Beannacht / Blessing Print

Part of my collection, 'when she dreamt in colour' inspired by the remnants of colour I found in my grandmother's derelict childhood home in North Cork, Ireland. I am interested in exploring female domestic history, the emotional response to place and the power of memory of place. I paint intuitively, abstracting landscapes, primarily in oil and cold wax. The painting process starts with an image, a memory or an emotion. I build layers of oil and cold wax. The process of adding layers and marks, then excavating, scraping and dissolving them, builds texture and depth, creating a history, echoing how land is laid down, compressed and eroded over time. Places hold memories; memories of childhood, memories from previous generations. Memory and story create power and connection to certain places. I am influenced by Irish mythology and significance of place and land. Story and place are part of the Irish oral tradition and pre-literary culture. They connect the past, present and future through emotions and memories, passed through generations.