From A Christmas Carol

A few images from my version of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.  I keep coming back to this story. In my opinion it is unequalled as a Christmas tale.

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One! 

20 Magical Children’s Christmas Books To Read Aloud

It's nice to see "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey" by Susan Wojciechowski an illustrated buy me in BuzzFeed's top 20 of Magical Children’s Christmas Books To Read Aloud.

A Portrait with Dramatic Lighting

I was delighted to be able to spend three hours working on this portrait of Tony. We had a nicely dramatic low light source and Tony held his pose wonderfully.

The Finished Painting

Even as I was painting, though, I knew I hadn't gone dark enough with the left side of the face. 

When this happens, I tend to paint away to a finish from the model (second last picture above) and then a couple of days later add a dark glaze over the area where the darker tone should have been. 

Here I used liquin tinted with burnt umber and alizarin crimson. The good thing about this process is that it saves all the modulation in the initial painting but just darkens the area by a few degrees giving the painting a much more palbable sense of drama.

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Nude in The Moth

The Moth is a pretty cool arts and literature magazine produced by Rebecca O'Connor and Will Govan. My nude study of Keshet is in their latest issue illustrating a very atmospheric short story by John Boyne, called Empire Tour.

"The Road to Oz" Fine Art Print Now Available

I have just added my fine art print, "The Road to Oz" to my on-line shop. 

These are my artist proofs from the original Elphin Light Press edition, and there are only six prints available.
I had such a great time over in New York signing the edition with James Warhola and Barry Klugerman. They installed me in James's studio in Rhinebeck, while I did the signing and it was a great thrill for me when James introduced me to his pal James Gurney of Dinotopia fame.
pjlynch.bigcartel.com

On-line Poster Shop Up and Running

My on-line poster shop is up and running.
I'm starting with three posters, The Snow Queen, Death and the Maiden, and Alice in Wonderland, but I will be adding more before long.

http://pjlynch.bigcartel.com/

At Great Workshop with Giuseppe in a Peaked Cap

It's always a fun workshop at Kennedy Art when Giuseppe is the model.

Here are a few images from the day.

"Death and the Maiden" for the season that's in it

Here's my creepy Death and the Maiden painting just because we are in Halloweek.

A Portrait Sketch of Martin

Here's my 40 minute demo from a recent workshop at Kennedy Art.
Martin, the model, always likes a challenging pose and he held this difficult twisty one really well throughout the day.

Contact Kennedy's for more details re my workshops.

Tel: +353 1 475 1749
Fax: +353 1 478 2022
Email: info[at]kennedyart.com

New Workshop Dates

I’m looking forward to my next workshop at Kennedy Art on November 1st.

Here is the painting kit I use for my workshops.
I keep my warm, earthy colours to the left of my palette, white and titanium buff in the middle with a splodge of Liquin, and black and cerulean blue are tucked away on my right.
That’s a little cup of low odour thinner, and I always like to open a new set of bargainous synthetic brushes from “Create” using the three flats. The bigger brush is for blending.

There is one more vital part of my kit; a 16 x 12 inch canvas board prepared with a grey tone. I use a warm grey emulsion. 

It's so much better than painting on a white surface.

My workshops at KennedyArt are proving to be very popular, so as well as 6th December, we’ve added an extra date on the 13th December.
Kennedy's
12 Harcourt St, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 475 1749
Email: info[at]kennedyart.com

Beyond the Stars

I illustrated a lovely ghost story called The Snow Globe by Marita Conlon-McKenna in Beyond the Stars. It launches at 6.30 tonight at Easons on O'Connell St, Dublin.
The book's proceeds go to "Fighting Words".
I hope to see some of you there.

Upon the Wild Waves

I was delighted that Dr Pádraic Whyte, and Dr. Lydia Ferguson of Trinity College Dublin, chose my image from "The Names Upon The Harp" for the poster of their major exhibition in the beautiful Long Room in Trinity.

"Upon the Wild Waves: a Journey through Myth in Children’s Books" will be on display in the Long Room, Trinity College Library from 23 October 2014 until April 2015. The exhibition aims to serve as a celebration of the wealth of children’s literature held in the Library. Drawing upon material published over several centuries, the exhibition will explore some of the varying ways in which writers and illustrators have used myth to engage younger readers, from creation myths of Polynesia and tales of Greek Gods to Biblical myths and Celtic legends.

Culture Night at the United Arts Club

A team of quick-on-the-draw United Arts Club regulars will be in action this Culture Night for a "Portrait Drawing - Face Off".
Grab a glass of wine and watch the group drawing some of the UAC’s best known characters live!

I will be one of the artists along with my pals Brian Gallagher, David Hayes, Comghall Casey, Michael Mc Williams and John O Flynn.
I'll be there from about 6.30pm.

Friday September 19th
The United Arts Club
3 Upper Fitzwilliam Street
Dublin 2

Latest Portrait Sketch Workshops

After "Draw In" I'm very much looking forward to keeping up the momentum on Saturday at my portrait workshop at Kennedy Art. 
Aíne will be the model. Here's a study I did of her a while back.
It's unfinished because of changing light but I think it's all the better for that.

Saturday's workshop, and the one in October are both booked up and with waiting lists for cancellations, but we have just set the 1st November for the next workshop after that.
I hope to see some of you then.
PJ

KennedyArt
12 Harcourt St
Dublin 2
ph 353 (1) 475 1749

"Draw In" in Belfast

Here are a bunch of photos from Julie Douglas' wonderful symposium "Draw In" at Belfast College of Art last weekend.

I really enjoyed my one hour portrait painting demo with Julie's son Rory as my model. Next day I gave three portrait drawing workshops with Des modelling for me.

It was great to meet so many really terrific artists including Colleen Barry, Paul Foxton, Peter Cooper, Matt Weigle, Shevaun Doherty, and of course all the lovely attendees.