Kilcullen's bridge in Naas paintings exhibition
"I studied zoology in college, so I was always interested in nature and the environment, and most of my work reflects countryside rather than cities or still life," says the artist, who lived for a time in Kilcullen and is now resident in Two Mile House. "But my father took the photo of the bridge and convinced me to try it, for the 700th year."
Mary is the latest Artist in the Lobby at McAuley Place, with a fast-selling collection on view there until 6 August. The prospect of the exhibition, which opened earlier this week, gave her a deadline to produce a large body of work.
"I saw the call at the beginning of the year for artists for the slot. I asked how many paintings would I need? I was told, 'about 20', and I set myself the target of one a week."
For any creative person, that would be a very strong self-imposed challenge, but the display in McAuley Place very much shows that Mary was up for it. It's the variety that immediately strikes, all but the bridge being natural landscapes in a wide range of moods, styles, and spaces. The titles reveal travels around Ireland, and sometimes further. Lough Derg, Brittas, Curracloe, Ballynahinch, Killinthomas Wood, Roundstone. The 'Oriental Poppies' came following a visit to a Victorian garden in Cornwall.
"They're mostly a result of my gallivanting around," she says with a grin. "I take photographs when I'm travelling, and then an idea will form in my head and I'll work on something from the photos."
It doesn't always succeed first time. "I'm in the ICA in Two Mile House and we went to Killinthomas to see the bluebells. I came back and started a painting, but it was a disaster because I was trying to detail every single bluebell. Then I decided to go impressionist, with waves of colour, and that worked out."
Mary has been painting for some 20 years, but only in the time she could get free while working and raising her children. "Then about two and a half years ago I retired from work and decided to get into it seriously. I did some courses, in Newbridge, and in Brannockstown with Paul Flynn."
She likes 'moods' in her work, tries to get the feeling that was there when she was at the location. "Like it was on the grey beach before we went for swim on a cold day …" She likes variety too — "I don't like painting the same subject twice" — which is part of the reason for the proliferation of styles and colours in the exhibition.
If one or two look familiar, Mary had some of the works in the recent Kilcullen 700 Art Exhibition. If you happen to be in Naas over the next week or so, call by McAuley Place and see all 21 paintings. Well worth the diversion.
Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy
