On my journey as a watercolour and gouache painter, I primarily rely on photography to capture subjects, often focusing on landscapes. From these photographs I develop a series of watercolour and gouache paintings on Arches and other high-quality papers. Currently I am primarily exploring the versatility of watercolour.
My work encompasses various themes with a strong emphasis rural imagery inspired by my travels across Ireland in recent years. While using literal photograph as starting points, my landscapes often evolve into abstract compositions. My paintings frequently transition from the realism of the photo to an imaginative interpretation on paper.
In this process, the interplay of watercolour and gouache creates dynamic hues that seem to take on a life of their own. Beyond the blending colours, I aim to evoke atmosphere and emotion in each piece.
Over the past year, I’ve leaned toward incorporating more realism in my watercolour work experimenting with a broader palette as reflected in the image below.
Still learning what is possible with the medium 🙂
Dublin, January 2025