Happy 2023?!

First, remember the slug that trailed his way across a painting? Well good news, a coat of varnish has covered up his residual meandering.

The start of this year has felt a little jagged, with projects underway, and a smattering of thoughts and goals on the horizon. So as I am in the middle of a mind muddle this newsletter is a bit shorter than normal. I find January a good month to use as a buffer, not really a start, but a space to work out what I want to work on for the coming year. My main goal is to keep building paintings that reflect my everlasting interest in biography and memory.

Professional bits

Currently on view: two pieces included in the Tyranny of Ambition group show until February 18th at Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda

Three of my works have been recently acquired by the Arts Council Ireland. Works in their permanent collection are then used on a rotating basis in public spaces around Ireland

I still have a few prints for sale

ie explains

Untitled (A dog named venus), Oil on linen panel

I currently am building work for two upcoming solo shows. Working into this body of paintings has come with just as much thought as brushwork. Slowly, I have been growing the scale of the paintings and detangling what it is I really am after when making this work. One of the biggest concerns I am working through is: truth versus fiction. in particularly when it comes to memory. I am always a little hesitant to give the story behind each painting as I don’t want the image to become linear or didactic for a viewer, I hope it opens something rather than gives a very narrow point of view, or story.

A turning point for me has been the reframing of the statement: memory is fragile, into memory is flexible. The truth of a story no longer holding on to grips of right and wrong, letting go and letting new ways of working, thinking, and being come into place. The stories I grew up being told and knowing are now shifting, and I don’t want to fear that shift, I am choosing to dive deeper into their existence in my mind — to give space to the idea that lived reality and dreams can be held in the same regard. And as this section in my newsletter is also a space for experimentation and testing of ideas, I give you the painting below made a few months back with the working title Untitled (A dog named Venus).

Recs

The music of Leif Vollebekk and Anna Ash have been on repeat the last month or so. Both artists have a chill vibe with a little edge which makes mornings delightful.

Brother of the more famous Jack by Barbara Trapido was a serious contender for my 2022 novel of the year, even though it was written in 1982. It tied with New Animal by Ella Baxter.

I just finished Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith. As we approach the lunar new year the timing is kismet. The book is deeply moving, but difficult to articulate why, and that mystery is probably why I am so compelled by it.

The Bread Bakers pocket companion by Andrew Janjigian, illustrated by Johanna Kindvall has brought so much joy to my life I have to mention it again and again. It really makes converting nearly any ingredient a joy rather than a slog, not just for those who are bread heads.

I ate some aged gouda, and it was delightful, highly recommend.

I also think these vegan truffle cubes are sheer heaven.

As always, thank you for subscribing and reading.

Take care, see you in March!

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