Bird Lady

'Bird Lady,' 2022, mixed-media

 

Not sure how happy I am about this finished piece. Its something I have wanted to make for a while and typical of those sort of pieces it never works out the way you picture it in your head.

I have been collecting my conures tail feathers for ages and still I didn't have quit enough to cover the cone, opting to finish it with some of the budgie and bourke feathers as well.

I wanted the feathers to stick downwards rather than outwards , like hair. Of course the feathers have also faded with time, loosing their luster. When I fired the cone the original face blew off so I had to use a previously fired face to replace it. This sort of worked out for the better as I then used molted chicken feathers for the crown around the face, the break made the attachment of the feathers easier.

I think it is a piece I will go back and fiddle with, adjust it as Bertie my conure looses her tail feathers in time. See if I can make it look less mangy.

The piece is made up of pit-fired ceramic, sinew, and feathers. 

 

With the Birds

'With the Birds,' 2022 mixed-media drawing 

I started this drawing while during my first round of chemo. Sitting here now I am not sure how I could complete anything, let alone a small drawing. I did my best to finish it yesterday despite feeling rough from treatment.  I am determined to keep going with my work. Taking the good with the bad.

Hopefully I can kep this up.

White Homers

'White Homers,' 2022

 A drawing I did during my first round of chemotherapy this week. Pencil and gouache on A5 card. Homers are a type of pigeon that are know for their amazing abilities to find their way back to their lofts from great and extraordinary distances.

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

Art keeps me going

 Things are kind of tough at the moment. Life is changing fast and I have no control over it. 

It's tough but I'll keep going. Have to.

Appointments. It's exhausting 

Art and the animals keep me going, keep me grounded.