painting in ireland
I am in the last stretch of my time here at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in the beautiful countryside of County Monaghan, Ireland. This Friday, I'll head to Dublin for my opening at Gormleys Fine Art, and then return to the Centre for just a few days to wrap things up. I'll leave Monday to tour around for a week or so with my husband.

At this point, I find myself taking stock of what I've done here and what I still hope to do before leaving. The time has gone very fast so far, and I console myself with a plan to come back again before too long.

This morning an Irish-born writer in residence here came into the studio, and her first words were, "oh, you've really captured Ireland in this work!!" Which was the most gratifying thing she could possibly have said--because I've been painting from my heart, full of the experience here. She asked if I had been to Ireland in the past, or had family roots, but neither is true. I just have strong impressions from the past couple of weeks of a complex, ancient and many-layered place of poetry, pain and deep beauty.

(The painting above, as yet untitled, is one I have done here during my residency. It is 48"x48", oil and wax on panel....below is another oil and wax painting, 48"x36" also awaiting a title.)

  ¶ 3:42 PM