Donegal, Uncategorized, Workshops

A Postcard from Donegal August 2019

During this summer’s Donegal Sketching Holiday I gave each participant a sheet of a postcard-sized watercolour  pad.  The image they painted or drew had to reflect the pretty village of Kilcar where we were sketching at the time and, of course, they didn’t disappoint…..

But let’s go back to the first morning in Rosbeg. We started off making marks as we walked – a great way of sharpening the observational skills and becoming familiar with your surroundings

Placing yourself in front of a panoramic view can be daunting as to where to start so I handed each person a  piece of drawing paper, 45cms square, which I had folded and pressed together to form a “pad” approx 15 cms sq. The first drawing/painting within this square was to be of the middle-distance. They were then to fold out the side “wings” and draw/paint whatever was on either side of their original square – ditto for the top and bottom “wings” (are you still with me?). This was aimed to sharpen spatial awareness and also to explore compositional aspects of the scene. 

If I were to say the weather was perfect, I would be lying, there were a lot of showers but it was warm enough and the clouds were dramatic and painterly ( we Irish know how to spin a weather story!). However, by the time we got to Maghera on Monday afternoon the rain had set in so sketching time and the outlook were limited. Rossy still managed to get down some quick watercolour marks of the “Granny” (Pass) before it disappeared!Rossy5

These were a couple I did the week before when I was out scouting for locations – maybe next year we’ll make it ……

Never to be defeated by rain or wind, we stopped, on the way home, at Killybegs Harbour and sketched from the shelter of our cars

Tuesday morning was ceramics time and the potter, Alan Snape, had another brilliant project planned and what could be more fitting for Donegal….

..than a flock of sheep?

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We spent Tuesday afternoon at Kilcar. I’ve already shown the postcards so here are some of the rest

One of my favourite places in Donegal is the beautiful, deserted village of An Port. The first time I visited here (around 30 years ago) it seemed like the end of the world – empty – wild – elemental. This year we arrived down to find half a dozen cars, 3 camper vans and two coaches full of Spanish walkers! I suppose it was only a matter of time before the rest of the world caught on to the magic of Donegal and in particular these hidden gems. The Wild Atlantic Way has helped put the Atlantic coast on the tourist map and it is certainly good for the local economy. The Spanish walkers eventually made their way across the mountain path towards Glencolumbcille where the coaches would be waiting for them, leaving us to our sketching…..

Rossy McConaghy watercolour; acrylics

Roberta Lindsay watercolour pens; mixed media

Patricia Wilson watercolour; oil pastels

Pamela Greene watercolour; pastels

Oonagh Catchpole watercolour; pastels; watercolour pens

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Margaret Finlay pastels

Helen Mckelvey watercolour

Geraldine Snape frottage; assemblage

Rosie McClelland oil pastel; oil pastel on acrylic monoprint

Another fun-filled and productive workshop comes to an end. My thanks to everyone who took part, to the potter, Alan Snape and my helper, sister and fellow artist Gerry Snape. Thank you Donegal for your hospitality especially Ethna from Inishduff B & B who, quite frankly, spoils her guests, the Tara Hotel, Killybegs and the Rusty Mackerel, Teelin where we had fabulous meals.

Until next year……….

 

Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Sketching, Workshops

Donegal Sketching Holiday 2018

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An Port Ghost Village

An Port is a favourite destination of mine and we visited it this year on the second day of our workshop. Port has a very special atmosphere. It is said that the whole village was abandoned at the time of the famine in the middle of the 19c leaving the houses to fall into ruin. It must have been a very hard existence – what appears picturesque to those visitors who make their way down and leave again, the reality was in fact a harsh existence.

On the first morning we spent an hour on Fintra Beach before moving on to St John’s Point. At Fintra our first exercise was to walk and make marks as we go, seaweed, stones, footmarks, pawmarks, feathers, waves – anything that took our eye. These sketches ended up as scribbles in most cases but served the purpose of honing hand-eye coordination.

St John’s Point

Ceramic Workshop

On the final morning we had a ceramic tutorial from the potter Alan Snape. At the start of the holiday he had asked everyone to think of five or six motives for a mini frieze. Always daunting at first the final results were awesome to the delight and surprise of all the novice ceramicists!

Muckross Head

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Our final destination was at the stunning Muckross Head with wind and waves and foam – an inspiration for any artist of paint or words.

Thank you to all who took part – to the tutors, the companions, the helpers. Thank you for all your work – sketches , paintings, poems and most of all – thank you for the craic!

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Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Workshops

Donegal Sketching Holiday 2017

The weather gods were kind this year although if I were one to bite my nails they would be down to the quick! For painters it was perfect – windy, cloudy and sunny all in one Donegal day. Motifs are always plentiful, satisfying every taste whether landscape, water, fishing ropes, scudding clouds, busy, colourful, towns or sweeping mountain passes.

 

Below is a slideshow of some of the work produced

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                                          This year we had a guest tutor, the ceramic artist Alan Snape, who gave a masterclass in modelling in clay. Results were stunning as you can see…

All over for another year. My thanks to Alan Snape, the Potter, for his excellent tuition, to Gerry (Mrs Potter and my big sis) for her help making thousands of sandwiches and gallons of coffee and tea and of course to all those who took part for your work, the laughs, the wine and the company!

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Artist Bio, Exhibitions, Uncategorized

Faultlines and Fractures

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Through the media of paint, glass and photography Rosie McClelland and Pamela Greene each explore the complex issue of identity. Recognising that identity has may facets and is subject to reinvention, their work explores the relationships we form with certain people, landscapes or objects and why these draw us close on emotional, spiritual or physical levels that we do not always understand. Drawn to the imperfections in the human condition and in nature, McClelland’s and Greene’s work recognises that it is in connecting with these fault lines that we find our DNA

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‘Little Blue’ oil on linen 50 x 40cm Rosie McClelland

The condition of self is transitory, never fixed. Our position within society, family and workplace can change radically throughout our lives. It is with this in mind that I approach my work which is first and foremost intimate and reflective, a personal response to my subject matter.

My chosen method of working is figurative, weaving underlying abstract forms into reality and, in the process, hopefully creating a sense of presence – a vibration. The study of the human body, an ongoing fascination throughout my life, returns time and again as does the art of still life which is about much more than the objects it portrays and more often than not represents human relationships. Another repeating motif is the tethered boat, so long a symbol of the spiritual, at times swaying on choppy seas, times on still waters portraying a reflection of the self.

Woven into this process is the acceptance of faults, fractures and imperfections as it is only through a holistic view of reality that the truth and the real self are revealed.                   Rosie McClelland

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Iceland Series ‘Frozen Sea’ dia 30cm depth 18cm Pamela Greene

Through the media of kiln-formed glass, photography and poetry I explore my primary interest, identity.   I am particularly drawn to the identity of landscape and why many of us make emotional or spiritual or physical connection with wild and inhospitable places whose beauty is often savage and transient.

My current work focuses on the landscapes of Iceland and Ireland, sustained sources of inspiration.   For my ‘Iceland’ series I chose to work with glass for its versatility: its ability – like ice – to transmit and reflect light, its reaction to fire, and, like the landscape of Iceland, its strength and vulnerability.  These properties make it the perfect medium to try to reflect the spirit of a landscape whose identity is shaped by ice and fire.

My glasswork is supported by photographs of Donegal, a landscape similar to that of Iceland.  In these I have sought to capture the essence of a fractured and fragmented landscape where it sometimes seems that the identity and history of our ancestors can be read in the faces and fault lines of the rock formations.

Working with glass and photography has enabled me to explore how landscape, actual and remembered, shapes our sense of who we are and where we come from.                            Pamela Greene

 

 

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Charcoal on watercolour paper Rosie McClelland

 On Saturday 12 Nov 2016 10am – 4pm, I shall be tutoring a life drawing workshop in the Island Arts Centre, Lisburn. Please contact the Island for details

 


 

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Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Sketching, Uncategorized

Donegal Sketching August 2016

Another long overdue blog!20160808_115644_resized

Monday August 8  – The deserted fishing village of Port was our first venue. A windswept but sunny day creating a continually changing light show….

       Tuesday August 9     Assaranca Waterfall and Ardara Town

 

Wednesday August 10 – A wet day so drawing exercises inside the cottage using Donegal’s wild flowers20160825_161811_resized

‘Losing control’- Sketching with charcoal taped onto the end of a paintbrush                   (left to right Margaret F, Kay McC, Karen W, Gavin H)

‘Large and Small Scale’ – drawing with a paintbrush and black ink on scrolled paper, pen and ink on small scale card. (left Kay McC, right Pamela G)

Subtraction drawings with charcoal and putty rubber.(left Pamela G, right Gavin H)

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Brambles (Margaret)

Thank you to all who took part!

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Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Workshops

Sketching in Donegal August 2015

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The summer already seems like a lifetime ago but before the Autumn draws in completely here is a little reminder of the August sketching holiday in Donegal.

I don’t think I could get away with saying the weather was brilliant (the photos of raincoats and warm jackets are a testament to that) but we certainly weren’t washed out and Donegal is beautiful and inspirational no matter what.

Our locations this year were Killybegs Harbour, Fintra Beach, Port, Muckross and an “invigorating” sea outing with Sliabh Liag Boat Trips.

Donegal, On Location, Workshops

Donegal Sketching Holidays 2015

It might be snowing outside but it’s time to think about summer sketching in beautiful Donegal

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Location:    Largy in SW Donegal lying between Ireland’s largest fishing town of Killybegs and the beautiful village of Kilcar in the heart of Donegal’s Gaeltacht
Dates:           Sunday July 5 – Wednesday July 8
Sunday August 9 – Wednesday August 12
Tuition Fee: £195 (£50 deposit with booking-form and balance to be paid 4 weeks before beginning  (Euros 260, deposit Euro 80)

The weekend starts with light refreshments on the Sunday evening, continuing with painting on location on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am – 5pm with a break for lunch from 1–2pm (sandwich lunch included in price)
The course is suitable for all levels

There is excellent accommodation in the area at reasonable prices
Contact me for further info and a booking-form

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Donegal

Silver Strand

On the south west corner of Donegal lies a cove with pink sand and humbug rocks.

Yes I know, the name suggests silver sand but the day I went it was definitely pink!

On sunny, summer days tourists, hikers and locals climb down the steep steps to sunbathe and swim in the clear water. But even on a dull day, if your ageing knees will allow it, it’s well worth the effort to descend those steps and walk along the strand surrounded by a somewhat claustrophobic, horseshoe of majestic cliffs.

What fascinates me down here are the unusual humbug-like metamorphic rock formations. Last winter, with the storms and tidal surges, earth from the cliffs was washed away to reveal evidence of a 7000 yr old petrified forest. I was positively beside myself to find this! I just hope the good people of Donegal find some way of protecting this – the temptation to take a sample home is so great I practically had to tie my hands behind my back!

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Demonstration, drawing, Painting Techniques, Paintings

From Dark to Light

International Artist article

Earlier this year I was flattered to be asked to produce a demonstration article based on my pastel work for the magazine “International Artist” or “ia”.

I am delighted to be included in the October/November issue and-  get me – on the front page!

The magazine is full of great articles from artists across the world with demonstrations of techniques and peeks into their studios.

https://www.internationalartist.com/

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On Location, Uncategorized, Workshops

Sketching in Donegal August 2014

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Just a few images from this year’s sketching workshop in Donegal.

Eight painters took part over 4 days starting on the Sunday evening with a meal and a chance for everyone to get to know each other followed by a short talk on what to expect over the coming days.

The weather when I travelled down from Belfast on the Saturday was horrific. The rain was coming down in stair rods and Sunday wasn’t much better! Just as I was expecting to put plan B into operation, on Monday morning the sun came out and we were off to our first location, Maghera waterfall (above) and later across the dunes and down to the beach and caves (below)

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Making marks to convey the movement of the water and texture of the vegetation.

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Moving into colour and making colour notes

On Tuesday we travelled down to the very tip of St John’s Point for a panoramic view of the Sligo mountains across to Sliabh Liag.

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Tonal sketch capturing depth and atmospheric perspective

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Negative drawing of  ragwort

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Not a bad place to have a picnic!

The plan for the final day was to sketch around the Church graveyard and megalithic Ogham stone in Glencolumbcille, beautifully nestling in a valley surrounded by rolling hills. As we settled in to sketch and, in some cases, take rubbings from the ancient stones, the rain set in.

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Now, in my experience, rain in the hills doesn’t always mean rain elsewhere in Donegal so we set off for a favourite spot of mine- a peaceful little harbour on the coastal road between Kilcar and Carraig with a spot of retail therapy on the way at Glencolumbcille Woollen Mill and Kilcar’s Design Weaving Studio. Sure enough we managed to escape the rain here and spent a peaceful afternoon with nothing but the sound of lapping water and seagulls crying.

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Thank you to all who took part on the course you were amazing –

Brid, Margaret, Kay, Pamela, Karen, Sue, Mandy, Bernie.

Thank you Gerry (big sis) for all your help.

Thank you to Ethna at Inishduff House  who, as always, provided excellent hospitality and accommodation

Thank you for the good company and delicious food at Kitty Kelly’s

The images above are just a small example of the work produced and my apologies to those who had to leave early and whose work has not appeared here – I stupidly forgot to take photos before you left.

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Da dah!!

Donegal, drawing, Drawings, Holiday, On Location, Workshops

Sketching in Donegal in the Sun (part 2)

Another few images from July’s sketching workshop.

MUCKROSS

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Just before I took this photo (below) at Muckross beach, we watched, astounded and thrilled, as a school (pod?) of dolphins leapt above the waves in the direction of Muckross Head. Unfortunately I didn’t have a good enough lens with me to capture it but we found them again later as we headed round to Muckross Head tumbling and playing in the bay and I believe they may still be there.

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I love the close tonal values of this image

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IMG_6948Watercolour sketch Harry Foy

IMG_6955Charcoal sketches Kay Cullen

IMG_6927Pencil sketch Aileen Hull

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Water flows down from the mountains cutting a path through the sand and when the tide is out it creates a universal pattern as it weakens to a trickle.  It looks like a delta, roots of a tree, tresses – how often nature repeats itself!

KILBEG HARBOUR

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The perspective of boats can be difficult to capture so I suggested some “blind” drawing i.e. not looking at the paper when you’re drawing. This can be challenging as there is an automatic reflex to look down at your sketch book. However, as is seen in the sketches below,  the results are worth it – strong flowing lines, spatial awareness and perspective “seen” without realising it!

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Kay sat for ages studying the movement of the water for this sketch and I really think she captured it.

IMG_6960Pencil sketch Kay Cullen

IMG_6957Watercolour sketch Harry Foy

Of course there were lots of interesting subjects to draw other than boats….

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Pencil sketch Anne Marie

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Looking forward now to August’s workshop. I am under no illusion that the weather will be as stunningly warm and sunny but Donegal offers so much more than good weather!

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Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Workshops

Sketching in Donegal in the sun

Dolphins leaping, long, white sands, rusty rivers, waterfalls, salmon, guiness, sunbathers – hang on a minute – SUNBATHERS! Yes, that’s right, Donegal was hotter than the Costas last week and 10 times more beautiful! It isn’t often that I don’t have to pray, cross fingers and toes and do a fair amount of cosmic ordering for good weather on my Donegal sketching breaks but this time it was a piece of cake.

Seven painters (and one spouse) met up at my place on Sunday evening for three days of sketching on location. I like to choose some of my favourite spots where there is plenty of subject matter to suit all tastes.

Below are a few images from our day at the Glen river

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Before they started I asked them to do some quick line drawings showing the flow and direction of the water’s movement and to be aware of how dark the river and river bank actually is despite the bright sunshine.

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Pastel sketch – Harry Foy

IMG_6929Pencil and watercolour – Aileen Hull

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Charcoal sketch – Kay Cullen

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Black pen – Lillian Weatherup

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Pastels – Lillian Weatherup

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Black pen

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Soft pastels – Georgie Lilley

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Black pen Joan Hull

At the end of the day we took a trip up to Sliabh Liag to the highest sea cliffs in Europe

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and what do you think we found there?

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Nothing like a delicious cool ice-cream after a hard day’s sketching in the sun!

Another blog will follow with more of the week’s sketches

Donegal, On Location, Workshops

DONEGAL SKETCHING BREAKS

Muckross HeadMuckross Head

DATES:                        Sun July 7 – Wed July 10

                                   Sun Aug 4 – Wed Aug 7

TUITION FEE:           £175/Euro 210 (includes light meal Sunday eve and 3 x sandwich lunches)

LOCATION:                Largy in south west Donegal lying between Ireland’s largest fishing port and the beautiful village of Kilcar in Donegal’s Gaeltacht

Breaker Muckross

Breaking Wave at Muckross Head

The weekend starts with a light meal and a demo on the Sunday evening at 7pm, sketching on location Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 5pm with a lunch-break from 1 – 2pm

The course is suitable for all levels

There is excellent accommodation in the area at reasonable prices and there is plenty to do for non-painting partners

Early booking is advisable!

Contact Rosie for further information

Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Uncategorized

Sketching Holiday in Donegal

Arriving down at the cottage in Donegal on Saturday, I feared the worst weatherwise. With statistics echoing through my ears of the wettest June on record I looked out the front window of the living -room and couldn’t see the mountain for mist. The window to the back (the house is one room wide!) usually shows a panoramic view of Donegal Bay and the Sligo mountains beyond – nothing- I couldn’t even see the bottom of what I laughingly call my garden! Now I always have a Plan B for wet days but the whole idea of sketching holidays is to experience first hand the colours, smells, sounds and feeling of space that our photos don’t or can’t portray. However, Donegal didn’t disappoint and on the first day the clouds parted and the sun shone. In fact, two out of three days were sublime showing this part of the world to be the little bit of heaven that it is! In the evenings we spent our time wining and dining in Kitty Kelly’s restaurant at Largy and The Clock Tower at Fintra. I shall be running a further sketching holiday in August and there are 2 or 3 places still available. Below are images of some of the locations and a few of my sketches which I managed to do in between tutoring and a finished pastel based on sketches from the boats in the harbour at Kilbeg Pier

Hopefully a blog will follow with images of work from the sketching holidays’ participants

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Pale light at a beach at Muckross showing the Sligo mountains beyond

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The waterfall and salmon leap at Teelin

Of course without the rain the rivers wouldn’t be so amazing and the fishermen would be very sad!

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Kilbeg pier at Teelin Bay looking across to Slieve League

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Oil pastels

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Oil pastels

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Oil pastel sketch

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All sketches Rosie McClelland