The Golden Pear

The Golden Pear - oil on canvas - 24"x22" - sold

(composition in red and green)

My initial concept for the piece was to paint in reds and greens creating as much atmosphere as possible.

I surrounded the main focal points in strong colour notes and light which in turn gradually moves to shadow as the painting reads from left to right. I really enjoyed the challenge of making the background including some branch and leave shapes appear in the right place by over working in glazes to control the colour temperature.

Any available works can be reserved in advance of my upcoming one man show by contacting me through my blog, on facebook or by email at info@richardhearns.com

Father's Flowers

Father's Flowers - oil on canvas - 24"x18" - sold

Am very fond of this piece as I can remember laying in the shapes and colours effortlessly in sequence.

All these classical still life paintings I am creating are in a sense very abstract as regards my application of paint.

The closer you are to the piece the more you can see and appreciate the piece on a very abstract level - as just dabs of colour, scratches and drips. This way of working really is so satisfying as I am no longer painting objects but 'painting paint itself' and really learning to enjoy the stuff of paint and all its various attributes.

On this day two weeks - Thursday 16th September - my latest solo exhibition of Works will open in the High Tide Gallery on James Street, Westport town, Co. Mayo .

Am really looking forward to getting up there to hang the show with the owners and curators of the gallery, Michael and Mary Cadden.

To preview a selection of Works for this upcoming show follow this link below to my website:

'Objects of Knowledge'.

Any available Works can be reserved in advance of this show by contacting me through my blog, on facebook or email me at info@richardhearns.com

Still Life with Brushes

Still Life with Brushes - oil on canvas - 24"x22" - sold

(tribute to Rembrandt and Leffel) (after the painting 'Composition with Paint Brushes' by David Leffel)
Amended 24th Feb 2014.

For the last two and a half months I have been working here in the Burren by day out in the landscape, creating loose, gestural, plein air 'sketches in oil', and then in the evening time setting up and painting large still life paintings in the studio.

Working this way allows me to loosen and warm up during the day as regards my seeing, brush strokes, and colour mixing while at the same time giving me this vital energy and experience - coming from a sense of being dispatched a remote location which I feel is so vital to an Artist's output. After all, all an artist can do is to bring his life experience to a piece - that's all he has.

There are myriad different ways to feed that experience but for me being out in the landscape is the most informative.

This is the second of my paintings to be posted here on my blog for my upcoming solo show 'Objects of Knowledge'.

To reserve any of these pieces before the shows preview and official opening you can contact me here through the blog, by email or on facebook.

"Objects of Knowledge' - Exhibition Notice

Still Life with Silver and Apples - oil on canvas - 24"x 22" - sold

(tribute to Rembrandt and Kreutz) (after an original painting by Gregg Kreutz) Amended 24th Feb 2014.

Follow this link to see a sneak preview of a selection of Works to appear in my next one man show entitled - 'Objects of Knowledge'.

You can get pricing and reserve any of the available pieces before the commencement of the show by contacting me at info@richardhearns.com or by reply to me through this blog group address or on facebook.

This exhibition of my most recent paintings Officially Opens three weeks from today on Thursday 16th of September 2010 at the High Tide Gallery, James Street, Co. Mayo.

The show will comprise of both large and small observational still life paintings created over the past 6 months along with groupings of my daily sketches in oil.

These Still Life paintings are charged, atmospheric and mysterious, communicating form, light, tone and colour relationships combined with beautiful application in paint.

Hope you enjoy browsing through this Work on my Website. www.richardhearns.com

- Richard

'Objects of Knowledge' - Preview

While the Sun Shines - oil/panel - 7"x5" (framed above)

Thought I would post an image of how I am currently framing up my daily sketches in oil. The frame consists of a beautiful ornate black maple frame that hugs a golden slip frames which in turn joins and protects the painting.

Tomorrow I will be launching a link for you to preview of a selection of my recent Works for my upcoming solo exhibition entitled ‘Objects of Knowledge’.

'Solo Show' - Exhibition Notice

Majestic Dawn, Co. Kerry - oil/panel - 24"x18" - sold

The last of my latest works were hung yesterday in the gallery exhibition space for the launch of my solo show next week.

This exhibit will showcase a large series of expressive landscape and observational still life paintings which I created here both at home in Dublin and on my recent residencies in the Burren, Co . Clare and Cill Rialaig in Co. Kerry. (most of which can be previewed here on my Blog, http://www.richardhearnspaintings.blogspot.com/ )

The Show Opens Officially at The Grange Gallery, Oldtown/ Ballyboughal, North Co.Dublin with a wine reception hosted by the Gourmet Food Company, this Thursday the 19th of November 2009 at 7.30pm. Exhibition Continues until Tuesday the 22nd of December.

I think the show looks just fabulous , so I really hope you can come along to the opening night or over the Christmas season to see the work for yourself.

Oh! before I forget, the painting above was created during my recent residency at the old famine village of Cill Rialaig in south west Kerry. I got up at dawn to capture the majestic views from the cliffs looking towards Ballinskellig bay.

Hope you like it - Richard

Avacado Halves

Avacado Halves - oil/panel - 5"x5" - sold

Just arrived home yesterday after a weeks painting trip in Conneamara.

Myself and life long friend Jack Dinan were invited to join 'The Back Lane Painters' for a weeks plein air painting in the beautiful sea side village of Roundstone. The back lane painters all studied under a well known Irish artist and teacher called Henry Healy. The group have been returning to paint in this artist Mecca which is Roundstone for over 30 years now.

It was a brilliant experience for myself and Jack to see 'The Back Laners' at work - so full of energy and enthusiasm.
The Back Lane Painters are: Dr. Tom Scott, Sean Tiernan, John Dinan, Tony AR McCarty and Des Hickey who sadly pasted away a year or so ago.

At the weeks end the Works made featured in an exhibition entitled 'Back lane painters and Friends' - as part of the Roundstone Arts week. The show was opened by Ms. Mary Banotti and attracted a really large crowd. My work included five still life pieces and four plein air landscapes made made during the week in Roundstone harbour, the Inagh valley and looking towards the Maam Turks mountain range.

Thanks very much lads for an enjoyable and creative week.
Looking forward to meeting up again soon.

Hope to get the works made up on my website and blog soon.
Will keep you all updated.

- Richard

'Home' a triangular history-Exhibit Notice

Title - Essence - 24 x 24inches - Oil on Canvas

Poet and writer John O' Donohue wrote: ' There is nothing as un - neutral as a home. Even the most ordinary home is an implicit laboratory of consciousness quietly shaping belief, expectation and life direction. On the life-journey of each individual the nature of the mind determines what is seen and valued'.

This Monday 1st of June sees my third Annual Solo Exhibition open in The Sheen Falls Estate, in beautiful Kenmare, Co. Kerry.

The show is entitled 'Home - a triangular history' and will comprise of three bodies of work which I created in both Ireland and Thailand.

'Essence' the title of the piece above is one of a series of five pieces I have been working on for some time. These are images in my work that I seem to 'curve back towards' again and again.

This painting along with the series that accompanies it is richly layered, glowing and imbued with a magical feeling of movement and stillness.

View a selection of works that will feature in the show here on my website.

If you would like to reserve and purchase a piece of work, contact me at info@richardhearns.com

Wish me 'good luck'.

- Richard

Lions Club - Exhibition Notice

sold

Title: Morning Light, Velvet Strand - 12x12in

Medium: Oil on canvas

Three of my paintings will be featuring in a group exhibition in aid of the Lions Club charity.

These annual Art Exhibition organised by the Lions club have been running since 1990 and serve as one of there major fundraisers.

The exhibition will feature works from some very well established painters. So if you are able to travel to see the show I would highly recommend it.

The Exhibition opens this day week - Friday 15th of May at 8pm in Malahide Tennis Club, Co. Dublin with a reception for the Artists and invited guests.
Public opening Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th - 12 to 6pm.

Hope you can make it.

- Richard

'A Quiet Light' - Exhibition Notice

sold

Title: Distant Fields and Meadows - 14x10in

Medium: Oil on canvas

Hi Everyone,

Just set down the 'One for One' exhibition at the end of last week and am now getting ready to head to Cong village in South Mayo for a solo show in the Cong Art Gallery.

The Show is entitled - 'A Quite Light' - which I gleaned from a beautiful poem written by John O' Donohue.

This exhibit will showcase a series of expressive Landscape and Figurative paintings I created both in Ireland and Thailand.

The Show opens at Cong Art Gallery, Main St. Cong, Co.Mayo. Reception this Friday 21st of November 2008 Between 6.00 and 9.00pm. Exhibition Continues until Friday 5th December.

So if any of you are in the beautiful 'West' please pop into see the show. I am really excited.

Since the start of the last show I have been cleaning my studio. Its wasn't as messy as Francis Bacon's studio but getting there. We artists call it 'Ordered Chaos'.

Anyway I will be starting my Collaborative Painting Project today and would hope to have something up by the end of the week. Feel fresh and excited again about making work, so thats great.

Wish me luck with the Show and don't forget to 'Watch this Space'.

- Richard

'One for One' - Exhibition Notice

Thanks to 'everyone and anyone' who came along to my Exhibition Opening last night.
It was a brilliant night and I hope fun was had by all. Special thanks to the Malahide Library Staff who have been so supportive and helpful.
Anyone who didn't make it last night can call to see the show over the next 3 weeks.
Opening Hours 10am to 8.30pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 5pm Friday and Saturday.
Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.

'Near the Coast' - Exhibition Notice

Have an exhibition opening on Monday next so don't think I will have time to paint and post tomorrow as I will be setting up the show. I will be heading to the west of Ireland to paint with artist John Dinan next week during the first week of the exhibition, but will be back for the official opening on Monday the 25th. Really looking forward to it.
You can find details about the show on my website richardhearns.com