Experimenting with new topics..

I think of each animal more as a symbol, rather than just the animal itself. I think about the function and attributes of the animal and use it as a symbol. I normally like to paint animals that are traditionally viewed as dangerous or predators, animals that simply have a dangerous edge. I have passions and beliefs that are imprinted in my heart and they naturally flow out as I paint. I feel like my paintings are an outflow or manifestation of what is deep inside of me.
I’m really fascinated by the artist Dimitra Milan’s compositions and freedom of object choice, as well as her ability to combine both realistic and abstraction elements. In my own work I became influenced to experiment more with the use of background, landscapes, portraiture and flowers. I wanted to add some of these aspects as I find that the background in some of my artwork is too simple and I could be more creative about my choices and the compositions I use.

Baby elephants together

Again I am continuing with large scaled elephants, using black and white pastels.

The MAC Art Gallery visit

When I went back home to Belfast for the Easter break I had a chance to visit the MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) where they were showing exhibitions of the artists Helen O’Leary: The Shelf Life Of Facts, and Niamh McCann: La Perruque.

 

McCann’s interest is in the interweaving of fact and fiction, and the overlapping layers of narrative, history and fable that are contained within the cultural and physical structures that we construct. In this exhibition she unites varied influences and historical touchstones by exploring the idealism they represented in their original incarnations and the ways in which, over time, they have become overlaid with different narratives, stories and meanings.

 

O’Leary’s painterly explorations are located between moments of material and emotional certainty, the short shelf life of predictability. They both laugh at and question the structural prosthesis of conventions established through economic, cultural and gender constraints. Her new work concerns itself with the uncertainty present in any economic downturn or change, between youth and middle age, and in the rupture between external and internal life.

Using my hands…

I did some paintings in my sketchbook where I experimented with using my hands to make an image. I wanted to overlay two images together that show the differences between animals and humans, creating pieces that show animalistic qualities as well as human qualities. I really liked the bold colours when I did this as well as the print and illustrative effect the images had.

More drawings…