Another Still-Life

Here's another one.
The originals are just 15 x 20 cm.
It's a great size to work on, as it discourages one from getting too fussy.

Port Bottle Still-Life

Here's another one.
It's a great looking bottle of port that I caught my eye.

Still Life

It's always hard getting back to work after a holiday.
I did a few little still-life paintings to get the old drawing arm going again.
I like the looseness of the handling in this one.

Clown Johnny K revisited

Here's another life painting I did of Johnny K.
Mick O'Dea's very fine study from the same day's painting is in the present show at the RHA in Dublin.

A Ghastly Griffin from The Bee-man of Orn

Here's a detail from one of my preparatory sketches for The Bee-man of Orn that I felt deserved to be looked at a little bit more closely. You'd hardly notice this chap in the final book as he appears as a small part of a much bigger picture.
I love drawing mythical beasts, and, before too long I hope to create a book all about them.

At the West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry

I had a really great time at the West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry. Above is a shot I took of a typical enthusiastic attendee of the festival.
Many thanks to all of you who travelled down for my events.
It was an honour and a pleasure to be interviewed by my old friend Robert Dunbar, who confided with us afterwards, over dinner, the very exciting news that he was about to receive an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity College Dublin for his enormous contribution to children's books in Ireland over many years.
Many congratulations Robert.



It was lovely to hang out in beautiful West Cork for a couple of days with other friends, such as Niam Sharkey, Sarah Webb and Martina Devlin. I am very much looking forward to getting to work on an unusual kind of portrait that Martina has asked me to do.
Thanks again to all of the festival organisers, particularly Sinead Collins and Ian McDonagh for making it such an enjoyable experience.

Female Life Painting: Alicia

This is a life painting I did of Alicia. She has a very intriguing look about her. Reminded me a lot of the kind of models that Gwen John painted so beautifully.
I look forward to painting her again.