Project Description

The below are a collection of portraits Ive made over the last few years. They are made for the sake of making and mostly have not been exhibited anywhere.

 

A series of drawings I made of myself and my kids in 2022 using pencil and acrylics on canvas and on brown paper

A portrait commission from 2022- acrylics on 16 x 16” canvas

A series of drawings I made of myself for a few weeks in 2022- I took a selfie on my phone then gave myself 20 mins to draw it

A portrait project I did in 2018/19 with the Sisters of The Poor Clares Monastery, Ennis. This was interesting as when I went to exhibit the work the staff of the OPW run Ennis Friary refused to facilitate the exhibition and hung sheets over the portraits. The OPW had framed the work beautifully and had even made me a lectern to presumably talk about the exhibition from. They were forced to take the sheets off by OPW higher up staff but refused to speak to any visitors about the work, and if questioned, handed over small pieces of paper with a typed address the visitors could contact with any questions. When I came to take the work down with OPW staff from the workshop who had framed it for me, we found the beautiful lectern out the back, outside, where the staff had left it. I hadn’t even known it had been made until then. Interesting!

 

Sister Bernadette. Founding Member.

Sister Gertrude- first drawing is a quick sketch. Sister Gertrude was in a lot of pain at this time.  We had to cut the session short so she could get to the dentist. The two middle drawings were made in a separate session and Sister Gertrude was more relaxed. I feel like this is a more authentic portrayal of her as she appears happier in the drawing. Last drawing is a detail of a sketch of her hands.

Sister Leo. Drawing one- Not successful for a number of reasons- bad paper, drawing too small, first portrait attempt for a while. Sitter was perfectly lovely though. Drawings 3 and 4 are from our second sitting.

Sister Regina. We had an amazing chat while I drew her- as can be seen in the drawing

Sister Mary. Sister Mary and I talked throughout her sitting so I drew her talking.

The exhibited works in The Friary, with sheets hung over, and the slip of paper visitors were given..

 

Below are a selection from a series of drawn portraits of the patients in St Josephs Hospital, Ennis, made in 2018. I would visit once or twice a week and sit with the patients in the common room or in their ward and draw them. All drawing were made with patients and families consent. A lot of these are now on permanent display in St Josephs Hospital and I don’t have better photographs than the ones below.