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Sketch reporter: Belfast Roller Derby
21st May 2013
Last weekend I decided to take up the challenge of doing a sketch report on the Belfast Roller Derby. As an all female sport that has slowly been gaining momentum in Belfast I figured it’d be an interesting subject to draw.
Sketch reporter: CQAF Neil Cowley Trio gig
8th May 2013
Areas: music paintings portraits sketches
Following on from last year I’ve been doing a 'sketch report' on each event that I attended at Belfast’s 14th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.
This ‘sketch report’ is on the awe-inspiring Neil Cowley Trio that I saw last Friday in the Black Box, Belfast. Even if you are not into jazz I bet you’d like these guys.
The sketches were made at the gig with the paintings made the following day.
BP portrait award 2012 sketch report
10th January 2013
Areas: exhibitions paintings portraits sketches
I always take my sketchbook with me, especially exhibitions.
I was recently in Edinburgh over Christmas and managed to get to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to see their collection along with the BP Portrait Award 2012 exhibition.
Not only where the portraits fantastic but the people looking at the exhibition and the building itself where also as fascinating.
Incidentally the call for entries for the BP Portrait Award 2013 closes on Monday 11th February; so get painting if you fancy entering.
Autumn shore
22nd November 2012
I think autumn is the most beautiful time of year with its colours of yellow, orange, scarlet and red dominating the landscape.
Below I’ve included a recent painting inspired by the autumnal colours along with a speed painting video of how I painted it.
Tabletop animals - the cat that fancied the robin
20th September 2012
Areas: ceramics for sale paintings sketches
Tonight (20th September) from 6pm, the seventh ReFound pop up shop launches in the new ReFound Building, showing the latest collection of restyled one off ‘works
of furniture’ by local artists and makers.
For this pop-up shop, I decided to ‘up-style’ the smaller ‘blank canvases’ of common tableware found in the kitchen. With each piece of tableware I sought to create an animal based design that would visually play with the food and add value to the piece without obstructing its primary
function.
Each piece is hand-painted using porcelain paint that ensures the piece is dishwasher safe once dry.
Below I have included pictures of the cat & robin final pieces along with their prices. Whilst I’ve created these exclusively for Refound, additional hand painted ‘tabletop animals’ can be made to order on request.
Tabletop animals - the fox that chased the squirrel
20th September 2012
Areas: ceramics for sale paintings sketches
Tonight (20th September) from 6pm, the seventh ReFound pop up shop launches in the new ReFound Building, showing the latest collection of restyled one-off ‘works of furniture’ by local artists and makers.
For this pop-up shop, I decided to ‘up-style’ the smaller ‘blank canvases’ of common tableware found in the kitchen.
With each piece of tableware I sought to create an animal based design that would visually play with the food and add value to the piece without obstructing its primary function.
Each piece is hand-painted using porcelain paint that ensures the piece is dishwasher safe once dry.
Below I have included pictures of the fox & squirrel final pieces along with their prices. Whilst I’ve created these exclusively for Refound, additional hand painted ‘tabletop animals’ can be made to order on request.
Art retreat 2012 - Shillelagh part two
26th July 2012
Following my last post on my art retreat to Shillelagh I’ve included some more of my sketches and paintings I did on the art retreat.
art retreat 2012 - Shillelagh
17th July 2012
I’m just back from my yearly Irish art retreat where I spent a week at Minmore mews, a set of restored stone farmyard buildings located in the town of Shillelagh, County Wiclow, Ireland.
Even though it rained for the majority of the week I could not help but be inspired by the beautiful green landscape of Shillelagh. As the week progressed I found myself focusing on the small details, which I felt, made the area unique- like the blue tape used to fix the rope on the swing.
I’ve found from previous art retreats that it is best to sketch an intended scene first to see if it will work as a painting. With that in mind, I’ve included some of my initial sketches along with the final paintings.
I’ll put up a few more sketches and their painting counterparts later in the week.
Portrait workshops
26th June 2012
Areas: making of paintings portraits workshops
Last weekend I facilitated a series of portrait workshops in Downpatrick as part of the Down Community Arts art space project. The project aims to offer everybody the opportunity to try art by providing a series of free art workshops taken by professional artists located in public areas.
Below I’ve included the portraits of Katy Perry and Kiera Knightley I did for the workshop along with a speed painting video of how I painted the Kiera Knightley portrait.
The next free portrait workshop that I will be facilitating will be at The market Square in Ballynahinch on 21st July from 10am till 3pm.
Sketch reporter: ReFound building talk
4th June 2012
Areas: paintings portraits sketches
Last week I attended a talk by the architect and artist Marcus Patton on the architectural history of the early Victorian building where Refound held its last pop up shop where I exhibited four restyled stools.
The building is enchanting with its intricate coving, high ceilings and passages from light into dark. Relatively unchanged, the building provides you with a glimpse into how living and working in Belfast looked around the 1800’s.
