Maireadholohan's Blog

Not that we eat goose anyway, twill probably be turkey as usual. This will the first time I'm 29 years that my son James will not be with me…..this makes me sad. He is lucky to be spending the holiday in the sunshine, of Perth.

Part of me wants snow and part of me does not! I love Christmas even though it can be lonely it is a good excuse to chill, eat and drink too much even. Time to reflect and gather ourselves for the next year. A Celtic time. Time to reflect on the middle of the winter, the shortest day, wrap up cosy, get up on a horse, take a stroll between the hedgerows, connect with nature in all it's glory. A time to remember and honour our ancestors. Visit graves, a real Irish Xmas pastime. Visit the living, an old Irish tradition. Be kind to ourselves, not much of it really matters, except the ones you love.

I love my and Yet I am glad it is winding down for a few weeks and after Newpark Close tomorrow I am having a break. Time to do my own thing, recharge my batteries and possibly plan for some after holiday workshops.

Below are some paper wreaths we made in Newpark last week.

Ferrybank are working nicely towards their Fetac modules. I love working with these two groups. Below are some of the felt pictures made in Ferrybank.

I am very exited to be announce that In 2015 I will be doing a short series of painting workshops with KCAT in Callan, just 6 workshops but I am hoping it will lead to more. It is a nice taster for both them and me.

A new year, new beginnings and a positive attitude…..here we go.

I wish anyone reading this a happy peaceful Christmas and life.

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I have been very busy working with some great groups, here is a small sample of some of the work done

A couple of pieces from Borris Active retirement

More from Newpark Close

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One of my obsessions for the past while has been reproducing my images on different items. Here is a Tshirt printed with one of my little watercolours……my inner designer is coming out!

Now all I have to do sign it!

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I dropped down to An Siopa Glas to get my Sunday papers only to be told she has sold not just one but two more of my paintings!

The recent one done started with the Pleine air group of the graveyard in St Mullins 12 x 12 in Watercolour in a black frame.

As well as a lovey little floral one. 6×6 in watercolour in a white frame.

Keep up the good work Emma

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Nothing like a trip to Dublin with the hubbies card! Aoife and myself popped up to the big smoke for a bit of retail therapy……the reason for the trip was to pick up some paintings from the 'Artists Gift Gallery' on Dawson St. They stock my hand painted and nuno felted silk wraps. It is run by a really nice girl, Jenni Kilgannon….pop in and say hello…43 Dawson St., top floor.

Since getting home I have finally finalised my Christmas Card order and ordered some more general occasion ones. They will be available directly from me, as well as the Siopa Glas, St Mullins and The Borris Market at the end of the month. Contact me on 087 2236686 optic you are interested. They will be €3 each.

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We live in a beautiful place…….in a house that is a work in progress. We moved here in 2003, it was a pile of stones. To my regret I never took photos of the interior of building before we started work. We lived in a mobile for 5 years, yes, and let me tell you it was actually quite fun. Luckily I am a fairly adventurous persons and slightly alternative so the lack of housework was liberating! That is not to say I do much more in the house . After living with a bare painted cement floor in the kitchen since we moved in we are finally in a position to 'do the floor'. We are looking at tiles!!!

This is what I 'think' I want…..any comments? The kitchen is about 14ft sq. I put my photograph into Brushes and layered in these tiles, they are in reality a bit smaller so I think the proportion will be better. In my mind I see them being period and balancing the dark worktop with the light walls.

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Autumn has arrived, with a bang!

Whenever I get the chance I love to meet up with my pal Margaret Kent and go painting Pleine Air. To paint in this manner is very challenging. Many painters paint purely from photographs, which means it is easy to control what you put on the page. It also to me means that the essence of the scene is missing quite often. This also allows for a looseness and fluidity and brings a painterliness to a piece. As a painting technique I believe it is so true and honest and allows one to capture the atmosphere of a place….it allows the artist to paint what they ‘feel’ when about a scene as opposed to the sterility of working photographically. Working purely from photographs I believe means the end product can be lacking in true artistic quality.

Sometimes photographs are a very useful tool for refreshing the memory and for ensuring accuracy of objects and especially animals and people.

I was painting this little piece in St Mullis when the heavens opened, so I finished it at home, with the aid of my camera phone. The basis was still on the page and was particularly emotive……thanks to the raindrops!

My work with groups is really at its busiest right now and here is a small selections some of the work done by some of the people.

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Some of the lovely ladies in Newpark Close, nifty fifties. Making fabric paper to use in their wall hangings…..next step print the photos.

I am very exited on so many levels about working here as I grew up just up the road and used to play in the Bog as a young child, or what is now called the 'Fen'! We had the best of fun running wild in the fields in those days.

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Some of the lovely ladies in Newpark Close, nifty fifties. Making fabric paper to use in their wall hangings…..next step print the photos.

I am very exited about working here as I grew up just up the road and used to play in the Bog as a young child, or what is now called the 'Fen'! We had the best of fun running wild in the fields in those days.

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