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Art Journal: June 2026

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04/06/26

“It’s the conflicting feelings that make the picture.”

Nick Willing on Paula Rego (Talk Art)

07/06/26

No studio this weekend. Instead, a long overdue sketchbook day - playing with and working through found and personal imagery. I think one of the issues I have with drawing is looking to nail a sketch first time and with the limited time in the evenings to work through ideas, frustration can mount.

Today was a long one, five hours, and that’s not always achievable in a week lest I forego the studio like today and in the long run, that isn’t helping. Surely I could carve out a half hour 3-4 nights a week - aiming for one (two max) drawings. If they miss, they miss. Better to have done…

09/06/26

Mad news. Got a whirlwind visit to the Belfast School of Art Degree Show.

10/06/26

More warnings of unrest. Whistle stop look at the Anna Vidamour show in PS² before an extremely awkward and lengthy journey home.

14/06/26

Studio. Back and forth on this one. One minute I love elements, the next - it’s maddening. Time will tell. Also started on a little commission.

17/06/26

Very strange email yesterday - bit of digging to find it a legit nomination. Bafflingly bizarre.

22/06/26

Mullingar trip - lots of fun and lots of sun.

“My apologies your majesty!”

23/06/26

Repentant Magdalene in a town centre hotel.

26/06/26

Pretty much knew from the get go in the studio this morning that ‘Lessons in Silence’ had run its course. There was just the final flailing attempts at salvaging it before wiping the slate clean, hitting refresh.

Cape Fear series - excellent. A scene in episode 4 took me by surprise and an interesting conversation was had. That feeling of who you were before trauma dying and there being almost an element of grieving / loss of who that person was - or at least parts that have now been significantly altered or erased entirely.

Thinking about how to make works more impactful - ensuring the there’s personal input - not just about the image having a resonance with a lived experience…. trip-a-trap / it and the meshing of an elaborate lamp / under the patio / ‘94 to the ceiling.

27/06/26

So, how to implement into compositions without diverting completely?

28/06/26

An OK start to christening piece. Although, its not really feeling like mind yet - good blocking none-the-less. Another smaller canvas - the ground is too dark to get the initial layers off to a tidy start. An uphill battle so might have to refresh on this already.

30/06/26

Heading home from Dublin and a little rainbow spotted at the border to end a difficult day.

Art Journal: March 2026

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01/03/26

Raw umber / warm grey for walls. Prussian blue was over top hat. Burnt sienna / reds / pinks. Sage green = pacing figure.

Thought I would’ve gotten further ahead than I did but then when I came down home with a sour head on me, have since been told that it was plenty. That was right of course. I just think the images in my head, or the projected outcome wasn’t matching reality, In hindsight, of course there’s been movement. Tonal work on mid-sized canvas - the ground work of the colouring blocks are done.

For the small double portrait, using the lines in the hidden self-portrait to create structure behind (and possible in front) the female portrait.

Sometimes there isn’t (well to be honest, its nearly 99%) that magic spark when working - where a single mark can bring a work to life. Today was a grind and that’s OK. It’s whats needed. Still need to turn up, put paint down and work through problems as they arise. That’s the joy and the fear.

04/03/26

Dublin. Maryam Tafakory “Daria’s Night Flowers” in the Project Art Centre. Next, on to the RHA to catch the Hennessy Craig and Homan Potterton Awards 2026. Stand outs - Eileen Leonard Sealy, Daniel Coieman and Manar Mervat Al Shouha. Wonderful work!

Kirsty Bell’s work is absolutely stunning; the merging of layers and the unusual presentation (on poles, curtains) adds to theatricality and draws you in.

07/03/26

A classic case of teetering on the edge of over-painting - Small double portrait. The elements that I think are working are currently out-weighed by isn’t. Tonally, it’s OK, a little flat at present, I think its the application of the paint and the colour scheme that’s off at the moment.

13/03/26

“Non Squeal Killers” - “A Tacitun Mask”

15/03/26

In the studio. Back and forth once again on the small canvas. One minute I think a problem is resolved, then an impulse to go in the opposite direction takes hold. Not sure where this comes from or why.

It could be my idea of the finalised idea is split between accuracy of the source material and leaning into the more expressive immediacy that the intial drawings derive from.

Third session on this. I think if things don’t clean up after the next session, it will be a case of putting it against the wall for a while before tackling it again with fresh(er) eyes.

18/03/26

“Fate rebuked him with a terrible swiftness”.

22/03/26

Studio and a little impromptu photo shoot!

There was a point in the morning where I thought I was going to ruin it all.

Now, it is definitely not what I initially envisaged but for the process and danger that this wee canvas has gone through, it’s not in a bad space. It’s as good as I can do with how it has gone previously. So, a long, drawn out way of saying. It’s downing tools time on “Thought Gathering”.

Now, thoughts to gather towards….

Lists need made up.

29/03/26

There was no painting or drawing this weekend. A little respite didn’t do any harm.

2025 in Pictures

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It’s been a year with highs and lows, both personally and professionally. But, taking stock and looking back at the last 12 months - I have to be grateful for so many things, that the positives undoubtedly outweigh and null the lows by some margin.

So, by going month by month, here are some visual highlights of the year that was.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

With an international excursion, group shows and a solo exhibition coming up, there is plenty to look forward to for 2026.

Art Journal: October 2025

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01/10/25

Prep ahead of VAI event in the MAC.

02/10/25

The start of a crazy month. But looking forward to LNAB later…

‘The Weight of Inheritance’ showing in the Royale Arcade Academy group exhibition.


Catalyst Arts

05/10/25

Deep breath…

Let’s have a go at session three for “B,W,oatS”.

A Brush with Wolfgang Tillmans - “RE-ENERGISE YOUR ARCHIVE!”

From what I can tell, the ocular device looks the part - symmetrical enough to look convincing and squ-whiff enough to be interesting.

Finished - bar Malcolm’s contribution (although I do kind of like it).

S….GF?

12/10/25

A Brush with Suzanne Jackson.

Completed ‘Kiss with a Red Flag’ - minimal touches needed - thin wash on highlights of hair and a slight change in background / freshening of the red flag / shirt. It could have been done on the second session but with elements not dry, the risk was too high of destroying any good work done to that point.


14/10/25

Visit to the MAC. Niamh Seana Meehan’s sombre textile installation that waits for you to immerse yourself.

William McKeown’s paintings of meditative light and beautifully subtle horizon lines.

Marie Hanlon and Rhona Clarke’s thought provoking work - a collaborative video installation that shines a light on the climate emergency plus Hnnlon’s sculptures of knotted glass that explores water as a resource.

19/10/25

Second session on ‘To Conjure’. Both images are fighting for dominance right now. Limiting the palette to see how this could affect this struggle and the work as a whole.

Mostly working on the large portrait element today.

22/10/25

26/10/25

Went and sat up in the studio for a while only to realise I wasn’t ready Space needed tidying up and organised so after a bit of time cleaning - it was back down to the office to work on admin updates. The boring stuff needs done too.

28/10/25

Zhanna Kadyrova in the Golden Thread Gallery’s ‘Radical Hope’ exhibition.

Art Journal: August 2025

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01/08/25

Time for bed. (NOTE: Should have heard by now).

03/08/25

“The Woman with the Dogs” finished. Having timed deadlines according to size seems to be working.

05/08/25

C.H.C = No Date as of Yet.

06/08/25

Sat down last night with intent of own work but - other preoccupations took over. Shame.

07/08/25

Late Night Art Belfast.

08/08/25

10/08/25

Tai Shani - A Brush With…

Stretching canvas!

13/08/25

Priorities. Bridge. Swing. Power Pylon. Patterns everywhere.

Utilise time more wisely. Shake yourself out of the self-imposed rut. Yes, it’s difficult to carve time out but it must be achievable in some shape or form.

14/08/25

A.S. applied.

16/08/25

17/08/25

Added three coats of primer to new canvases.

Jane and Louise Wilson - A Brush With…

Let’s get some images on these bad boys!

Lots of drawing and tonal work today.

20/08/25

Sketchbook work NOTE: Need to refresh image pool -> prep for drawing transfers.

28/08/25

“__________ is a new language in my practice.” - Such a good line!

31/08/25

Studio and great to get layers down on “Better, Worse or about the Same?”.

Some videos - out of comfort zone.

Art Journal: July 2025

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01/07/25

O.C. - Not successful. Still…

03/07/25

LNAB

‘Here for Now’ ArtsForAll - Maria & Anna Horvathova.

Scott Benefield Trunk Show - Craft NI

‘Inner Space, Outside Place’ - Sarah McConnell / Jeffrey Roberts - Atypical

Shopwork = Vault Group Show.

‘The Ceremony of Falling’ Hana Abri Smith - Rattlebag.

Also, some revisits to Catalyst, Golden Thread and Belfast Exposed.

06/07/25

Studio Time. With two newly primed canvases - revisting some imagery that I feel had/has promise but faltered in a past iteration.

“The Woman with the Dogs” + “To Conjure”

The latter is adding a new image / element alongside the seance scene I tried to depict last year. The initial stages are always filled with such optimism and hope. Then I look at ‘Uniform Hate’ - so much I like about it, a lot more I don’t.

The two figures behind the central officer, they’re nearly the crux of it all. Carrying all the hate. The central figure is the calm in the storm.

…rearrange.

08/07/25

P - worth a look?

09/07/25

Get to grips.

10/07/25

Solid work on new pieces today.

17/07/25

Request sent. Fingers crossed.

Test run a time limit for work depending on size to reduce the risk of overpainting.

Whatever shape it is in by the final day is how it will be.

≤ 50 x 50 cm → 3 studio days

51–99 cm → 5 days

> 100 cm → 7 days

From there, I choose:

A: Leave it as-is after the final studio day (radical / reluctant acceptance)

or

B: Turn to the wall and let it rest for a month, then revisit briefly (cooling-off window)

18/07/25

“I’m coming, I’m coming,

and my head is bending low.

I hear the gentle voices calling,

Poor aul Joe.”

20/07/25

‘Uniform Hate’ finished. Not perfect, but much more I like now than not so that’s it.

Grabbed a mirror and started working from life partly on self-portrait. It was fun, frustrating but fun.

21/07/25

Something really nice about painting with mirror yesterday.

22/07/25

WFH = a lot!

23/07/25

Possible…

27/07/25

‘Twenty Eighteen’ complete. Taken as far as I can, Stuck to guns and 3 studio day limt.

Added bonus - yes, the original drawing is from 2018 but if you add 20 and 18, you get my current age. Meant to be!

Art Journal: May 2025

01/05/25

LNAB - A Bumper One! - A.B.F.

04/05/25

Self-portrait - destroyed. Frustrating but that’s just the way it goes.

07/05/25

Some practical work tonight.

…50%. Better than nothing. Getting to grips with perceived ‘rut’. Is it a rut or is it just a natural effect from other factors? Practice has always been deeply personal so it's little wonder that there's a subconscious ripple effect happening.

The ‘disconnect’ I'm having with the recent work / work in progress now seems valid. When things are still very raw, it's understandable to numb or distance yourself and for a practice that's always been reflective of my experiences, then there's an issue there.

When the practice relies on a kind of gut-level recognition (imagery needs to speak directly - even found images) wanting to avoid it due to current circumstances seems reasonable.

An external image sparks an internal echo but when you're struggling with internal processing - switching off seems understandable.

Not sure if there's a quick fix - or if I would want to put a ‘sticking plaster’ on it without dealing with the wider issues. Back in … so that's a step. Could also be that I'm too hard on myself. As David Sylvester said “… artists must be allowed to do bad work. They must be allowed to get in a mess…”.

Things to try:

  • Revisit old sketchbooks.

  • More journalling - words can lead into visual metaphors.

08/05/25

John Price show in the Engine Room Gallery.

11/05/25

Not trying to reinvent the wheel here! Overthinking as per.

Really good start to what I'm affectionately calling “Pebble Dash” (will not be real title).

Its worth throwing imagery up, taking time to look and experiment with compositions. It's not only fun, but sparks potential ideas into life!

Work also done on “Uniform Hate” background. Work on these have went almost too well too quickly!

13/05/25

Back into PS² to spend more time with Molly Martin's ‘Re/Cusp’ show. Found it incredibly cathartic, sometimes breathing in time with the surroundings and little moments of unease - audible heartbeat echoing in the air.

15/05/25

…Tempted to.

Silence the inner critic - or at least make him smaller.

Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use it!

Use of yarn to sew ogham onto canvases and then stringing the works together like a weird mind map on the wall.

17/05/25

Man in the Rug.

19/05/25

Going cold turkey. Feels like something has just clicked in my head. Now, tomorrow’s entry could read “what was I thinking!”

Occupy the Present. Already, it will be a case of getting time back. An hour an evening saved - 7 hours a week - that’s a solid day’s work back!

Breathe.

20/05/25

Freud in Titanic, Belfast.

23/05/25

Q.F. - what the hell is this!? Hit by a train. Must remember, it’s the body healing itself and it will pass. Now, to focus on more important matters.

25/05/25

Studio time - this will be the biggest test so far.

Timelapse of “The Weight of Inheritance". Pleased with progress - the others, in a bit of a muchness with them.

The drawing needs stepped up, get the archive lit again and spark interest / ideas.

28/05/25

Dublin - Visit to TBG+S, RHA Show (seeing some familiar faces) and Michael Kane’s show in the Taylor Galleries.

30/05/25

Sketchbook Rawness. When it worked, it really worked. When it didn’t, it really didn’t

31/05/25

Sketchbook studies again to round off the month. Started thinking (here we go - this old chestnut again) - stopping earlier in the process… fell asleep writing!

Art Journal: March 2025

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02/03/25

…it’s finished! Hallelujah!!

This work is taking a lifetime to work out the kinks.

05/03/25

Admin work and a load of stretcher bars home. Had planned on more but literally ran out of time.

06/03/25

Fell asleep on the bus while writing in here… Subsequently have lost my favourite pen to the 212!

Late Night Art Belfast: Majella Clancy in Ulster Presents; Steph Harrison at Atypical Gallery; The Irish Palette in the Engine Room Gallery; Last night of the Catalyst Members’ Show and ‘Cailleach’ at Vault.

08/03/25

09/03/25

Stretching and priming, followed by another round of priming in the evening. No RHA this year.


10/03/25

Been offered a solo for 2026! All chuffed!

13/03/25

Wonderful to be at the opening of 'The Crush' by Sian Costello in PS Squared.

The paintings seem to echo the softened, shifting edges of camera obscura projections, where details are suggested rather than fixed, teasing at recognition before slipping away.

Of the work Sian writes: 'I use my own body and a series of camera obscurae as instruments to magnify and distort the boundaries between what is real and what is the art "work" of composition, lighting, and painterly flair. Through this fractured lens, space opens up beyond the controlling hand of the artist for the narratives told by the subjects themselves.'

'The Crush' runs until the 17th April.

14/03/25

Achilles is banjaxed! Minor injuries is a joke!

15/03/25

A morning of sorting out reference imagery. Feels like nothing productive has been done I know it will prove helpful in the long run.

18/03/25

…RETHINK…

24/03/25

Fancy transit.


27/03/25

It’s been quite a week: Helpdesks, Training in Dublin, More training in Belfast and a student Fair at UU… now first C.H. event.

Imogen is three today. Hard to believe but we can’t picture life without her!

…wisdom to know the difference… It’s not going to be easy.

30/03/25

Studio - drawing up, mapping out structure / composition of a few new canvases.

Feels good to get in the rhythm of making after a good few weeks. Tonal values looking good thus far.

CARVE! CARVE! CARVE! Without dictating a set regimen.

Art Journal: February 2025

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02/02/25

Looking back at ‘targets’ - pleasantly surprised. Yes, the drawing fell short but KEEP IT UP!

03/02/25

Studio. Paring back of background - so much better.

Several older sketches transferred onto acetate.

Taking back sense of self / purpose.

05/02/25

06/02/25

Busy day. Symposium followed by Late Night Art - with a piece made especially for the Catalyst Members’ show taking part!

Struck me last night - shifting to more personal imagery and away from portrait after portrait IS what’s needed - but is a tired rendering of them going to yield exciting results? I don’t think so.

A little more outside the box thinking and care required - other than throwing multiple imagery on one plain. Although that is one way to expand narrative quite quickly….

LNAB

Gerry Gleason’s Skip Sculptures | Philip Arneill in Arcade | Yvette Monaghan Belfast Exposed | Sinéad O’Neill Nichol in VAULT | Joan Alexander in PS2

08/02/25

Ballyliffen celebrations

11/02/25

Very late sketchbook work - AGAIN.

13/02/25

…aiming for a good new habit. BUT there is no point in sulking or beating yourself up if targets are not reached each time. By the same token, there is also little point in setting goals if they are ignored or you don’t try to achieve them. So, do your best but if it falls short of expectations, learn from it and carry on.

16/02/25

Plates be gone!

Multitasking - not my strongest suit.

20/02/25

Golden Thread Visit and application submitted.

22/02/25

… kicking my ass!

“A Brush with Somaya Critchlow”.

Hilarious! RD was hijacked - brilliant! Goldilocks - just right.

… fingers crossed though that once it’s done and out, a real flurry will take place.

23/02/25

25/02/25

Sally O’Dowd in Ulster Museum!

26/02/25

Array at RUA RED. Something quite cathartic singing Bette Midler to a squad of police Land Rovers.

27/02/25

What does the inner critic say? TW, L, NGE.

Carrying on my engagement with the subjective experience - particularly around trauma. That is something. Interpretation of images … unique.

CRINGE ENDUCING!

Art Journal: January 2025

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02/01/25

Sketching - coming back!

05/01/25

Early studio session - Looking at “Gathered” … it’s finished.

Bit of a push and pull on Commission.

NOSFERATU - GREAT!

06/01/25

First day back in Belfast - COLD!

07/01/25

Double deadlines and an open call.

08/01/25

Personal interrogation - double mirrors? Will be good to dust cobwebs off.

What to put into xxx?

Popped round to Golden Thread Gallery on lunch.

Shirin Neshat installation in the Golden Thread Gallery.

Such a headache but it will pass.

09/01/25

GET IT DONE!

Three in the Morning by Charys Wilson at PS2 - fab!

Ran around … but no joy.

Sarah Maple Call me Mother in the Naughton - wonderful show.

(…. add mirror plates).

11/01/25

,,, Done all here I can at the moment.Seemd flst at the minute Still to br

12/01/25

Sketchbook studies in the morning.

13/01/25

Double Submitted!

15/01/25

Dropped '“Gathered” over for Catalyst Members’ Show. Should be a good one!

16/01/25

17/01/25

It might look like a phone induced dopamine hitting laziness - but I do want to try and utilise certain aspects better. Are multiples worth it or is it better to do just one really well?

Will mull this over but in the meantime, gather images to set into … folders.

Late Night Self Portrait sketch.

18/01/25

Should have seen this coming - getting too caught up. Yes, it’s a good idea to curate some meaningful aspects but, and this will always be the case, making the work is and always will be top of the pile.

Less scrollin’, more rollin’.

Setting distractions away to write really helps.

Watched ‘Longlegs’ tonight. The dolls shrouded in a black sheet - but with the demonic red eyes showing through - it has really unsettled me. Like one of Magritte’s lovers but on a bad trip.

19/01/25

Sunday Studio Session - (and pre-session list).

…colour restructure? Starting over isn’t the end of the world. It could be that it’s too small to tackle the source material properly.


And restarted I did. Got to the point of the second looking further ahead than the original pretty quickly. Should use the little canvas as a guinea pig - test out ideas.

Change the background - make it my own. It’s too safe at the minute.

21/01/25

A late night (probably too late a night) of sketchbook studies.

23/01/25

‘Misaligned’ by Katherine Penney in Ulster Presents. Moving work - beautiful use of space.

Bracing now for storm Eowyn.

24/01/25

Guts of three trees fell out our back and power has been off since early morning.

Saw part of one of the trees come down this morning. The thud it made!

Ambient candlelight.

26/01/25

A sketching and scanning day.

29/01/25

Dublin. Eileen Leonard Sealy’s paintings in the LAB Gallery - excellent.

30/01/25

I’ve veered more and mroe away from raison d'être.

Stick Shed. Personal motifs. Untapped.

Dervla O’Flaherty and David Dunnes’ shows in Cultúrlann.

Retrospect - …preferred… with older painting upside down (two tones).

… more of me in there.

2024 in Pictures

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

RDH: OCTOBER 2024

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03/10/24

Late Night Art Belfast

05/10/24

A dry studio day. No paint - just charcoal work and redrawing sketches and some tonal work. SOMETHING!

09/10/24

Malleable metal wire drawing?

10/10/24

‘Line of Sorrow’ - micro expression.

13/10/24

TAN podcast - The White Pube book “Poor Artists”

“Spare Change Study” - facial work -warmer tones in the shadows?

Mood plays an important role… not the ‘I’m not in the mood’ kind of mood. More so the downward mindset - something foreign playing over in the back of your mind and it is difficult to shake and focus on anything else.

I can and will do better. In the studio context with this guilty / downward feeling playing out today - productivity took a nosedive. Better all round if the socks get pulled up.

17/10/24

RUA Opening. Very pleased.

19/10/24

Saturday Studio. Afraid that what’s here has gone - or rather my enthusiasm towards them - has gone stale. “S.C.” has promise but it’s on the small side - too bitty for what I want to achieve. If that makes sense.

20/10/24

“Look! Daddy’s painting!”

This will warm my heart for a long time.

21/10/24

£1 - Bargain.

22/10/24

Maya Todd (top centre) - Royale Arcade Academy

24/10/24

The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get at myself for letting certain aspects stagnate. Prioritising stupid, irrational shit over investing in practice.

F.F.A.S. - what else is there?

27/10/24

Studio clear out. Moving recent works down to shed and out of eyeline. Freeing up wall space. Re-working / Recycling / Repurposing - just generally Re- really.

Enjoyed the “A Brush with Robert Longo” podcast.

…‘les yeux sans visage’ imagery could prove an interesting challenge. Some good first steps.

“A Brush with Marlene Dumas” - think I’ve listened to this four times now.

30/10/24

Dublin bound.

RDH: SEPTEMBER 2024

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01/09/24

Should LOFT TALK return?

05/09/24

Met Khaled Barakeh at his show in the MAC.

Late Night Art - Belfast Exposed, DAS, PS2 and VAULT.

06/09/24

‘Hindsight Study’ into RAA show!

08/09/24

Slow and steady progress on new portrait.

12/09/24

Basil Blackshaw: Selected Works in Ulster Presents. Always something incredibly moving about the last work an artist worked on. Almost like a lifetime's experience culminating into one last piece.

Late Night Art - East Belfast. Visit to Platform, Strand Arts Centre, Arts Care and Creative Exchange. Loud in between.

Have really gotten out of the way of note taking. Subbed for worse habits. How to rectify? Stop. Breathe. Think.

15/09/24

Studio time. Portrait - ‘Never Be Seen’. All but there. Some moments where the background tone looks fine and works well and others where it looks like a mistake and falls apart. Chips and changes - probably down to the light through the day (or indecisiveness).

Resting on it for now.

22/09/24

One week on and yes, the background definitely needs addressed. Worked it so its back to a very similar colour to how it started. Finished and full circle.

26/09/24

QSS at 40!

Brilliant show and will be back to see multiple times.

29/09/24

Studio and 'Tesla' painting is gone - for now. Drawing up new works.

What words or text become like the ground of a painting?

Glenn Ligon - The Week in Art podcast.

'Spare Change Study', ‘Running Errands', 'Repulsion from a Clown'.

Some good starts. 'RfaC’ redeemed somewhat for now.

RDH: AUGUST 2024

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02/08/24

Studio time finally - after a slightly longer than usual cleaning session.

Not much progress made with “Turn to Page Five” but still feels great to put paint down after seventeen days of renovating, family time and north coast fun!

04/08/24

“Restraint Study” handed in. Crossed fingers…

Took myself up to the Ulster Museum afterwards to finally catch the two Caravaggio works together for a rare time since the 17th Century.

“The Supper at Emmaus” (1601) and “The Taking of Christ” (1602). The first time in a long time where I just sat in awe. Spent nearly an hour just soaking them up (from near and far). He really was the master of light and shadow. Today has brought memories back of my last trip to the National Gallery in London back in 2019 and a reaction in front of another Caravaggio - “Boy Bitten by a Lizard” (1594-1596). Skipping past pockets of school kids getting guided tours, I stumbled upon it, right in the corner of the room.

There was a guide giving a talk to a class of children about a much larger painting just beside the Caravaggio. Can’t mind what it was - but it was a big canvas. Anyway, I’m looking at the painting and I suddenly start to feel myself well up - and I couldn’t stop it. I started crying.

I remember being in shock and some of the class beside me were staring and whispering among other. Because of where the Caravaggio was in the gallery, I was sort of pinned in with the school kids sitting on the floor all around listening to the guide speak. I eventually had to make a break for it, snaking past them to get out. First time I ever cried at a work.

The next time that happened I think was with Daniel Coleman’s epic work in the MAC show a while back. The sheer audacity of scale, the use of colour in the limited palette - everything took breath away to the point I got choked up.

06/08/24

Called round to check out ‘The Shape of a Pocket’ exhibition at Catalyst Arts curated by Dougal MacKenzie and Christopher Hanlon.

“Hindsight Study” submitted…

07/08/24

Back to spinning plates.

10/08/24

The Golden Thread Gallery has reopened with shows by Robin Price, Charlotte Bosanquet, Rob Hilken and Graham Fagen.

11/08/24

Honey ate more paint than I thought. More put out. “Turn to Page Five” - dark, ochry brown background? Semi-transparent?

FINISHED. Thought I had nearly messed it up with a little too much fixative but managed to pull it back OK.

12/08/24

“Restraint Study” accepted into the RUA! Chuffed!

18/08/24

Three wonderful years - and a lifetime ahead!

Tried a jaunt to the studio - not feeling it. Will try to block in some colour to “bin” piece.

22/08/24

Sketchbook work before bed.

25/08/24

“The possibility of the studio” - Eva Rothschild

From “A brush with ,,,” podcast.

So, after a layer or two on the “bin” piece, it was time to say goodbye. Just wasn't working, especially with the background. So working a new image on top and starting a new portrait from scratch on a nice, clean canvas.

28/08/24

Dublin reconn.

29/08/24

Re-group…

31/08/24

Sixteen Years. Hard to fathom.

RDH: JULY 2024

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04/07/24

LNAB

07/07/24

Early sketchbook work this morning - bit of a delay but in the studio now eventually.

12/07/24

Late Night Sketchbook Session

14/07/24

“Turn to Page Five” - good progress.

21/07/24

Into the second round of the RUA. Taking “Defiant Study” up on Sunday 4th August. Fingers crossed.

25/07/24

Wasn’t successful in Mayo application. Onwards.

Not too much art related happenings this week and next - decorating the kitchen and having some family holiday time. Must make a point of getting thoughts / ideas / notes down as and when if possible. There have been a couple of instances where something has popped into view mentally relating to practice but since they weren;’t recorded, they have faded into lost memories.

Renewal isn’t a lie.

30/07/24

North Coast - burnt to a crisp.







RDH: JUNE 2024

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02/06/24

Studio - focus on one image…

Well, some days just don’t go the way you want them to. Bit of a damp squid in the studio. Superficial work on ‘mugshot’ (working title). Vented frustration out on cleaning the yard.

05/06/24

Organising archive.

06/06/24

Late Night Art - Belfast. Traditional Route.

09/06/24

‘The Week in Art’ podcast discussing Studio Voltaire and Martha Jungwirth’s take on Goya. “Turning off the facuet of emotion.” (on O’Keefe).

The Sleep of reason.

‘Talk Art’ with Nathanaëlle Herbelin.

“Hindsight” - So bloody close! Frustrating. Too thick in hair and isn’t dynamic as rest of picture. Deep breath. Could be worse and be no where near close to finishing - silver charcoal filled linings.

Still haven’t heard anything from S.P. show.

12/06/24

…found wanting. Rinse head - take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

F.W.A.

13/06/24

Being really fucking ballsy!

14/06/24

Didn’t get solo chance. Ah well. Up to Belfast for opening of ArtsFest III.

Great turnout!

16/06/24

Cleaning works in the lower garage. Some damaged beyond repair.

“Hindsight Study” finished. Some substantial progress to “Four Years On”.

19/06/24


23/06/24

Great day.

25 + 26/24

Family sick days so just a total wipeout.

Visual / Ocular Migraine.

30/06/24

Started the day off bright and early with some sketching from photos taken throughout the week.

“Four Years On” finished.

Larger portrait started. Good way to end the month.

RDH: FEBRUARY 2024

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01/02/24

Beginnings…

02/02/24

…officially taken a back seat. That’s OK though. Needs - Must. Doesn’t mean the grey matter stops!

I mind a ‘Thunderball’ poster with a table in it - or was it N.S.N.A.?

Knots - Riddled.

03/02/24

20:11 - Malcolm John Kielt born - 7lbs 10oz.

Jan was amazing.

09/02/24

I have been thinking about what was put to [redacted] for the [redacted]. Advice could (and should) be taken on board closer to home.

Certain circumstances, mean that practice has taken a back seat - as it should - but this shouldn’t be an excuse to down tools completely and end any creative activity that could be happening. I don’t know if I could fully switch off anyway.

Just because the practical studio and office / sketchbook time is lowered doesn't mean all artistic outlets dry up! There is room in other spaces. Even now, trying to carve out some creative time will be important. Use any spare time wisely - but also enjoy the early days of baby number 2!

10/02/24

Studio cleaning and some posthumous signing this morning.

Had time cleared for the studio for a few hours - just to get some paint down when no sooner had I started, the skirting man arrived.

The best laid plans etc etc.

15/02/24

16/02/24

BEEP BEEP!

17/02/24

“A Brush with…. Wilhelm Sasnel”.

“I do not control painting; I follow it.”

Wilhelm Sasnel

Some studio work - bit of a no-go. Need to re-energise the on-the-go paintings somehow OR start from scratch OR (3rd option):

Finding - or trying to find a new rhythm. Tough going but we’ll get there. What have I done in the past when I’ve come to a cul-de-sac?

DRAWING BOARD! Practical Next Steps.

18/02/24

Plan set out to be productive this evening - … had other ideas.

Submitted!

X

IX

XIII

20/02/24

THRESHOLD Gallery, Belfast showcasing work as part of the Golden Thread Gallery Collection.

Pond(er) at Catalyst Arts.

23/02/24

“Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.”

Voltaire

25/02/24

“A Brush with… Stanley Witney”

(…a painting has to get ugly before it can be beautiful. If you go straight to the beautiful, you’re aiming at the pretty.)

Two canvases started. Badgers’ is quite interesting already.

Fingers crossed.

28/02/24

“A.J.#240” - well I fell asleep during that podcast. Riveting.

29/02/24

Sketchbook studies.

2023 in Pictures

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

RDH: OCTOBER 2023

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01/10/23

Three white rabbits.

Studio: ‘Passive Study’ going well - bouncing between the brush and the drawing mark. It’s always interesting to see which of the two (if any at all) comes to the fore.

“A Brush With… Sarah Lucas”

‘A Séance in London’ - slowly building layers but, more importantly, working through structure and composition. Very early days.

03/10/23

Anxiety overload!

05/10/23

WOW! Can’t remember a late night art quite like this one in a very long time. Belfast was buzzing!

09/10/23

Put the bloody phone DOWN!

11/10/23

Quick sketch of artist Amy Higgins. Ideas brewing.


12/10/23

Easy to say, but difficult to implement.

In transit

15/10/23

Studio - A.H. portrait study: A good start. There was one point where the charcoal became a little too much but thankfully it wasn’t difficult to rectify. Just before adding the last layer of charcoal, all the previous drawing marks were pushed back with just the paint taking the stage. Some nice areas of tonal quality but overall the image was flat. You would think that adding a charcoal line would make it even more flat in appearance but the opposite is the case! The crux of it - that interplay between the drawing line and the painting mark.

17/10/23

Second straight day of jury service but on the flip side, a good chance to see Kwok Tsui’s new exhibition in the CCA.

18/10/23

QSS - ‘Messy Business’. Great group painting show.

21/10/23

…worth sticking foot in the door.

22/10/23

Studio time. A long session but very little to show for it. Slow progress on all fronts. Perhaps working on multiple pieces (four canvases) is biting a little more off than I can chew?

Setting a couple of pieces off to the side for a while should make it more manageable. It probably hasn’t helped that the palette is in a poor state and needs cleaned badly. Not a complete loss of a day but it could’ve been a lot more fruitful. Several factors at play but, lesson learned.

Palette given a good scrub before finishing up.

25/10/23

Dublin - too dark to write on the bus down - too dark to write on the bus home. The Autumn evenings are here.

Atoosa Pour Hosseini’s ‘The Magic Circle’ in Temple Bar Gallery + Studios is excellent. Remnants of vintage horror films in the video piece.

RDH: SEPTEMBER 2023

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05/09/23

06/09/23

Crow in flight. Morrigán. Could see the stabbed brush marks of the wings when watching it in flight. Weird. Aren’t we all?

Time needs to be set aside for practice. Shia LaBeouf.

Sounds like an excuse but a certain letter has thrown a real spanner in the works.

NB: Forgot to jot down that ‘Red Lines’ has been accepted into this years’ Royale Arcade Academy show at Arcade Studios.

07/09/23

LATE NIGHT ART - Belfast

Some very late-night sketching.

09/09/23

Setting your stall.

10/09/23

Art Wank Podcast with Array - listening during studio time.

“Painting is a place to hide thoughts, hide feelings, hide emotions.”

- Stephen Millar

The Arts are not singular. Arts as a united force for good. Collaboration.

You can’t eat prestige (or a flag).

‘Ready to Go’ blocked out. Not sure if it’s a damp squib but I think it’s worth another shot.

‘Marina’ - content with background. Loose is good. So bloody close.

13/09/23

H.B.S.

After a bit of mulling - the ‘Ready to Go’ canvas is anything but. I have forgotten the first rule:

IF IT DOESN’T EXCITE YOU THEN THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG

It is not and it is also an image that, if it’s going to work, will need another image merged to elevate it.

It is a solid image, and it has a resonance with me personally but it’s just not doing it for me, for the want of a better phrase.

Handed in ‘Red Lines’ to Arcade. Stopped by the MAC to see ‘No History in a Room filled with People wih Funny Names 5’ by Korakrit Arunanondchai and Alex Gvojic with Tosh Basco. An extremely immersive experience.

Abhartach - the Irish Vampire.

Black / Peaty Soil. Roots become negative space. Possible triptych?

14/09/23

Abhartach - source material…

This will be for down the line. Even the little portrait alongside ‘Ready to Go’ on acetate has more promise and, more importantly, has my head spinning!

Back of the bus, it’s been a long time.

Can see where… might have an advantage. More time. Been reading “The World New Made - Figurative Painting in the 20th Century” by Timothy Hyman.

“I was alone in my studio in front of my oil lamp. Two or three in the morning… Dawn is breaking… I used to sit up like that all night long. My lamp burned, and I with it.”

- Marc Chagall c.1920

Henri Rousseau = recovered a primal truth in painting.

17/09/23

Short Sunday Sessions.

“Marina” finished! But only just. A little over indulgent with the fixative meant some emergency fixing (irony) was needed.

If I had my wits about me I should’ve drawn up a new canvas in the 45 minutes spare. Hindsight.

“Look to Henri Rousseau as examplar for a renewal of figural language reborn in the image of childhood.”

- Timothy Hyman

18/09/23

20 week scan. All well! Surreal.

Also, on the way to Causeway - a lovely note, Warm, fuzzy feeling.

21/09/23

Chloe Austin’s “Living But A Day” in PS2

22/09/23

Breaking the Cultural Code - Tenth Anniversary of Derry’s UK City of Culture.


“Culture is everyday lived experience.”

- Sir Phil Redmond

Culture Night Derry

Banu Cennetoğlu at VOID Gallery, Derry

24/09/23

Studio time. There was a temptation to rework ‘Ready to Go’ for a minute. Had to remind myself that structurally it’s interesting but it doesn’t excite me to see where it can go.

“A Brush with… Claudette Johnson”

A really promising start to three canvases today.

25/09/23 & 26/09/23

BP high. Ordered to Antrim A&E. Arrived at 7pm - didn’t get seen until 10am on Tuesday. Tests to be done and rest needed. Poor timing.

28/09/23

…day in court.

29/09/23

VAI Get Together 2023 - Online day.

Imogen Stidworthy - How We Work.

Lindsey Mendick talk was great!

30/09/23

Be better at channeling time and effort into productive means.

We’re all a work in progress.