Hi there Arty Friends,

I'm happy to tell you all  I've been painting ... A LOT.... I started back at the paints prior to Christmas, splashing acrylics about in a bid to loosen up, to find some new flow to my work and to challenge myself to working in a different way but influenced by how I normally work with Encaustic.

Its been a revelation to be honest..layering hand made collage and monoprint over intuitive  super expressive marks, playing with tones and hues and then moving into the more decisive and questioning part of the painting has really opened up some different conversations for me...I tried to further the challenge by reducing my palette, both in terms of paint and collage and with thanks to a very intensive (self imposed I might add)  yet pleasurable week on an artists residency at the amazing Tyrone Guthrie Center I feel some real progress has been made.

Just as well says you as I prepare for two solo exhibitions in the Autumn/Winter season..but more on that later...

I have a few classes coming up shortly, another retreat weekend for the ICA at An Grianan and an encaustic print making demo at Creative Spark on behalf of AAEX, a gig Im very much looking forward to, as I get to share my techniques with my peers. 

But my primary concern this month is exhibiting in Switzerland from the end of the month, a visit I hope to extend by visiting with my sister and her family, two birds one stone and Im hoping its going to be a great experience...its definitely a learning curve transporting large scale works abroad but Im hopeful with the advice we have been given all will be well..It is going to be a great show, 55 international female artists descending on the glamorous town of Gstaad facilitated by Swiss arts led group Artsfemin and supporting WFWI charity....showcasing work from across the globe and supporting one another and I am delighted to be joined representing Ireland by my friends and colleagues Miriam Fitzgerald Juskova and Fran Halpin...please wish us well and follow our social media feed for the daily updates.

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For now I shall leave you a little video of my work in progress time at TGC and the terrific time I had in starting 15 paintings, some on paper , some canvas...more to be done ...Bye for now. xx N.

...Hi all, I know I've to stop starting every blog post with a "can you believe what month it is already"!!  comment... but Jaysus lads its JULY!!!!

And July in my world means only one thing...I have 25 days to tell you about a wonderful new exhibition, a collaboration of minds, hearts and occurrences that are about to happen through my artwork and the artwork of these wonderful wonderful creative minds pictured below!

So Hi There Blog friends,

I wanted you to be the first people to see a selection of my new work. 

This series of wax and pigment monotypes on kozo paper were started whilst on residency in Cill Rialaig earlier this year and they are soon to appear on my website available for sale and exhibition. 

Each piece, either vertical or horizontal is 51x41cm and I have yet to decide if I shall present them affixed to panel or more traditionally matted and framed...I have to say I am leaning towards affixed to panel..it retains more of the contemporary feel I prefer - what do you think?  Perhaps I should offer them unmounted in a roll for choice of option..really what do you think?

I have a large backlog of fresh work, mostly original small scale print pieces from my "Shape of Life" series to load up to the webpage too, they are strongly positive pieces with a repeatable diamond motif which speaks to me about clarity, wisdom and ascension in the metaphorical sense, they are very healing works to my mind, quite delicate in their make up and created whilst I have been dealing with my treatment for chronic fatigue....their development has coincided with my healing after a number of years of difficulty and when I figure out how I hope to offer the remaining number for purchase right from my webpage, along with some older works, namely encaustic paintings on paper from my "Generations" works and "smallstories" series produced in the past number of years.

Today however I wish to share with you "Left of Field" This new series, as mentioned above of 7 only original works, this is their first public viewing and although its only a glimpse I would very much appreciate your feedback...the palette is an extension of my "shapeoflife" works but I see the influence of the Cill Rialaig surroundings in these works too, the grey of the rock, the yellow of the lichen, the quick rolling weather, flashes of light and murky clouds...its all here ... there is a real progression of dark to light with much of this work which reflects with my journey with chronic illness in recent years, watch the video below, I do hope you like the work, let me know what you think!

Thanks Niamh. x