ulster presents

Art Journal: September 2026

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03/09/26

Late Night Art Belfast.

In the studio and working on commissions - good progress on both.

10/09/26

Dublin bound in prep for Get Together 2026!

11/09/26

TUD Grangegorman - a great day all round.

12/09/26

Got to car and a wallet fell from underneath the wing mirror - good deed done.

17/09/26

…hanging together…

20/09/26

Full day in the studio. Steps in the right direction but what is it …. that’s proving difficult? Flatness of the image? Lack of shadows that help define structure and form? Proportions… angle? It honestly couold be a combination of some of all of the above. Will get there though,

…a joy to work on and is actually fun exploring the canvas and how the image can be pushed / developed further. Complete opposite.

The trick will be having all look effortless despite a cavernous gap in experiences thus far. Does the black/charcoal background come away? Making way for a colour that ties both subjects - say a cooler, muted olive green?

22/09/26

‘Navigating the Kaleidoscope’ exhibitiion by Dan Shipsides in Ulster Presents. Nice variety of works - video, sculpture, early painting and beautifully tactile charcoal drawings (with a wee bit of taxidermy thrown in for good measure).

23/09/26

Clamp - last thing needed.

24/09/26

Funky clouds

25/09/26

Number 1

26/09/26

Sketchbook work - great to dedicate a solid day to drawing, working out ideas, playing with line and getting lost in the process. It’s funny how you’re shorthand can change without being noticed straight away.

27/09/26

We cannot go back.

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!

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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.