updating and adding to it during the year.

Due to demand I'm also working towards making available a number of certified limited edition art prints of my paintings by the end of February. Please do drop me a line if you are interested in being included in this limited edition first run.

In addition, I've also added a 'news' section in order to bring you fresher content and update you on new events and exhibits of my work as well as a quarterly seasonal newsletter which you can subscribe to on my homepage.

Special thanks to web designer Billy Gillooley for the new look and improved cross platform navigation . I'm sure you will all enjoy the way it functions. Please do take some time to browse the site and let me know what you think. - RH

Highlights so far

One week into our stay in Barcelona, I thought to share with you are some of the highlights so far.

-RH

Walking towards the Mediterranean along Avenue Meridiana.

The Azure Blue Mediterranean Sea.

Antoni Tapies. A Catalan Hero. www.fundaciotapies.org

An 'Interval. Sound Actions' Installation at Fundacio Antoni Tapies which Brian Eno contributed.

Getting myself set up to work in studio a Nave 12.

A day with Boo at Museu Nacional d'Art Catalunya (MNAC).

A view from MNAC.

View from across the city from Mount Tibidabo.

My Works in Process.

New Beginnings

It is so good to be here in 2015!
Sending you best wishes from my studio space at Nave 12 in Barcelona.