2022 in Pictures

January

Detail of "A New Normal"

Supermoon

Sketchbook work from childhood photographs

February

Ronnie Hughes' 'Isobar' in the MAC, Belfast

Notions for ideas in the snow

Catalyst Residency - early beginnings

Cast of my mouth by Stephanie Tanney

Temporary studio space in Catalyst Arts

Artist Rachel Macmanus hard at work

Ogham residency in full swing - late February

March

Final stages of work for Ogham in Catalyst

with artist Stephanie Tanney and curator Jen Alexander in final moments of residency

painting in progress - hair colour undetermined

Mothers' day - little Imogen is born

very early morning sunrise

back home and doing / adjusting well

at the closing night of Ogham exhibition in Catalyst with artists Rachel Macmanus, Stephanie Tanney and curator Jen Alexander

April

Quick sketching work

Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh at CCA Derry

'Ogham' work returned to the studio

'Girl with Red Hair' finished

Emic in 'Art That Made Us' documentary series

May

Decisions, decisions

Drawing from historical imagery

June

'Mothman' detail - in progress

'Peek-A-Boo' close up

Claire Barclay at the MAC, Belfast

July

A studio assistant sleeping on the job

beginnings of a small piece

Studio wall shot

Powerful work by Stuart Calvin at Atypical Gallery, Belfast

On show at the Boyle Arts Festival, Roscommon

August

Ron Mueck at the MAC, Belfast

Sunset at Portrush

detail of skulls

little and large

September

a conversation in pen

'Four of Five' detail I

'Four of Five' detail II

October

a packed opening of the RUA exhibition in Ulster Museum, Belfast

'Girl with Red Hair' in RUA

Giving a talk about practice in the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin

Springing on with new works

November

Imogen's first trip to the Ulster Musuem - infront of Alana Barton's work

Proud daddy and daughter moment

detail of eye in progress

December

The last works completed this year.

Stunning painting by Daniel Coleman at the MAC, Belfast

The opening of 'New Exits - 10 Years of Painting Shows' in the MAC, Belfast

RDH: FEBRUARY 2022

01/02/22

Daft Punk Live - Alive. Frantic.

Sketch with music on in the background. No Show and Tell, just Tell.

05/02/22

4,000 weeks. Poetics of space.

Great to meet up with J.A. and S.T and to see Catalyst’s new space.

Edy Fung in the GT Gallery

Ronnie Hughes in the MAC

Quick jaunt to the GT and to the MAC in the morning. Edy Fung’s and Ronnie Hughes’ work were great! Hughes’ translucent layers of paint suck you in and grab hold. Shimmering colour clashes.

Head is buzzing with ideas. Exciting!

06/02/22

Mary Beard’s Forbidden Art. - Pan and the She-Goat.

Daphne Todd - painted recently dead mother.

“Violence will always be a part of the human experience.”

Mary Beard

It’s been an odd weekend. Great but odd.

Ideas are starting to be slid into place about how ‘Ogham’ will be approached. Churning away so keep faith.

It’s been a limbo sort of a day. Feeling the need to do SOMETHING - but not being able to find the energy.

Reading, research, drawing, responding.

Readymade… Domestic

So, actually I retract the ‘limbo’ statement. I did do things today. I was productive. It’s just there wasn’t any tangible outcome. Case and point… 7th page.

07/02/22

“An Ode Study”

Sketchbook with Daft Punk on - upping the tempo.

08/02/22

Fabric search.

Carving out ideas. Scrap yard.

09/02/22

H.B.M. Looking forward to getting into the garage this weekend.

Let’s give it a goo!

12/02/22

Aoife Dunn - IMMA: Socially engaging sculpture.

May have slipped a disc. Acetate sketches.

SUN - MOON - HOME

14/02/22

Image sorting today.

16/02/22

Meeting. Repetition and extremities. Develop and evolve.

17/02/22

J.A. Studio Visit!

19/02/22

Studio time! Finally! Using just titanium white and charcoal - both willow and compressed - to work up images. Going back to my process’ roots - year 2 in art college. Two new works started.

Studio Wall: 19/02/22

22/02/22

‘Ogham’ has begun. Dog study - black dog. Great to see what S.T. is doing in the space and Rachel’s response.

“Black Dog”

SLOW AND LOW SHOOTING STAR.

24/02/22

Snow! Appointment done.

ogham chair in the snow

25/02/22

Belfast bound. Scared guide dog on the 212.

Great to get into the space at Catalyst and set up for the next two days. Began working on two pieces. ‘Don't Look’ in ogham.

Set up of 'Ogham' Residency in Catalyst Arts

Cast of my mouth by Stephanie Tanney

The fourth wall is glass. Casting of mouth by S.T. Reminds me of ‘Red Dragon’ from the SotL prequel of the same name.

26/02/22

Day two in the space. Time is not our friend but still have to remind ourselves that there’s no end goal needed. Just to respond and be creatively present.

So good to meet Rachel and see Steph’s process in the flesh.

My 'ogham studio' in Catalyst Arts

Two Works in Progress

Artist Rachel MacManus working in Catalyst Arts

Panorama of 'Ogham' residency set up

"An Ode to Black Dog" Painting in Progress

N.P.

28/02/22

‘Offsite’ chats with Catalyst! Refreshing.