January 2008: Portraits, 'Edward Tomkus'
Another New Year' and my resolution is to start and complete one portrait a month which I will feature on these pages. Amongst friends, family and fellow artists, I have plenty of willing sitters. My aim is to economically capture each individual with as little brushwork and fuss as possible and with agreed artistic license to be honest in my execution (warts and all).
Edward Tomkus
is an artist and fellow colleague. A burley, odd (in the kindest way),
larger than life character with a thick Scottish brogue' who never fails to lift
the spirits!
From start to finish- 'Edward Tomkus' January 2008 Sold
'Beam me up!' January 2008
Having finished the first portrait, decided that I must capture Eds' brighter side. Finished this painting in one long sitting.
The Unveiling!
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February 2008: Re-visit: 'Musicians'
'Reclining Mandolin!'
Carrying the musical theme on into the new year, I finished two new paintings. I am the proud owner of a Stefan Sobell instrument, a ten string mandolin the subject for both. Again I have tried to remain true to its technical and aesthetic construction and beauty.
Detailed Sketches with side notes-
'Musician A' February 2008
'Musician B' February 2008
Portraits, 'Joe Fitzpatrick'
Joe Fitzpatrick is another friend and fellow artist who
has posed for and inspired a number of paintings over the last two years.
Joe is a well known character loved by many in Dublin City Centre. His
portrait shall be as colourful as himself!
Above are a collection of drawings and below, used in some past paintings-
'Friday Morning 3am' 'Sunny Afternoon' Sold 'Holding Up The Bar'
From start to finish- 'Brother' January 2008 Sold
Joe, dressed 'down' for the occasion!
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March 2008: 'Galleon'
Over the past few months our National Gallery hosted an exhibition 'Paintings From Poland'. Among the majority of stunning work on show that could not fail to impress and inspire was a large painting of a galleon cutting through the ocean. For me, this is as good as it gets-
Ferdynand Ruszczyc's masterpiece 'Nec Mergitur' (1904-1905)
In the days following my first visit to this exhibition I decided to paint a 'Galleon', keeping within the boundaries of my own style of painting.
Nederland's Scheepvaart Museum
I worked from a bunch of drawings which I made when our vessel was docked in Amsterdam some time ago! Most of my shipmates headed for town, others made bread, I sketched!!!!!! The Maritime Museum in Amsterdam is a warehouse that is three centuries old, housing one of the world's most important maritime collections. It was full to the brim with scaled down replicas and models of Galleons, Schooners, Sloops, etc.
Began with charcoal, sketching loosely the ship, surf and sky until happy with the composition. Unfortunately, due to other commitments I had to put the Canvas aside for another day.
Returned to same' this month applying my first layers of paint, weaving patterns around the outlines of the galleon.
Once I had started I couldn't stop working from dawn through 'till late that evening.
After a good nights sleep I began adding detail, finishing up with the rigging and some final adjustments.
'Galleon' March 2008 Sold
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April 2008: Portraits, 'Eugene Traynor'
I have the fortune of knowing Eugene since I was a young lad as a sports coach, mentor and great friend. At seventy-six years young he can still kick-ass! (By the way, Eugene is the one in the white shirt). Finished this painting in one quick sitting.
'Eugene' April 2008 sold
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May 2008: Portraits, 'Gerard Fricker'
Gerard Fricker- L'eminence Grise
some quick sketches-
Gerry will become a familiar face over the coming months, as kindly he has agreed to model for a further two paintings (which will feature a 'Funny Little Man').
'L'eminence Grise' May 2008 sold 'Happy Days!'
'Edward Tomkus'
Remember Ed' Delighted to share with you some samples of his work. Here are two watercolour miniatures 6.5cm x 8.5cm, painted in 2007-
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June 2008: Re-visit: 'Musicians'
I intend to finish off some canvasses which are gathering around the studio in various stages of completion, in order to free up some space and get back to the large canvas that I started last year (Studio 2007, September) -
Drawing of painting started last December and finished piece- 'Jig' June 2008
'The Rabbit And The Camel'
I have been commissioned to illustrate a short story, a 'Fable' to be exact and have acquired kind permission to detail my progress on these Studio Pages. Not a project which I usually undertake but liked the writing and also the fact that I have been given a free hand! Here is a short extract-
From The Rabbit And The Camel-
Once, so long ago that you and I weren’t even born yet, two incomparable souls met. One of them had lost something and the other joined him in looking for it. The place was many days travel from where I write these words now.
We know this story because on the evening - for evening it was - that they met there was a third soul - a hobbit - just out of sight but, crucially, within earshot. This is what he overheard:
Camel: “My master, the Great Osmosis, has sent me to your country to study the laws of the animals in all the countries of the world, in order that I, in his name, may right the wrongs perpetrated against the defenceless. That which I have lost is part of an amulet entrusted to me, by my master, to enable me to speak in any of the languages of the other kingdoms when defending the defenceless ones”.
Rabbit: “I too am from another country. But that shall not prevent me from assisting you in the search for that which you have lost. Being smaller, therefore nearer to the ground, I may see the object sooner than one so tall”.
Camel: “You speak with wisdom and such mellifluousness. From whence have you travelled to this great city of Londinia?”.
Rabbit: “Though many hops, my country is not too far from this great city that we both find ourselves in. My country is a small island in a great sea and is called Ireland”.
Camel: “Please explain. Do you mean to say it is a land filled with wrath?. A land of ire, whose people are filled with hate?. How awful”....................
I aim to portray the conversation between this small Bunny and the tall stranger. The first difficulty will be how to capture the scale of both animals together, within the one frame, as naturally a Rabbit is much, much smaller than a Camel? What Medium shall I use? What are their feet like? How do they bend down (to look at a Rabbit)? Do they have much teeth- a good smile? I need to take a closer look at a Camel, so I am off to Dublin Zoo....................
'Inspiring'- Un-enhanced photo of sunset' from my studio window, 10.15pm 26/6/2008
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July 2008: 'Galway Hooker'
Continuing from March on a nautical theme, here are images of a painting started this month, one of four large seascapes-
Began roughly sketching out an idea fresh in my head, a scene from the west coast, boat in foreground with distant cottages. Halfway through decided to change my boat to a 'Galway Hooker'- suiting better the colour palette I have in mind.
Next morning I started to apply quick washes, predominantly Black, Red and Blue.
Thinking forward, I am adding a few details. Scraping back to find my pencil guidelines.
Painting' after first sitting
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August 2008: 'Come Fly With Me!'
Along with fashionable Poppy-fields or Sunflowers every Artist I know is painting Cows, or has done over the last few months. So here I go-
Sketching out an image (A big heavy 'Bullock' leaping across a farmyard) which has been running through my head for quite sometime- an idea similar to that of Franz Marcs' joyous 'Yellow Cow'. Sketched the Beast flying on the diagonal of a large Canvas, 100cm squared.
A table-full of happy hues!
Pleased with my composition I apply some quick washes of colour, covering the whole of the canvas.
Painting after first sitting-
Tidying up a little and beginning to overlay paint and define colours, working from background to foreground making any necessary adjustments along the way. I Change my sky completely as a thought comes to mind- I paint the Cow leaping from the 'Blue' of the sky into the 'White' of the sky on the left of the Canvas, towards my light source. I then Pull the white paint horizontally through the Cow back towards the right-side of the canvas. When finished this should create some subtle lines of movement around the Cow, propelling her forward.
In large quick strokes I paint the fields, changing the direction from one field to another and again pulling the white paint in from the left. Start on the cow, first balancing the colour with that of the changed colours in the bottom of the canvas, before continuing with anatomy.
'Detail of fields and bales of hay'
'Detail of Cow'
All is coming together nicely! Left it overnight, returning the following morning to make some final adjustments-
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'Come Fly With Me!' August 2008
'Toucans' 2003-2008
'Two Toucans' May 2003 Sold
An English gentleman purchased this painting (paid for in full) while visiting Dublin back in 2003. As it was quite a large Canvas, he was unable to take it with him and did not want it couriered to the UK. as it was a surprise present for his wife. And so It hung on my wall for a couple of years as I waited on his instruction. A few of months ago I received a surprise call from the same gent who came and collected his painting. I later replaced the blank wall space with some new 'Toucan' paintings. It is interesting to see how my work has evolved over the space of those few years-
'Toucan' 2007 Sold
'Idle Gossip' 2007 Sold
'Full Flight' 2008
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(Click on links below to view Studio Pages from past years)
