Music to Paint to - Whipping Boy's 'When We Were Young'

The electricity was cut off in the studio one day last week. No radio, no CD player, no coffee machine!

It was lovely for a little while, I opened the door, listened to the birds singing and realised just how little time I allow myself to appreciate nature. So I painted for a while, in tune with the singing of the birds.

Then I got a bit restless, went for a swim in the pool in Mulranny and when I came back to the studio the electricity was back on. So I switched on the coffee machine, put Dublin band Whipping Boy's album 'Twinkle' in the CD player and started again. Caffeine and loud music. That's what gets me going in the studio. And it doesn't come any better than Whipping Boy. I went to see them play in Dublin's Tivoli theatre on my stag night seven years ago. At the time I was still working in software development, having just moved back from San Francisco. Wow, that seems like an age away, a different world, it's hard to believe just how much has changed since then. Earning a living as an artist is such a privilege! And such a pleasure.

But spending days alone in the studio can lead to a lot of reminiscing. In fact it's amazing the things that go through your head - it's not all about contemplating the meaning of life or the importance of each brushstroke! But reminiscing is what I've been doing most over the last week or so, with a soundtrack of Whipping Boy, Teenage Fanclub and the Harvest Ministers playing in the background. And this song - 'When We Were Young' - just brings me back 25 years in an instant. Sometimes bands come along that seem to write songs that just connect with you, songs that stay with you forever, no matter how old you get! This is one of mine (although the lyrics don't necessarily reflect my own experiences as a teenager growing up!). Play it LOUD.

From Achill to Dublin to London

'Under a Big Sky' - 60x60cms - Oil on Canvas

 I'll be heading up to Dublin this weekend to drop some new work into the Doorway Gallery. The new paintings are destined for London next month where the gallery will be exhibiting again at the Affordable Art Fair in October. 

Here are two of the new pieces I will be sending over with the gallery. 'Under a Big Sky' - (60x60 cms, Oil on Canvas) takes it's cue from last year's Sentinels exhibition. I've been dying to do a 'sky' painting for some time now and this one just took off!

'A Quiet Road' - (60x60cms - Oil on Canvas) is based on some sketches I made over the summer in Achill - my new home. 

Oh yes, I moved to Achill with my family at the start of august! We've been so busy moving over, settling in, emptying boxes, building Ikea furniture, starting school, renting out our home in Dublin, running my August painting workshops, setting up my new studio - that I've had no time to let anyone know :)

'A Quiet Road' - 60x60cms - Oil on Canvas

I'll get around to writing a few dedicated blog posts about life in Achill once I get into my new routine but for the moment we are loving it, the kids are happy and we're talking about getting some chickens. TALKING about it.

'Off the Beaten Path' - 40x40cms - Limited Edition Giclee Print

Keep an eye on my Facebook page for more photos and news from the island. I will also be posting news of my latest Limited Edition Giclee Print  'Off the Beaten Path' - which I am making available at a special introductory price of €150 ($195), including shipping to the first 10 people to buy it online. I was prompted to make this print based on the amazing response the painting received when I posted it online over the summer. I received the final print from my printers and the quality is simply stunning.

You can order it online now at www.padraigmccaul.com/

That's it for now, lots more to come in the next few months...

Road Trip - Ardmore, Adrigole and Wexford

I'm just back from a road trip through clouds and sea fog, dropping off work for summer exhibitions in Wexford, Ardmore and Adrigole. The weather was appalling, visibility was no more than 50 feet for hours on end.

'The Gables' - Available in Ardmore Pottery & Craft Shop

First stop was Ardmore in Waterford,  which I believe is a beautiful seaside village - it's just that I wasn't able to see much of it with the fog and rain! But what I did see was stunning. I was invited to exhibit in Ardmore Pottery and Craft Shop last year and I'm really glad I took the opportunity this summer. It is situated on the cliff road out of the village, looking over the sea and magnificent Ardmore beach, and about 500 metres from the renowned Cliff House Hotel. The craft shop/gallery is owned and run by ceramicist Mary Lincoln and contains a great selection of Irish craft, ceramics and paintings. I think I'll be happy there :)



Back into the car and onwards to West Cork and the Hungry Hill Gallery in Adrigole, one of my favourite trips each year. Through more fog and clouds. But just as I drove into Adrigole three hours later a beautiful blue sky appeared and stayed for the evening.

'Mist Comes Down, Beara' - available in the Hungry Hill Gallery

I love when things happen like that. As ever the welcome and the hospitality from Gerry and Cecile was worth the trip alone. But the big bonus this year was that I got to meet their beautiful six month old daughter Amelie for the first time.
After a lovely home cooked meal and a bottle of Saint-Emilion Grand Cru that Gerry unearthed it was off to bed.



Next day, I'm back on the road and heading for Wexford to Whites Hotel. I have an exhibition running there for the month of July in the foyer. Whites Hotel is in the heart of Wexford Town and in some ways is the heart of the town. It acts as a meeting place for everyone and so is a lovely place to be able to exhibit.

Whites Hotel, Wexford. July 1st to 31st

I'm on the road again tomorrow, this time over to Achill Island where I have some painting workshops organised for next week - July 14/15. It never ends!

Summer Exhibitions 2012

'Bog cotton, Achill' - 40x30cms

Summer is here. Somewhere, under the clouds and the rain! Let's hope it appears again before next week as I'm off for a week's holiday in Kerry with the family. Can't wait for the break as it's been a busy couple of months - and it just seems to be getting busier.

The 3x3 exhibition finished up in Newbridge last weekend so I drove over to pick up my paintings on monday (I was delighted to hear that I'd sold one of the bigger pieces!). Special thanks to Brian O'Loughlin and everyone involved in the exhibition for putting on such a strong exhibition and for all the energy and work they put into it.

Brian produces beautiful Bog Oak sculptures and had some amazing work at the exhibition. You can check out his work here - http://irishbogoak.com/wp/ 
Perhaps it was seeing his work that inspired me to rework an old bog cotton painting of mine - 'Bog Cotton, Achill'.

Before I head off on holidays however I have to get some paintings out to my galleries for their summer exhibitions.

"A Quiet Moment, West Cork" - 80x80cms

I have just sent some new work down to the Lahinch Art Gallery in Clare and am busy finishing paintings for The Hungry Hill Gallery in Cork.  Then, in July I will have an exhibition running in Whites Hotel, Wexford from the 4th to the 31st. One of the bigger pieces I will be displaying there is  "A Quiet Moment, West Cork", 80x80 cms.

From Wexford it's only a short drive to Waterford, and Ardmore Pottery, where I will leaving some work for the first time. FInd out more about Ardmore Pottery here http://www.ardmorepottery.com

 

3 x 3 - Group Exhibition in Newbridge

I will have some work included in a group exhibition that opens this thursday in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The show runs until June 17th, so if you are in the area do drop in.

 

The exhibition is called 3x3 and is being held as part of the June Festival which takes place in the town. It includes 3 artists from Newbridge, 3 from Kildare and 3 from outside Kildare.....they are:

3 from Newbridge; Mauve Mulcaghy (watercolour); Elanor Swan    (ceramics) Eamonn Keenan  (oils)

3 from Kildare;  Brian O'Loughlin (bog oak); Annette Mc Cormick (bronze);Margret Becker (etching/print)

3 from Ireland; Padraig Mc Caul (Oil); Laurence O' Toole (oil/acrylic); Brock Butler  (multi media) 

 

The exhibition is being held in a 250sq m. vacant unit opening on to the main street in Newbridge and backs onto the Courtyard shopping centre, which is right beside the WhiteWater Shopping Centre.

'Still Lives' moves to Dungarvan for 5 weeks

'Still Lives: Sky View'; 80x80cms, Oil & Wax on Linen

After a successful run in the Dalkey Heritage Centre, my current exhibition 'Still Lives' moves to the Old Market House Arts Centre in Dungarvan, Co.Waterford for a 5 week run.

The exhibition will run from May 18th to June 23rd. It will include some new pieces that were not part of the Dalkey show, including 'Sky View' (pictured here).

Thanks to everyone who visited the show in the Dalkey and for all the wonderful feedback - and especially to those who bought some of the new paintings!

'A Still day, West Cork'

Comedian Tommy Tiernan dropped in on the Wednesday morning and fell in love with one of the bigger pieces 'A Still Day, West Cork'. Unfortunately (typically!) it was already sold and destined for a good home in London! Maybe next time.

'Mists Come Down, Beara'; 50x50cms, Oil & Wax on Linen

Keep an eye out for the Phoenix Magazine later this week when they will be including a special feature on the state of the Art sector in Ireland. I get a small mention plus an image published.

Opening Night for "Still Lives"

We had a great opening night for "Still Lives" at the Dalkey Heritage Centre. Thanks to everyone who came! And a special thank you to Olivia O'Leary who gave a wonderful opening speech.

I will be giving a talk in the gallery this saturday - 21st - at 2pm, so if anyone is in the area do drop in.

It's been lovely to hear people's reaction to the new work and stars of the show so far, among others,  are "Winter Road, Achill" and "Mist Comes Down, Beara" (below)

"Winter Road, Achill" 80x80cms

The exhibition runs from 11am to 5pm each day and closes next sunday, april 22nd.

After that the show will be moving down to the Market House Gallery in Dungarvan, Co.Waterford and will run from May 18th to June 23rd. I will be posting more details a little closer to the date.

My summer workshops on Achill Island kick off next month also. The first workshop is on May 12th and 13th and there are still some places left. Full details are available as always on my website - www.padraigmccaul.com

"Mist Comes Down, Beara" 50x50cms

Opening night - "Still Lives"

Opening night for "Still Lives"