Size: 50.8 cm x 61 cm (20 x 24 inches)
Media Type: Acrylic on canvas
Description: Shine in the winter sky was painted looking out at the Atlantic from Dungarvan bay. I have included the Ring Gaeltacht, peninsula, where my father was from and Abbeyside church on the left where I grew up, what resonates for me is the spirit of these places.
My paintings have to do with the impermanence of life, a sensibility that resonates from a place, and the nostalgia that surfaces when I return or remember. The results are compositions based on the landscape which evoke in the viewer an emotional experience of light, colour, and nostalgia for a simpler time. I create work that both acknowledges loss and is uplifting.
I layer acrylic paint onto the canvas in the studio. I enjoy the push and pull of the painting to be in control enough not to be in control at all, to have a dialogue with the work, and to let myself go with it. I want the texture to suggest an intimate engagement with the surface. I used perspective to draw the audience in. the bright colours give an uplifting feeling to the painting. Even in our darkest days, there are moments of joy. With subsequent layers, I see what I want to retain, omit, and emphasize. I use titles to engage with the audience, which leads the viewer to discover more and see the magic for themselves.
