A Great Workshop at KennedyArt

We had a terrific time at Kennedy's portrait sketch workshop a few weeks ago.
Here are a few photos from the day. 

 Everyone worked very hard and achieved very impressive portrait sketches.

Des is a particularly good model for artists trying to get a likeness because of his terrific bone structure and that bullish neck of his.

The weather was so nice we were able to have lunch on the Green.

This is my demo sketch.
I like to alternate my demonstration with periods of tone to one teaching. I'd like to have spent longer on this one. I think I got about an hour and a half on it throughout the day.
I will post a cleaned up version soon.

My next portraiture workshop at KennedyArt will be on the 20th of July.

Bustling London

Here's another rough from the book I am working on right now.

This is the opening spread showing a busy market scene in 17th century London.
I always loved those Disney movies that start with a great big panorama or a townscape before homing in on a particular figure or area to begin the story. I think it's a great way to introduce the reader into the period and setting of a story.

The Portrait Sketch: Demo and Workshop

I'm looking forward to my portrait demo and workshop at KennedyArt tomorrow.
I'm pleased to say that we are booked out again but those lovely folks at Kennedy's have asked me to do another workshop on July 20th.
I hope to see some of you there.

The Snow Queen Re-issued

We've been tweaking the cover of The Snow Queen again as Andersen Press is going to reissue the book this winter.
I think the festive red type works well against the icy Queen in her palace.

"The Country of the Young: interpretations of youth and childhood in Irish culture"

The Four Courts Press have just published this very interesting book:"The Country of the Young: interpretations of youth and childhood in Irish culture"

I was honoured that Kelly Matthews (co-editor with John Countryman) asked to use a detail of this rough I did for my Children of Lir stamp for the cover.


Here's the blurb:"Throughout the history of modern Ireland, cultural representations of youth and childhood have served as focal points for discussions of social and political issues. Topics for the essays in this collection range from Famine-era women’s autobiographies to filmic portrayals of post-Good Friday Northern Ireland; from considerations of Patrick Pearse and Máirín Cregan to Anne Enright and Claire Keegan. The result is a complex and provocative view of childhood experiences in modern Ireland, and of the ways in which youth and childhood have been interpreted in the work of Irish writers, politicians, dramatists and filmmakers."

The Apotheosis of Norma Desmond

I was delighted to be asked by my pal Olivier to contribute to The Movie Show, an exhibition of artwork inspired by great films which will take place at the Galerie Daniel Maghen in Paris.

I chose Sunset Boulevard and being very keen to avoid a literal approach to the piece, I ended up referencing religious iconography whilst trying to get inside the fractured reality of Norma Desmond in the final scene of that great movie. 

A Portrait Sketch of Des

Here's a series showing the process of a recent two hour portrait sketch I did of Des.
I'll be giving another portrait sketch demo and workshop at Kennedy Art on the 8th June.
It's booking up so contact Kennedy's if you would like to join us.
ph  + 353 (1) 475 1749
info@kennedyart.com