Last week was the annual Dublin Plein Air Festival and what a week it was. Our first day was in Newbridge House, in Donabate I won first Prize at Newbridge House, Donabate Our next day was Balbriggan Harbour and Beach. Balbriggan Harbour Balbriggan Harbour Then it was the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. Botanic Gardens Malahide Castle where I found a lovely old door to paint. [...]
With the lovely fine weather I managed to get out to paint a few days at the beginning of the month. plein air painting at The Ovens, Skerries beach One of my favourite spots in Skerries is called the Ovens as it is always very sheltered. It is behind Skerries Sailing Club and there is plenty of inspiration for a painting whatever direction you look. [...]
Fabulous weather this month. We have been so lucky to get out for short walks during the shutdown. Harbour Sunset https://www.facebook.com/karenwilsonartist/videos/224086188685716/ South Beach - Skerries https://www.facebook.com/karenwilsonartist/videos/678756469554616/
This month's blogs are all reflecting the terrible situation we are all in. https://youtu.be/BSY3F_faJiA With the news of our lastest restriction of 2km limit, we realise most people don't live in such a beautiful town as Skerries. On our daily walk, we have this fabulous beach to clear our heads and keep us sane and we appreciate how lucky we are every day.
"Behind The Lifeboat Station" was originally painted en Plein Air during the Plein Air Festival in 2019 on a 25 x 30 cm canvas. My client was looking for something a bit bigger and decided to commission the scene on a 120 x 100 cm canvas. I am always anxious when delivering a commission. Thankfully my anxiety was not necessary as she was delighted with [...]
“Loughshinny Beach” 8” x 6” is from a photo I took in the New Year of Mark walking Molly and @hey_zeus_hey The winter light on the sand was amazing. Can’t wait to get back to Plein air when the weather improves.
My workshop demos usually end up in a pile at the back of the studio. Decided to do a bit of work on this one from my last seascapes in oils workshop last month. Really enjoyed messing about with it and not worrying about the outcome.
Demo Painting from our last Peony Workshop. Delighted that the first two new dates for workshops are not fully booked. A few still available in the Peonies Workshop on Saturday 29th February and the Landscape Workshop on 21st March. If you would like to join me for a great day out go to the booking page on my website where there is lots of information [...]
We just never know what is going to happen next, thank goodness!! I was working away at paintings for Art Source, running art classes and had just finalised booking a videographer for my last palette knife workshop of 2019. Then disaster struck.....just a little trip and everything was up in the air....literally. Unfortunately, I have the added complication of a femur and knee joint prosthesis [...]
I have a few complimentary tickets for this year's Art Source in the RDS running from 15th to 17th November. If you would like to attend please send me a message with your name and address in the contact form and I will get them out to you. Looking forward to seeing you at the Fair.
I am laid up with a sore knee so painting from home. Looking around the kitchen I spotted these garlic and thought I would give them a go. Love painting small. "Garlic" is available HERE if you would like to purchase it.
Easter Monday was an early start (well early for me!!) All set up to paint by 9 am on the beach in Loughshinny. The tide had just turned and was coming in. The mist on Lambay Island on the horizon slowly lifted. Beautiful morning light. Lovely to to see the horses out for their morning exercise. Heaven!
Rockabill Lighthouse Today's painting is of Rockabill Lighthouse off Skerries, title "The Rock And The Bill" 6" x 6" oil on panel. Rockabill is a group of two islands "The Rock" and "The Bill" situated about 6 kilometres off Skerries south beach, County Dublin. The two granite islands are separated by a channel about 20 metres wide. On "The Rock" there is the lighthouse with [...]
I did a time-lapse of the painting of a photo I took while out walking Molly our dog on South Strand. The wind was very strong and it was blowing up the sea nearly blurring out Rockabill Lighthouse in the distance. It took me half the time to get back from the head than it was walking to it, and sure was an invigorating [...]
I took this photo on a night out before Christmas with my sisters. Skerries Harbour at night looking very festive and inviting. We are so lucky to have such a fabulous choice of watering holes! This is day two of my "painting a day" challenge "Night Out, Skerries Harbour" oil on board, available to purchase HERE
I love a big canvas. So this 120x100cm canvas was perfect for a painting I had planned all summer. The image I was working from was a photo I took one evening after a lovely dinner in Stoops, our favourite watering hole on Skerries Harbour. Skerries harbour is always spectacular at sunset, but that evening it was extra special. "Sunset, Skerries Harbour" [...]
PLEIN AIR HOLIDAY IN HOLLAND Deep in concentration on the beautiful sandy beach of Katwijk ann Zee Last year I took a Masterclass in Holland with Dutch Painter Roos Schuring. The plan was to study and paint rain clouds and stormy skies, but as you can see there wasn't a cloud in the sky. But no one was complaining! Four days of fabulous [...]
Three weeks on holiday in Lanzarote is a long time to be away from painting, I start getting withdrawal symptoms. So I have to fit a bit of painting or sketching in during the day at some time. Usually first thing in the morning, before the pool, or late in the evening when it is cooler. This is a painting I have wanted to do [...]
Gallery is closed today as Skerries Mills is shut due to a power cut. Business as usual tomorrow. (hopefully 🌦️🍃💨). Painted this a few weeks back on one of those fabulous summer days we had. "Skerries Harbour" 12" X 10" oil. Drove past the harbour this morning and it looks amazing in this stormy weather. It never ceases to inspire me. More details about this [...]
Painting today on Loughshinny Beach with the newly formed Boathouse Plein Air Group. Fabulous location for our first paint out. Very cold and windy but that didn't stop us. A lovely bowl of chowder in the Harbour Bar in Rush warmed us up quickly. Our next paint out is Skerries Harbour, 4th April (weather permitting) See more available paintings here. Monthly blog updates [...]
This is me and my BF, Michelle at the Dublin Plein Air Festival 2017, enjoying a paint out at Howth Harbour. In deep concentraton, getting the paint on the canvas! A fabulous experience for amateur and professional artists. This year the Dublin Plein Air Festival is on 18th – 24th June 2018... registration HERE. Give it a go, you won't regret it.
Last September I went to Holland for a masterclass in Plein Air painting and I promised myself when I got home, I would continue painting en plein air. But life takes over and between teaching and exhibitions I had to put it on the back burner......until now..... I have finished courses early this year to be able to paint for the month of May all [...]
