Untitled, 2023

Untitled dry point with gold leaf. Edition of 8. The gold leaf came about because I made a big smudge above one of the prints. So essentially a fancy cover up that worked out for the better.  Its about an a5 size print on a4 size paper.

Dry-point, Hugging the dog roses,

My first dry point in a long while. Not to happy with it as the lines could be better  but I'm trying to do fine lines on a material that blurs the line. I also found it very difficult to wipe maybe this was the new water based ink I was using instead of the oil based? I did about 10 prints. It was exhausting and I ached all over after. I don't think I would be able for a large edition. I can well see the benefit of sending a print to be printed by a professional print work shop. I'm just not able anymore. 

I printed these on my x-cut press, a4 in size, with the help of josie the parrot who happily threw and tore newspaper while also watching my progress from my shoulder.

Only Sleeping, mixed-media Drawing

'Only Sleeping, ' 2022 pencil drawing, with mono print and pressed flower on pastel paper

Wren Song

'Wren Song,' mixed media drawing, 2022.

Pencil, with gouache, monoprint and pressed flower. I ran out of room so had to add paper. Why not? 

My Soul

A few years ago I did the Kicking the Bucket workshop run by two lovely ladies. This workshop was run around the idea of art and death. To say I enjoyed my experience is an understatement.  An experience that has stuck with me to this day.

As a result of the workshop we made work to take part in a group exhibition in Limerick City Gallery of Art. Below is an example of some of the work I made for this exhibition.  The main installation of my work.

Monoprints in gold ink with embossed text. Hands reaching to Heaven or to the Soul. Hands reaching inbetween life and death.

I suppose this piece is sitting with me heavily lately since I am in my own in-between. Now going through chemo due to breast cancer, not something I ever thought I would write. 

My body is being poisoned to save it. A long haul but there is light at the end of the tunnel and I should count myself lucky.

I tried to rescan these prints but they are best seen in the images originally hung below. There are also prints available. 

I think about the ladies who held this workshop everyday, especially one who sadly passed after her own battle with cancer. A lady I admire greatly, she was so kind to me and their kindness means so much.

I will get through this. I will keep making work. Find the balance. 

I'm sure I could have said something more profound but my brain is mush after the chemo. 

 Original images below

Riso Workshop results

I would love to reproduce this print and correct the mistake I made so the yellow is shown through on the left side of the main circle as well as the right. one day I may get into a risograph workshop...

The first colour of the 2 colour risograph

My second riso print which was 3 colours. I didn't come as prepared for this one and don't like it as much as the first. I am annoyed i cut out the letters of the word Devil and spaced them as it distorts the word. I did use real butterflies that my dad had found and sent me over the years from the states. Unfortunately they did get slightly crushed from the machine, but amazing detail.

Some of the butterflies close up. 

 I just liked this piece of the riso print on its own. A photograph of my grannies roses.

Riso Workshop

 Yesterday I had the absolute joy of taking part in a riso workshop run by @womartsproject and taught by @fionaquillprints . This was my first time working with riso and had never really heard of the process until now. It really is a fun and great process. The workshop was very relaxing and a great way to get the brain working. I'd love to give it another go now that I have a bit of an idea of what to do and what I was doing wrong. My prints seemed to be the least 'feminist' or at least not focused on womans rights compared to the rest.....didn't think there was a brief but I suppose being a womans art group it was probably the natural direction, naturally I went my own.
Will post prints after this post. 

 

The eyes

Testing a crap lino block onto a scrap bit of news paper turned into something I enjoy looking at visually. Been sitting in my studio, went at it with a white pencil, I think I still like it.
The eyes have it, past, present, future.

'Women,' digital print, 2018

'Women,' 2018, Digital Print

Women! God wants you, but the Devil NEEDS you! what power you have!

Amazing the stuff you come up with when you can't sleep! Digital collage. Image is from a times magazine cover I saved, probably of a very important painting. Was hoping to make this into a photo etching but black and white just doesn't work for this. Perhaps a screen print? but alas I do not know enough about the subject. will have to stick to the lazy digital print, which means it will forever be stuck as a jpeg on my computer! *le sigh*

Meow

So I did a little lino-cut, you can probably tell I have never done one before...it did not go well.
I did a few on some old paper that needed using, the goal was to use them for a little fundraiser but I am not so sure now. I ended up doing two as the first did not come out well and wasn't printing successfully; A frustrating morning. I posted a few variations of the second linocut, You can see on the last how the lino is breaking down causing the line to be blurred, the very bottom image is of the first linocut I did and the only one to be somewhat successful. I assume you can read the text below the image? Well, just in case it says, 'Meow MutaFucka,' maybe I should title this piece Profanity-Cat?....(Slight eye roll)
Sure one or two are ok, and they are fun little buggers. I was trying to loosen up my drawing/line as I am so frigid, working along the lines of my Ugly hound doodles and probably partially inspired by Roger Ballen and his collaborations with South African duo Die Antwoord. They recently released a short film, 'Tommy Can't Sleep,' and also collaborated with Ballen on one of their music videos, 'I Fink You Freaky,' absolutely mad but fabulous, I had the pleasure of seeing an exhibition of Roger Ballen's work in Cobh few years ago. He isn't just a photographer he is an artist, he takes you into another world, a world of outcasts, the part of your mind that is shunned by the mainstream.
His eerie little drawings dwell in the background of his photographs, wonderfully simple, the drawings of an angry inner child.

New work/Kicking the bucket again exhibition

So over the past few month I have been attending meetings every two weeks as part of the Kicking the Bucket program sponsored by Milford Hospice.
Although the meetings are surrounded by the topic of death, dying and all the shite that goes with that, the whole experience was most enjoyable. I loved meeting up with a lovely group of people, having discussions and doing arty party activities.
The result of our group meetings was an exhibition based on the topics discussed. The group Kicking the Bucket and the exhibition was organised and founded by Katie Verling and Sinead Dinneen, two lovely ladies who have had been through the loop themselves.
The exhibition was held in Limerick City Gallery of Art, a great opportunity and honour as an artist. Artists and non-artists putting their heart and soul into a small body of work to be exhibited for ten days at LCGA for the public to view.
The whole process has been very satisfactory, below are photos of the new work I created for the exhibition, plus photos from the opening night.

Artists Statement

Reliquaries for the Soul, (small sculptures/vessels)

Vessel 1, Clay, wire, broken mirror, paint

Vessel 2, Clay, broken mirror, sinew, thread, gold paint

Vessel 3, Clay, thread, gold leaf, and gold paint

Vessel 4, gold leaf, egg shell, clay, burnt wood

Print Installation

Gold Mono-prints with embossed text

The whole installation with embossed text alternating from 'Soul' to 'Heaven' with an original black-out poem of mine embossed on the centre page.

'Sometimes my Soul Feels Heavenly Bound' Original black-out poem

Some print variables for sale as well. Contact me for more info.

I also had some older work on display, Changeling and two photos with text

Installation shots of my work in Limerick City Gallery

My grandparents came to the opening

Some photos of the work by various participants of the group, some with an art background, some without

Artist Clea Van der Grin opening the exhibition, her work was also showing alongside ours in the main gallery.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell speaking at the opening about the exhibition and the release of there book, infinite Lives.

This lady sung at the opening with a newly invented instrument called 'The Merlin'