Wendy Ervin Fine Art
  • Home
  • New! Latest Paintings
  • About
  • Paintings
    • Landscapes and Seascapes >
      • MONTANA
      • TUSCANY
      • SCOTLAND
    • Cityscape and Figurative
    • Flora and Fauna
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Blog

Painting in Eire

10/22/2018

 
Ireland is SO beautiful!! (That might be the understatement of the year.) We toured the southwest region on our late summer trip and explored such areas as the Dingle Peninsula, part of the Ring of Kerry, Killarny, Kinsale and Old Head, and many more delightful places. It actually didn't rain so very much but was still a little brisk for my "fair weather painting preference."  Only once was the timing and weather just right to set up and paint plein air. More about that later. The other two paintings were done in our lodging room with photo reference taken a day or two earlier. 
Picture
St Finbarr's Oratory 8x10 oil on panel (from photo reference)


​Off the beaten path...as in 'out in the middle of nowhere'...sits this beautiful little church, on it's own little island in Gougane Barra Lake. St Finbarr's Oratory, founded in the 6th century, is surrounded by incredible natural beauty and a deep sense of holiness, enhanced by the Holy Well nearby and the circular Stations of the Cross with small recesses called chapels. 

I was so torn, wanting to set up my paints and wanting to walk and explore the area. The wind and some spitting raindrops convinced me that the best choice was to go in and have some hot coffee and fresh pastry in the little tea shop down the road. Good thing, too, because there was a brief, but torrential, downpour!



Picture
Meeting of the Waters 8x10 oil on panel (from photo reference)
Sometimes ambitious day walks pay off in big ways! We took a very long walk just outside of Killarny, visiting the abbey ruins, edging Lough Leane and Muckross Lake, crossing Brickeen Bridge through native forest. Most people do this on bicycle or take a boat from Killarny. I confess, there were moments of envy when someone casually pedaled past, especially after mile 3. We stopped for a well-earned lunch at Dinis Cottage (yay!) and then discovered a tiny trail leading through some thick woods with a little sign saying "meeting of the waters"...where the Upper Lake flows into Muckross Lake. Oh my! It was so lovely!! ​
PictureOutgoing Irish Tide (Barrow Bay) 8x10 oil on panel (plein air)
Finally there came a day when all the stars aligned... as in the sun shining, handy transportation, supportive travel mates, and an amazing locale. It is really true that painting from life, plein air, brings it's own magic. I stood on the rocky, muddy shore as the tide went out, felt the heat of the sun, the breeze off the water; heard the squidgy pops of whatever lives under the mud and entered that zone where time passes without notice. When the painting said 'enough' and I returned to earth my canvas shoes were soaked and I was so happy.

There is a passel of photos in my painting queue from our trip to Ireland. Five are already started so stay tuned. I'll post the finished products in the next few weeks.

​Thank you so much for reading!!
Robin
10/23/2018 01:37:27 pm

Cant wait to see!!

Wendy
11/2/2018 09:05:25 am

Almost finished! I just got back from another workshop and now I want to apply what I've learned. Never stop learning!

Gay Weidkamp
10/24/2018 09:12:33 am

These are beautiful. They make me want to visit Ireland with my camera. Looking forward to seeing the next paintings.

Wendy
11/2/2018 09:20:13 am

You would take amazing photos in Ireland! Go!

Lynne Hunnex
10/25/2018 10:34:07 am

Loved the paintings. I felt like I wanted to step into that little church. It looked so peaceful and spirit filled.

Wendy
11/2/2018 09:22:02 am

It was such a sweet place! We had our guide/driver to ourselves and he took us to see so many off-the-beaten-path sites that day. Great memories!


Comments are closed.

    Hello! My name is Wendy and I am passionate about oil painting! Whether in the studio or out in Mother Nature, I get lost in the experience of capturing on canvas the moment and the feel of what I am painting. I pour my love and energy into every single piece of artwork and I hope it shows! This blog is a place where I can use words to talk about art, painting, life, faith, things that make me laugh, and things that inspire. I love every response, so don't be shy about leaving a comment...

    Archives

    April 2025
    January 2025
    October 2024
    August 2024
    June 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    April 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Artist Workshops

copyright © 2013
  • Home
  • New! Latest Paintings
  • About
  • Paintings
    • Landscapes and Seascapes >
      • MONTANA
      • TUSCANY
      • SCOTLAND
    • Cityscape and Figurative
    • Flora and Fauna
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Blog