Beannacht - "Blessing"

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.


~ John O'Donohue ~

(Echoes of Memory)

Happy Easter to All.
-Richard

p.s this painting is - sold

Red Shack, Green Jungle, Blue Mountains

This is one of the last couple of open air paintings that I will post which were made in Thailand this year.
It's hard to believe we arrived home a month ago now - and to be honest am still adjusting.

I found this old red shack down a small road near the main bridge on the island of Koh Kood.
There was a tiny cluster of dwellings behind me and some interested work men or laborer's who were building something or other kept coming over to see how I was getting on with the painting. They were really friendly.

In front of me stood this ramshackle red cabin and then just a vastness of lush green jungle and blue mountains.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter.

- Richard 

Art Connects - At a Waterfall

One of the very best things about painting in the open air, apart from training your eyes, hand and heart to see and translate without the aid of mechanics, is the connection you make with the people you meet out in the 'field'.  Art connects people, breaks down bounties - cultural and otherwise and creates harmony.

I will never forget the feeling of energy at that waterfall. Raw nature unspoiled, untouched and ancient. Painting there was real magic.

- Richard

Jeroen Mol - Dutch Film Director

Richard Hearns - Irish Visual Artist and Painter from Richard Hearns on Vimeo.

A Dutch Film Director called Jeroen Mol created this incredible short video piece one morning in Thailand early this year.

The video shows me at work on a painting in the open air by the shore close to where I spend my time in Thailand each year. I have in fact spent over two years of my life in this area working on developing my paintings.

Jeroen and I met there and he asked to visit me early one morning where I stay to video me at work. Of course I was delighted and excited to see what he might achieve with his camera. Yesterday he sent me the result. (This is the second version of two one minute video pieces).

Thank you so much for these wonderful memories Jeroen.

If you are having difficulty viewing this video you can click the link below:

https://vimeo.com/62335735
https://vimeo.com/62289303

Or view the second version of the one minute long piece on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUNSxxF7LKo

Glaoch - The President's Call

A wonderful documentary called 'Glaoch' - The President's Call, aired on RTE television last night.

I was blown away by the reminder of just how creative and unique the Irish voice and perspective is.
It also brought home to me how we have become perceived as 'the Island of Saints and Scholars' by all the other nations of the world - A perception and a reality we must keep alive!
I believe if we could apply ourselves to all aspects of the future development of our great little country as well our artists have applied themselves to their crafts we would prosper brilliantly.

Here is a link to 'Glaoch'
http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10121877/

Above an image of Seamus Heaney - Irish poet, playwright, translator, lecturer and recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature.) at Aras an Uachtarain.

Enjoy this gem of a program.

- Richard

The Sunset Bar

The Sunset Bar - oil on canvas - 12"x9" - NFS

Painted from the beach looking back through the mangroves was the bar I used to hang out at.
The ramshackle old structure sat on wooden poles, and during high tide you could swim or kayak across the inlet passed the mangroves to the joining beach. You can see the red kayak sitting in the water below the ladder.

This little plein air study carries some bold brushwork and lovely colour notes.

Wishing everyone in Ireland and abroad a very Happy St. Patrick's Weekend.

- Richard

The Khmer Worker's Home

The Khmer Worker's Home - oil on linen canvas - 12"x9"

Close by the resorts and bungalows on the islands you can find where the working staff live.
There accommodation is always meager, cramped and often strung together by left over wood, corrugated iron and tarpaulin.
Many times the Cambodian or Burmese people that work and live here on these Thai islands stay in communal buildings which are built to accommodate them through the build of the resort. Some families then stay on to continue work at the resorts.

This Cambodian man's home was nestled in among long grass and trees at the top of the highest hill on the island. I think he was delighted, and slightly shocked, to see me when I asked permission to paint at his home. After a while many of his family and friends came by to see the painting.
Painting for me, like this out of the studio, always remains a great way to meet and connect with people, even from other cultures.

- Richard

Light on the Bridge

Light on the Bridge - oil on fine linen - 12"x9"

Another composition composed close to where I created the last piece I posted.
Using a  loose and gestural application of paint I worked fast as I had spotted another subject that I wanted to tackle after. I probably limited myself to an hour or so for each of the pieces made that day.

A detail.

My Thai pal and painter friend Jaye came with me to paint that day. It was great craic painting together and taking a break for an ice coffee, which was Well deserved!

You should have seen us on one motor bike, cruising around with our easels, canvases and palettes in hand looking for a place to set up. So funny! Great memories!


Here below is a great pic of Jaye at work.

The Green House

The Green House - oil on fine linen - 12"x9"

This location served me for the subjects of quiet a few paintings.

Just behind me a bridge and a small stream with ran down from a nearby hill.

I painted there at mid day with the sun beating down.

The Little White House

The Little White House - oil on linen - 7"x5"

While working on this painting, a couple lovely couple, Ivan and Aleksandra from the Ukraine stopped to see me at work and set me on these photos below.