Tag: #irishamericanartist

Bogs Are Like Pages of History

Treasures and inspiration are found in these layers of history that bring warmth and a distinct aroma to a cold, rainy evening in Ireland.

Many time I get asked travel questions about Ireland. When it comes to where to stay I always quickly respond with a local BnB. My reasons for this are always that you are getting to know those who know Ireland best…they were born and raised there. A favorite stay of mine was in Tipperary at a BnB called Old Farm hosted by Margaret & Alfie McCaffrey.

While spending a few days, Alfie took me to visit several local sites, foraging for mushrooms and answered absolutely any question this American Artist could come up with, in regards to Ireland and her ancestors.  I have to say one of my favorite sites was the Redwood Bog.  While walking the bog Alfie explained the process of owning part of the bog, harvesting turf, what makes the bog and the different plants that were in the bog.

Being a gardener I was totally attracted to several of the plants.  One of the plants that really caught my eye is the bog asphodel.  This plant produces spikes of beautiful bright yellow flowers in the Summer and the foliage turns a stunning burnt rust in the Fall.  This rusty orange color plays off beautifully against the lavender heather that also grows in the bog.  So if you can imagine the two colors together it will quite literally make you stop your car to take a look!  Along with these plants are also the bog cotton.  It is as its name would imply a plant which appears as a wispy boll of cotton.  When you see this plant there will be wetland and acidic soil beneath.

“A Walk in the Bog” | 14×11 | oil on board | SOLD

These waterlogged, nutrient rich patches of land are layers and layers of plant material that have decomposed over years and years of time.  It creates an entire ecosystem for wildlife and plants which has been a source of fuel for the residence for many years.  Between the layers of the bog are the stories of time.

The remains of animals and humans have been discovered, along with swords, ornaments, bog oak and many other wonderful gems can be found accidentally deposited over the years  in the bogs. Due to the properties of Sphagnum moss in the bogs, which has preservatives built into it’s cells, whatever dies or is covered in it will decay much more slowly and therefore have many more stories to tell of the past when discovered.

Bog Asphedol and Heather

I have found the bogs to be inspirational because of their history, intense beauty and significance to the people of Ireland over the years.  If you make it to Ireland please take the time to walk and discover these pieces of ground steeped in history and significance throughout the West and midlands of Ireland.

Hedgerow Magic

hedge•row :a rough or mixed hedge of shrubs, trees or plants enclosing or separating fields

Hedgerows were originally planted to delineate fields and town lands in Ireland. They have grown into very important habitats for a diverse group of plants and animals. These living fences line the narrow roadways and insist that you slow to a pace that allows you to see all the life that they are supporting.

These vertical works of art contain flowers, birds, insects, trees and shrubs. Each of these elements supports the other creating its own little ecosystem. Along with being beautiful they are a wonderfully protective place for birds to build their nests and bees to make their homes in wait to do their job of pollinating the plants in the fields around them. These hedgerows provide a valuable service to agriculture through their habitats for pollinators, flora and fauna, and the prevention of soil erosion.

However, as an artist one of my favorite parts are the flowers that they host. They make their homes both in the cracks of the stones, as well as, in the dirt that the winds have deposited in between them. Montebretia, heather and gorse are some of the most widely seen plants I’ve noticed the walls hosting. With their intense colors of orange, purple and yellow the walls create their own abstract painting. The earth is singing a symphony in these roadside treasures.

The road appears to be getting a “sandwich” hug from both sides with the hedgerows. One of my favorite colors is purple because it is so deep and rich. The brilliant hedgerows are filled with these color. While walking the land I am recharged by listening to the earth sing with its beauty. As a child growing up in Iowa I remember enjoying the weeds/flowers that naturally grew in the ditches along side the roads. Even today these “volunteer gardens” bring me a great deal of joy as the hedgerows do in Ireland. What one person considers a weed another may call a flower. The bees that we so desperately need seem to have an infinity for them all and are totally indifferent as to their hierarchy.

So next time you venture out into the country or take a walk in nature remember to slow down and notice the masterpieces being created all around you.

Not every masterpiece is created in the studio…so often it has help from what is right outside.

What Do You Think Is One Of My Most Asked Questions?

As I start my yearly retreat in Ireland I thought I’d answer the question that I get asked frequently.

“Why do you travel alone?”

When was the last time you took off on a trip by yourself? I’m not talking a movie night or going to see relatives, although these are a great place to start. I’m talking about a week or weekend where you don’t have to answer to anyone or anything. The job and responsibilities are left behind and the phone isn’t by your side.

Each year I challenge myself to experience a time like this as I head to Ireland for an exhibition and a self-designed residency for six to eight weeks. The first time I did this was a real awakening experience; I had decided to spend an additional week in Ireland after traveling with my sisters and mother. When they left me alone in our last hotel I suddenly realized I had no one but myself to rely on, which was a bit unsettling in a foreign country.

The feelings were both scary and empowering all at the same time.

I knew no one in the entire country that I could have called upon if I had needed help. Once I got past this paralyzing feeling I began to experience the biggest rush of an adventure. Each time I accomplished something I told myself “Look that wasn’t hard and you did it all on your own!”

Traveling on your own comes with some wonderful perks. YOU decide which exhibitions you attend, what architectural marvels you walk past, how long you linger in a space and what direction you walk.

Good or bad, right or wrong each decision is yours…ALL YOURS!

Over the years I have found this time to be very cathartic. I spend a great deal of time soul-searching, writing, creating artwork and gathering information which later is translated into works of art in my Huntsville, Alabama studio. Writing was never something that I considered myself to be good at but it has really given a lot back to me over time. I force myself to reflect on my life and all the riches that it provides on a daily basis and what I’d love to add to it over time. These discoveries always manage to find their way into my work either through my writing or creative manifestations. I spend a great deal of time observing nature while climbing the mountains and sitting by the sea. The freshness of the breezes whipping my hair from side to side give my skin that freshly touched feeling.

Me finding balance in life…even if it is on a rock.

These times of solitude feel like a baptism, allowing me to open a new chapter in my life. I can’t wait to see where this year challenges me to go!

How do you reset or challenge yourself?

Try a Little Mud for Creative Inspiration!

“Walking the Fields of the Prairie” | Oil on Board | 6″x12″ | $360

The land inspires much of what I paint through what it provides and the simplicity of living off the land. Growing-up in Iowa I spent a great deal of time on a farm with pigs, horses, crops and lots of things to get into for a kid (Not all of which were parental approved.) However, having four confidants in crime (brothers and sisters) we were able to find all kinds of adventures to pursue. We played in the mud, created pottery out of it and were lucky enough to have my Mom bake our creations in the oven. She even used on one of her prized cookie sheets. I do believe the turtle creations hung around for more than 10 years!

“Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication”.

Leonardo da Vinci
The Land I Played on in Iowa as Child and it still Inspires Me Today.

Our farm house sat beautifully in the middle of acres and acres of cornfields.  This was no ordinary old two story farmhouse, it’s claim to fame was a that it was a hide-out for the infamous Jesse James from time to time.  That’s right the outlaw!

Back to the cornfields and dirt:  If you were to wander through one of the cornfields you’d find a creek which was always calling our names.  After all what kid wouldn’t like to play in the water and mud of a creek??  This was after all considered an acceptable place to play by our parents…on the other hand we did manage to find a form of playing in the mud that wasn’t as welcome to our Mother. 

Here is where some of that “Creativity” comes in. One fine Summer day we discovered a very large tractor tire track in a field that was filled with the PERFECT amount of water to make it delightfully slippery. Our experimentation began with running and sliding while standing up. Our vertical sliding method “accidentally” morphed into sliding on our stomachs which proved to be absolutely OUTSTANDING! This event of “opportunity” happened probably 45 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. By the time my mother was made aware of our latest adventure we were covered in mud from head to toe. Even to this day it is puzzling to me as to why this was such a problem…give me a minute as I get up off the floor from laughing so hard!

I have always felt growing up on a farm was a real treat and a great way to learn to appreciate the hard work, determination and grit that it takes to live off the land. Oh yea and there is plenty of mud!

Simplicity is the final achievement…it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.

Frederic Chopin
Myself (Back Center) and My Confidants in Crime: Karla, Sarah, Andy and Mark…That’s right I’m naming names and I can’t imagine life without them!

Much of my creative inspiration comes from those years on the farm and a life lived quietly and simply in the country, even as a child. Children are always learning and discovering things that will carry them through their lives whether directly or indirectly. So when you see weathered fence posts, a creek or a ditch of wildflowers appear in my work they come from the simplicity of daily life and travels in the States and abroad.

So if you are looking for inspiration I highly suggest mud!

After all what’s simpler than mud?

Why Ireland?

I have always been inquisitive about family history, but no one could have told me that making my first trip to West Cork, Ireland would make such a deep impression on me.    This trip was to discover the land of my ancestors but once on the ground I knew it held so much more.  It quickly won my heart with its family history, wonderfully warm friendly people and the stunning landscapes everywhere I looked.  I felt an immediate need to bring these emotions to my easel.

Ireland 11 - DUK_7044 low res

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”  ~John Muir

My ancestors come from the Beara Peninsula, an area of Ireland that is not intensely populated.  What it lacks in numbers it makes up for in its treasure trove of landscapes and history.  Continue reading “Why Ireland?”

It’s All About that RED!

RED

|of a color at the end of the spectrum next to orange and opposite violet, as of blood, fire, or rubies|

Red has never been a favorite color of mine.  Think about it…

•  It means to Stop and I don’t like to stop!
•  Danger is marked with it…No Thank You I’ll pass on danger!
•  Red Marks on Homework…Naw, I’ll pass on those as well!
•  A red number on your register…Bad News!

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I know what you are thinking:  “Those aren’t red flowers.  What’s wrong with this artist?”  I see nothing positive about being associated with the color red for me unless that means you are purple or orange.  What makes red so special to so many anyway?

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Have you ever seen red that is was soft and welcoming?  Even when you see items for Valentine’s Day they throw a soft pink in there to tone things down. No passion could be that hot…Could it?!?

Red has just always been one of those colors that I avoid. It screams for all your attention no matter where it is. It doesn’t play well with others and as far as I’m concerned needs to stay home.

In my paint baskets there is red, of course. However, Miss Red has a very small basket and has to share with many other colors since there are so few in her family. She is also not allowed to come out and play often as I have many other more “desirables” that like to co-mingle and don’t have to be reprimand. Now don’t get me wrong she does make an appearance when I need a bangin’ orange or a bold rich burgundy. When it comes to playing alone on the canvas that rarely happens. I have always told collectors that if they see a painting of mine with red and love red they had better add it to their collection because they don’t come up frequently.

Even at Christmas I refuse red and all it’s family. Instead, I lean towards purple and all its calming richness that looks great with the oranges of a fire in the fireplace. To add a bit of spark to my purple I love throwing in a Dr. Seuss lime green. You know the one I’m talking about. After all who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss?!?

If forced to work with red I adapt it (get ready for it and remember I’m an artist) into a purple red, a warm orange red with richness and bit of softness. Never a fire engine red! DANGER!

I am not sure what red has ever done to me but I just know to stay clear.  Does anyone else dislike the obnoxious screams of red?

What colors do you dislike and why?

Let me know what colors I should include in my next painting by leaving them in the comments below.