helenfarrellart

Dublin Culture Night again ! So much to do and see in the city..and to try and do it all in just a few hours. It would be much easier to ease it out over a whole day. In Ranelagh Arts , there was lots happening.. One thing I really enjoyed was a documentary film , directed by Conor Horgan, - where he interviewed three Irish portrait painters, over a period of a few months. Namely , they were Mick O Dea, James Hanly and Brian Maguire. All with distinctly and uniquely different approaches to their methods of paintings . We primed a big ,stretched canvas, for the night , put it on an easel  and invited visitors to the centre to take part. it worked well , generating lots of chat and interaction. Having a go.. Also in the centre, we had " Emerging Artists" expo , which had opened the night before, a talk by playwright , Jimmy Murphy, about his play "Hen Night Epiphany", which was to be in the school hall the following night ( not to take from the

This post describes 6 weeks of an 8 week series of "Let's make Art" workshops..open to anyone who felt like taking part. We explored various arts materials and ways of working over the 6 week period. Night number 1 Off with a bang! The first night went very well. As the " Emerging Artists" exhibition was on in Ranelagh Arts centre, we went on a tour of the artworks in the gallery spaces.  It was a great idea , as we discussed drawings, installations , porcelain sculpture, print , photography, textiles ( knitting !),jewellery,and mixed media. The visiting public were asked to vote for their favourite works...and the that artist will be awarded a 2 month residency in one of the centres studios - plus a solo show . Some beginners were able to let loose with charcoal drawings, and "wow",   there was a lot of energy in the room as people rose to the challenges of really getting into some drawings, and brave and exciting things were

" Nest " by Barra Cassidy,  reinforced concrete and wood. I was glad to catch half of this exhibition, en route to collect my daughter in the airport. I know a few people with pieces in it , and was keen to see their work . This year celebrates the 10th year of this expo , which really showcases the work of established and new artists taking interesting directions in exciting new work .  I love plants, flowers and muck...and it's exciting to be able to look at artpieces on display, in wide open spaces, and breathe fresh air in the process. It's intriging to look for sculptures in among the plantings, and absorb the process of man made work , as opposed to the work of nature which is all around, and ever changing. Colours changing , too.  I took a few photos there earlier today , which I can share... "Orb Weaver" copper tubing , copper wire and glass, by Deirdre o daly Judge " The Bigger Picture", Ceramic, copper wire, by Ann

 The enthusiasm for this exhibition came from Terry Connaughton, the director of Ranelagh Arts..  One of my all time memories of Terry will  be of him - sitting huddled up, beside an electric fire, doing a days work, in layers of coats and scarves, in the depths of our coldest winter in my living memory ( remember night time temperatures of -17c , and daytime ones of     -5c )  last winter, in Ranelagh Arts Centre.  Terry arrived to the centre, everyday, - day after day, week after week , on the coldest , bleakest, most unfriendly days..and was often was the only one in there, working away..working towards his vision of RA being a vibrant, community hub of all the artforms. The Ranelagh Arts building was nothing like it is these days, there was a lot to do...still is ..and will be..and the future of it is uncertain. His all time hero ( since childhood)  has been Jack Kyle, who has often been described as Ireland's best ever rugby player. He asked artist , Declan Gould

Mountpleasant Avenue, Ranelagh  ,  Pen and Ink on paper The silly season's show of art work by local artists. Somehow, we managed ,to gather together 22 local artists at very short notice, and have a terrific and fun opening night, with lots of happy people and quite a few red stickers.  Sarah Bracken , our artistic director, designed the poster , based on RA brand colours, and used a similar type to the very first RA festival poster. " Study from Life", watercolour sketch on paper " Life Study", pencil sketch on paper  

"Daisychain", mixed media on canvas, approx A2 size, unframed. This painting was a commission, from my good friends. Always a nervewrecking business!! The most difficult bit was deciding what to incorporate into the painting..as everything in it was to tell a story.. and then attempting to get the balance, perspective, forms, and all that stuff right. Once I started, the painting took off on its own , as is usual enough.  Again , apologies about photo, I forgot to take a photo of it and I had to ask a pal for this image off her phone.

Breezy, cool, inclement, windswept and happy fortnight in June on Rosslare Strand. Below are some of my art pieces from my time there. "Rosslare Strand near the Burrows", acrylic on sandpaper. "View  over The Slobs from the Burrows"...chalk pastel on paper, A3 size,unframed. I did this one evening sitting on a low stool, at the hatchback of my car, hurrying to get it done before dusk changed all the vivid, colours. " Colourful Retirement" ..chalk pastel on paper , A3 size , unframed. Sure brightens up the side of the road, at The Burrows. Sunset over The Slobs from The Burrows, chalk pastel on paper , A3 size, unframed. View from the hot tub in Kelly's Hotel, - on a wet, grey, day. Chalk pastel on paper,A3 size, unframed.  " Keeping Watch" , mixed media on paper, A3 size, unframed I sat in my hatchback with Parkey, my dog, intrigued with this old fishing trawler on dry d

The annual "Bloom" show in the Phoenix Park, our Irish version of the Chelsea Flower Show, was on in June. A myriad of small, medium, and large sized purpose built designer gardens ( most usually themed) are on show to the public, over a 5 day period. This show gets better each year, - as there are tons more garden/ horticulture/craft/food/furniture and the likes on display each year. This year, I made weatherproof paper sculptures of butterflies for Sheena Vernon's Lyric FM garden. I attached them to fishing line and hung them on wire stands, among her plantings. The wind blew and the butterflies danced away , - looking really well. Her garden won a well-deserved silver-gilt medal. Putting together a show garden for Bloom is not for the faint hearted. Spot the butterfly..Lyric FM garden in Bloom ... another try... This one is too easy, even if it is a poor photo.  I found a soft landing for my "Feather Bed" in   Fiann O Nuaillain