Knowth, Boyne Valley, Co. Meath

Took these snaps while visiting Neolithic Passage Tomb, Knowth, Co. Meath on PhotoPeach

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Originally uploaded by anniejryan

Tim: what a great head to paint.

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Originally uploaded by anniejryan

This is a still life I started a number of weeks ago. The shadows on the table need to be put in and maybe some texture there too. I'm not happy with the green apple and the orange I feel they lack body. The books and the cloth turned out ok. Ill leave it for a while and come back to it in a few months with fresh eyes.

Sketches

The Rock of Cashel, seat of the high kings of Munster.

This is where we had lunch today...well near it, not in it obviously. Didn't visit it today but Ill go back and take proper pictures another day.

The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. Few remnants of the early structures survive; the majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century. The picturesque complex has a character of its own and is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe.
According to local mythology, the Rock of Cashel originated in the Devil's Bit, a mountain 30 km north of Cashel when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock's landing in Cashel.
 (source: Wikipedia)

Pauline Bewick

Today we had lunch in Café Hans - attached to Chez Hans the restaurant in Cashel. I'd never been before so I was delighted to see three watercolours by one of my favourite Irish artists, Pauline Bewick, hanging on the wall beside me. It made the food all the more delicious. I couldn't find them online and I didn't want to poke my camera phone in someone's face as they ate their lunch. So here's another example of a tapestry she did entitled 'Lovers and Stars'. I've loved her work since my mother showed me a book of her paintings when I was a child.

Moaning

I'm completely disillusioned with any drawing or painting I've done in the past few days. I feel totally unskilled in some things but I suppose the way to go is just to keep drawing... We had our last art class last night and tried to persuade Eoin, our wonderful teacher, to do another 10 weeks before the summer. He'll be away a bit though and has his own stuff to work on so I'm not hopeful. Thinking of meeting for drinks to keep in touch as our art class jelled/gelled...can't spell...so well toghether.The question is which direction to go in next. I don't want to be scribbling blindly...

This painting is by Michael Zancan, a French artist.

Lifedrawing

I have a long way to go. It's difficult to work from photos all the time. It's not really life drawing then...there's no movement...obviously enough! I love character design though so ill keep practicing.

Sent from my HTC

The wooing of étáin

An idea for an illustration from this tragic Celtic legend. The holly sprig features in the story. One of our native plants. I'll post the story another day. Laptop battery fucked. Typing from my Android phone - a little slower than a keyboard...

Sent from my HTC

Idea for a painting

A sketch at a session

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Originally uploaded by anniejryan

This isn't finished yet but I'm happy enough with it even if I am sick of looking at it! The cloth is definitely the most difficult part.

Art Class

I've just come from art class, I love it but still lifes aren't really what I want to do...I'm still enjoying it however...Our regular teacher is in Italy for a couple of weeks, the lucky bastard, so we had a different guy. He is great for technique and colour tips but a little bit controlling - I didn't like him poking at my painting (with his brush lol) but I did learn a lot from him. He keeps saying 'hmmm....well, it isn't what I would do...' One more week of him next week, I can't wait to start doing my own stuff but I feel I have to get better at life drawing first...Ill just have to work from photo references for the moment as I don't know anyone who'd be patient enough to be a good model! Ideal model: Henry Cavill (Charles Brandon from the Tudors). Ah well at least I'm back painting again anyway...and I'm not as crap as I thought I'd be.