This summer the Butler gallery invited a group of seven plein air artists to visit the O’Malley studio and create work in response to this very beautiful place. I was very honoured to be invited to take part, a fantastic opportunity to visit the studio, gardens and home of Tony and Jane O'Malley and work there on location.
I completed three pieces on location working in and around the gardens of the studio.
"Onward rhythm" depicts a small cluster of raspberry plants I found behind the studio in an area once used to grow fruit and other plants. Although now long abandoned and with nature growing in all around, these small plants quietly continue on, growing and fruiting with full clusters of raspberries in this shady secluded corner of the garden.
"Onward rhythm"
Acrylic on gesso wood panel
25 x 35cm
"Light in the shadows" shows a small corner at the side of the garden where nature continues to grow over areas. In this small spot you can see flowers shining through and catching the sun whilst being dwarfed by nettles and other wild growth.
"Light in the shadows"
Acrylic on gesso wood panel
25 x 35cm
One of the visits was an incredibly hot summers day, very difficult conditions to stand in but I really wanted to capture this tree that sits beside a patio area, at the top of the garden. It's a tree I'm sure gave years of pleasure to Tony and Jane as it stands beside a seating area. On that day the background of wild grass felt like a meadow in intense heat.
"Afternoon heat"
Acrylic on gesso wood panel
25 x 35cm
All the work from the project is now on display and available to purchase at the Butler Gallery.
My fellow invited artists were Sheila MacNally, Dave West, Deirdre Hayes, Orlagh Murphy, Kasper Zier and Jamie Dunne.
