I was one of the lucky people to have taken part in the annual International Urban Sketching Symposium this August, which took place in the very pretty city of Poznan, in the west of the country. I was one of 18 instructors from all over the world, representing Ireland in my own small but very…
This summer I have been experiencing a surge in creativity. You know those ones? An itch that can only be relieved by prolific drawing and painting. And so I had the bright idea of offering an “art summer camp” in which my students and I would study anything at all, from lettering and fonts, to…
Before I start I want to thank all of you who responded to my last piece on Barry and Cinnie. I have never had a response like it. Messages are still coming in, over a fortnight later. I have been so moved by all of you, how the story of that friendship touched you. Thank…
Easter Sunday, 7th April 1985 It’s Easter Sunday in Enniskerry Village. It’s a beautiful spring morning, and the Easter Mass in the Catholic church has just ended. My parents and I are lingering on pews bathed in sunlight, about to take our leave. We rarely attend the church in Enniskerry – it’s usually Bray –…
Friday 13th June This June 14th and 15th I’ve been invited to take part in a summer art festival in Mount Congreve in Co. Waterford. It’s called Art In The Gardens and it’s the second year of the event. It’s been facilitated by the good folk who steward the gardens and keep them looking so…
Hello dear readers, I know it’s been a long time since I posted a blog: it’s just over a month since I wrote. It’s a case of being up to my eyeballs in work and life. I love writing my blog and I love sharing what I do with you, and so many of you…
This post is about my current mania for sketching tulips, my attempts to capture their beauty and the pros and cons of each approach. At the end, you’ll find details of my summer teaching schedule. 1. Ink and watercolour on 100% cotton cold pressed 250g A6 Portrait Hahnemühle sketchbook Pros: Cons: 2. Gouache on Fabriano…
Thursday 13th March Dublin Airport. So happy to be heading off to Barcelona for a weekend of sketching. Even happier to be spouse-free in Dublin Airport. My husband Marcel has a different style from me when it comes to air travel: I consider myself relaxed, he considers me reckless; I consider him overanxious and rude,…
We are well into March. Yesterday was International Women’s Day. My cousin, a kind and clever man, sends a greeting into the family whatsapp group to mark the day, saying something about the amazing women in our wider family. I have thoughts on naming a day to shout out half the world’s population, and usually…
Monday 3rd March It’s morning and we’re heading east shortly. “We” is me, my husband Marcel, our son Paddy (23) and Reuben the terrier. The car is packed, the dog’s sleeping crate has been collapsed and thrown into the boot and I have just over half an hour to paint a birthday card for my…