My life has been peppered with major experiences in recent years. Because of a heart operation in 2008 the paintbrushes, canvasses and paper lay lonely in my studio for many months. But as they say in Pettigo “It’s hard to kill a bad thing”. So I got back painting and it as such a joy to be back in my studio. Later that year, I visited the bog exhibition with Olly in the National Museum where 4,000 years of history are laid out for all to explore, including human bodies that were magnificently preserved by the bogs. This provided the perfect inspiration I needed to get back into the studio.
So without delay I started painting the wonderful bogs of the midlands. To improve my understanding of the rich Irish Peatlands, I went with Olly to do an evening course in UCD given by the Irish Peatland Preservation group. The lectures awakened in me the fascinating transformations that constantly occur within the peatlands. I spent a lot of time in the bogs, absorbing their energy and essence, and simply painting what I saw – the diverse organic life patterns, the dark, dark earth as one goes deeper and deeper into the peat, and into the past.
One grey day in the bog, however, my right leg was sucked right down into a whole. I was terrified but managed to get out safely. I am fine now but still have a very sore leg!! But it hasn’t stopped my insatiable appetite for painting. I’m back with brushes in hand and I am so happy. Thankfully, the drugs are helping lots, killing the pain and allowing me do what I love to do – paint!
The bodies I saw in the Museum kept haunting me until I brought them to life in my paintings “Bogs Findings”. I used gold to reflect these human treasures that were burried and preserved by nature, treasures that I will hold close to me for many a year.
Do let me know what you think of them once you’ve visited the gallery.
