Creating and Exhibiting

There is something very vulnerable in creating a work to exhibit.
Existing within a  painting, are years of working on a skill, the presence of our creative  influences , and the artists own voice and direction. Creating marks of an inquiring mind in an effort to find the essence of a subject. For me those moments, when I can cast away insecurities and distractions, and can stand clear minded at my easel, I feel a direct communication with my subject, through the decisions I make on canvas . The finished piece is a visual diary, of the feelings I want to express, whether standing in nature, with the wind on my back, in awe of the beauty of the changing seasons, or searching to capture the light in a persons eyes,  the expression of their character translated through my hand. There is a vulnerability in a work. It stands with no obstacle to the viewer, as the artist stood to create it. A direct line of  communication from the  artist to the viewer, through the image ,and the feelings  expressed within  it.

Opening New doors

Life has a way of redirecting us. If we don't recognize the need to take another route, we risk getting stuck in a path that's not good for our personal growth. As an artist, I feel that freedom to express, and create are interlinked. If I'm restricted or my environment effects my ability to create, I feel I have lost my voice. In a way my creative flow is a good barometer of how free I feel to create and therefore express myself. 

In conversations, sometimes we talk just to create noise, to connect, or learn. We talk as we are passionate about our subject, and want to make a difference. Likewise in painting, we paint for different reasons, usually for me, it's spurred on by an emotional reaction to a subject, or an inquisitiveness and a means to understand .More recently I've become comfortable with creating just because I want to. There doesn't always have to be a reason,as in life, I don't think it's possible to understand everything that we do, and it can take years of reflecting a circumstance, to begin to understand. So perhaps creativity has a place in opening new doors of understanding, and seeing.

This is a new work of mine. Experimenting a little and opening new doors. Rod, and Randolph Jones are  good friends of ours. They need their own show on tv, as both have great minds and considered views on just about everything. These guys talk, as they know what their talking about :)

Everything Changes

Thanks to +Antti Rautiola  for the photo

A friend once said to me, about Life, that "Everything Changes". A simple observation, but very true. After a year or so, of concentrating on my drawing skills, I eagerly attended our Plein Air Festival Art In The Open, here in Wexford, not expecting too much from myself, as I hadn't painted outdoors for a long while.
Art In The Open, for me, has always been less about competition, and more about meeting our friends , Artists who live parallel lives , at home and all around the world. They come to Wexford speaking the common language of Art.
I have never witnessed any large ego's that are sometimes attached to people, and only a lot of respect, love and support towards each other, and  for what we do.
Perhaps it's the common experience of battling with the elements,and  the persistence needed to continuously raise our level in this type of art. Contrary to the comments I hear while out painting..It's not an easy skill to develop, and sometimes I would go so far as to say it's Like an Adrenalin Sport. ( I can imagine the screwed up faces reacting to those words)...
Sure, there are days, when it can be relaxing, your in a zone, and the elements are just right. Weather is constant, not too many distractions, your interested in the subject you are painting, and your head is in the right place.
A Majority of the time however, particularly here in Ireland, when the light changes rapidly, there is an element of "racing". My heart beats faster, senses are heightened, aware of my surroundings, but still focused on the job to hand. It's getting myself into that zone, that is part of the training for Plein Air, and why it doesn't work for some.
There is an element of "being grounded" to a Plein air artist. The connection with Nature, thinking from the feet up, instead of shoulders up. Feeling your subject, not just theorizing about it. Experiencing and witnessing first hand, and uniquely expressing that through all your senses. Though it has a long history, it remains contemporary, as artists strive to make sense of their world, making art in the present and responding to their now...
So saying, I was delighted to receive a bronze award for my Painting "The Banks of the Nore" -Innistioge ". A wonderful thing happens when I paint, I feel a connection, to all that have given me advice, and insights into their experiences. It must be the same for all skills, in that we never truly achieve on our own, but are a culmination of our own experiences, and that of others, who so generously help in our own journey. Our duty is to be the same for others, and that is where Art In The Open is uniquely positioned. It creates that atmosphere of support, and joy in each others discoveries, which enriches our lives, and encourages us to keep moving forward in learning on our journey.
Everything changes in life, (we lost a dear friend in the past year), but one constant and a means of making sense in our world is art, and for us "plein air", which connects us with the past, while continuously striving for a better future.
Today I'm feeling all philosophical, it may not happen again for some time :)

Thanks to +Antti Rautiola  for the photo

Everything Changes

A friend once said to me, about Life, that "Everything Changes". A simple observation, but very true. After a year or so, of concentrating on my drawing skills, I eagerly attended our Plein Air Festival Art In The Open, here in Wexford, not expecting too much from myself, as I hadn't painted outdoors for a long while.
Art In The Open, for me, has always been less about competition, and more about meeting our friends , Artists who live parallel lives , at home and all around the world. They come to Wexford speaking the common language of Art.
I have never witnessed any large ego's that are sometimes attached to people, and only a lot of respect, love and support towards each other, and  for what we do.
Perhaps it's the common experience of battling with the elements,and  the persistence needed to continuously raise our level in this type of art. Contrary to the comments I hear while out painting..It's not an easy skill to develop, and sometimes I would go so far as to say it's Like an Adrenalin Sport. ( I can imagine the screwed up faces reacting to those words)...
Sure, there are days, when it can be relaxing, your in a zone, and the elements are just right. Weather is constant, not too many distractions, your interested in the subject you are painting, and your head is in the right place.
A Majority of the time however, particularly here in Ireland, when the light changes rapidly, there is an element of "racing". My heart beats faster, senses are heightened, aware of my surroundings, but still focused on the job to hand. It's getting myself into that zone, that is part of the training for Plein Air, and why it doesn't work for some.
There is an element of "being grounded" to a Plein air artist. The connection with Nature, thinking from the feet up, instead of shoulders up. Feeling your subject, not just theorizing about it. Experiencing and witnessing first hand, and uniquely expressing that through all your senses. Though it has a long history, it remains contemporary, as artists strive to make sense of their world, making art in the present and responding to their now...
So saying, I was delighted to receive a bronze award for my Painting "The Banks of the Nore" -Innistioge ". A wonderful thing happens when I paint, I feel a connection, to all that have given me advice, and insights into their experiences. It must be the same for all skills, in that we never truly achieve on our own, but are a culmination of our own experiences, and that of others, who so generously help in our own journey. Our duty is to be the same for others, and that is where Art In The Open is uniquely positioned. It creates that atmosphere of support, and joy in each others discoveries, which enriches our lives, and encourages us to keep moving forward in learning on our journey.
Everything changes in life, (we lost a dear friend in the past year), but one constant and a means of making sense in our world is art, and for us "plein air", which connects us with the past, while continuously striving for a better future.
Today I'm feeling all philosophical, it may not happen again for some time :)

Thanks to +Antti Rautiola  for the photo

Plein Air Berlin / Brandenburg May 9th-19th - Altthymun - 2015

Another year has passed, and our crew, with a couple of extra members made our trip back to the Plein Air Berlin/Brandenburg Event 2015. This year the Event was extended to 10 days, which gave artists a chance to settle in, before the "wave of creativity" took over.
Irish Participants this year, were, Valery Syms Martin,Michael McGuire, George McHugh, Louise Tracey , David Goldenburg, Carla Goldenburg, and myself.Others participating were, Nikoli Kranis, Marko Fenske, Diether Munchgesang, Maike Josupeit,Sirkka Gonzalez,and Andreas Mattern

There's always a special atmosphere to this Event. Many people are involved in making it successful, from the Event Organizers, Marko Fenske, and Nickoli Kraneis, Mayor of Altthymun Manfred, and the lovely Angela and co. who provided such great support during the day, and fed us wonderfully from the  marvels of her Kitchen..

Altthymun, slows life right down to a snails pace. With a vegetarian diet, clean fresh air, and pristine countryside, it would be hard not to feel that a stay here is doing your body and soul good.

Working hard also, with locations to paint nearby, we had plenty of opportunity, to get our brushes wet, and work on our paintings.
The Event Culminated with an Exhibition of work at the nearby town Himmelpfort, followed by another lovely meal at a local venue.

Thanks again to George McHugh, who translated for us, and later helped us navigate Berlin ...Guest Adjudicater this year was Matthias Koeppel, Diether Munchgesang, and Marko Fenske.

I was delighted to win an award for best "Picturesque Quality" (roughly translated). Congratulations also to Louise Tracy , Maike Josupeit, David Goldenburg,Michael Mcguire, and Angela, who won awards also.

The embers burn on another successful year at Altthymun !

Being the best you can be....

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today.We were doing a spot of "spring cleaning " yesterday, and came across these..I didn't realize it was '96 when I fought in The European Full Contact Kickboxing Championships. My Brother Jim ,Wexford Injury Treatment & Rehabilitation Centre , trained me from a goofy shy farmer, to stepping out in the Ring at European Level. I didn't win, but I did in another sense, by getting past my shyness, and feeling strong as a person....None of us know what we're truly capable of, if self doubt and insecurities can be pushed aside....I think our challenge is to be best person we can be , with the talents we have, whether we reach the "first round"..or become "champions"....

"The Voyage".... a reflection

                                               "Ballycotton Boats 2014" -  K.Scannell

 link - Christy Moore's Version of "The Voyage" written by Johnny Duhan

One of my all time favorite songs  by our much loved Christy Moore. It has an extremely romantic backbone, and reminds  me constantly of my parents, and their love for each other. Through often very hard times, it kept them strong and got us all on the road to begin our own path.The older I get the more I realize how important loved ones are, in supporting us on our own Life's Journey, which is never a solo voyage. 

The song, is full of metaphors and imagery , telling a story in poetic fashion ...much like what  I try to achieve in my painting !

Artists in general live quite a solitary existence. It's the nature of their work, which often demands long spells of concentration. The creative process itself is still mysterious..who knows why, one day we can do no wrong...while the following day, the brush just won't behave itself.
Though we can be comfortable in our own company,we're  still social animals, look for new experiences, and benefit a great deal being around people, particularly other like-minded artists.

  

"Experience is not what happens to a man (woman) : it is what a man (woman) does with what happens to him (her). " - Aldous Huxly

It takes a while for new experiences sink in, and allow for growth. I believe every experience we go through, changes us a little, and if we're lucky, in life's journey, through the people we meet along the way, the positives will outweigh the negatives, and our reflection of the world, become deeper, and more meaningful as a consequence.