Autumn grazing at Forest Mountrath

I love painting the colours of autumn. It is great to have such have such beautiful pastoral scenes so close to home. This is a water meadow at Forest Mountrath.

Autumn grazing at Forest - oil on panel (40cm x 50cm)

Autumn at Roundwood House

I had the pleasure of painting en plein air at Roundwood House two mornings this week. Thankfully the weather was calm & warm which made painting the autumn colours set against the magical building a real joy. Thank you to the Flynn family for allowing me to paint at their beautiful home.

Autumn glory at Roundwood House - oil on canvas panel (20" x 24")

Oil study on canvas panel (12" x 16")

First mornings effort

"Merlin" breezes through Kilbricken

Recently (3rd Sept 2018), the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland ran a steam powered Holiday tour which passed through our local railway depot (Kilbricken). The engine is a "V" CLASS 4-4-0 COMPOUND No. 85 "MERLIN". Painted in the blue livery of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) the train & carriages were a wonderfully nostalgic sight. They reminded me of my late father, who took me as little more than a toddler to see some of the last steam trains operating before they were retired from service. While my visual memories are fleeting, the smell and sound were pure magic transporting me back through the years.

"Merlin" breezes through Kilbricken - oil on canvas panel - (12" X 16")

Recent sketches

Here are a couple of recent oil sketches.
The couple in the first painting seem to me, to be waiting to be parted once more for the working week. (Made near Cahir Castle)

Where has the weekend gone? - oil on canvas panel - (14" X 18")

During the recent glorious weather we visited Ballymaloe House. I was struck by the fantastic light through a picture window. I just had to paint it.

Picture window at Ballymaloe House - oil on canvas panel - (12" X 16")

Commissioned family portrait

This is a recent commissioned portrait of the Delaney family. It was hard to take a decent photograph of the painting (because of glare) so I have included closeups of the faces.

The Delaney family - Oil on poplar wood panel - (60cm X 80cm)

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Plein air paintings from Pembrokeshire holiday

Here are a group of plein air paintings from our family holiday in Pembrokeshire. The oils are all early morning efforts and could do with being finished a bit more. The watercolours are quick sketchbook efforts made while relaxing after lunchtime picnics.

View of Tenby - oil on canvas panel - (12" X 16")

St. Issell's Church, Saundersfoot (unfinished) - oil on canvas panel - (12" X 16")

View of Saundersfoot Harbour - oil on canvas panel - (12" X 16")

View of Saundersfoot towards the tunnels - oil on canvas panel - (12" X 16")

Up the creek (Laugharne) - watercolour

Carew Castle - watercolour

Lighthouse (Caldey Island) - watercolour

Cottages on Cobb lane Tenby - watercolour

Dylan Thomas boathouse (Laugharne) watercolour

 

April at St. Michael & all Angels' Church, Abbeyleix

This is a painting of the beautiful St. Michael's Church, Abbeyleix. On the painting side of things, I had nothing more than changeable light conditions typical of April to cope with. However, the large canvas panel and the windy weather made the process of painting far more difficult than normal. I had to hold on to my pochade box & tripod to prevent the whole lot from blowing over. As it was, even with a counterweight hanging from the tripod, my painting box & panel went flying once or twice (thankfully no great damage done). I really must strip back the contents of my pochade box as it tends to make the tripod top heavy. A smaller painting panel would also help.

St. Michael & All Angels' Church, Abbeyleix - oil on Canvas panel (20" x 24")

All set up

The down train - Portlaoise Rail Station 16th March 2018

The idea for this finished painting came from a series of watercolour doodles in my sketchbook of Portlaoise railway station. These quick visual notes were made while idly passing time while my car was being serviced. The painting is a combination of studio & a couple of plein air sessions.

The down train - Portlaoise rail station - Oil on canvas panel (20" x 24")

Plein air adding the finishing touches in mediocre light

Sketchbook study

Another study this time inside the station

A couple of plein air sketches - Youghal, Cork

Here are a couple of sketches painted on a recent mini break to Youghal.

Youghal lighthouse - acrylic on canvas panel (14" x 18")

First light - view towards Youghal from Red barn beach - acrylic on canvas panel (10" x 14")

Portrait sketch of Ann

Ann - oil on panel (35cm x 45cm)

Snow scenes of Castletown Mill painted during storm Emma

Here are a couple of snow scenes of Castletown Mill painted during the recent storm Emma.

Castletown Bridge & Mill in snow - Oil on canvas  (14" x 18")

Alternative view of Castletown Bridge & Mill in snow - Oil on canvas (14" x 18")

Some works from last year

I haven't had much time for painting recently so here are a few plein air works from late last year. I hope the weather warms up a bit shortly so I can get out and about with my painting gear.

Rain to the North - View towards Offaly from 'The Cut' Slieve Bloom mountains - Acrylic on canvas board (12" x 16")

From Cleo to eternity (View of Egyptian Statue at Gash Gardens, Castletown) - Watercolour

Through the trees (Westfield) - Acrylic on canvas panel (12" x 16")

 

Castletown Mill - Acrylic on  unstretched canvas (12" x 16")

The above painting was presented by Castletown Tidy Towns Committee to Tom Jones to mark his retirement  (L to r) Seamus O' Brien, Catherine O'Brien, Tom Jones, Josie Jones & Ross Doyle).