Facebook Competition

 So, I have decided to set up a competition on my Facebook page. 

People respond to the event with three things they care about, feel strongly about or enjoy. I pick the most interesting combination and use it to make some delightful artistic creation. Said creation will be gifted upon the person who submitted the winning combination. In addition, I will donate 20 Euro to Jigsaw Galway.

So far, I'm having great fun. A few compelling submissions have cropped up. As I have previously admitted, I love the attention. The challenge of incorporating 3 potentially entirely unrelated things could prove beautifully surrealistic! And as always, I am fascinated by people and their interests.

Any new entries would be very much appreciated. And if you pop along and like the Facebook page, I'll be your best friend forever!

Happy Saturday!
Emer

Exhibitions and Feedback

So I'm rather new to sharing my art with the public. I've just had 3 paintings accepted for an exhibition at the Leitrim Sculpture Centre. And I'm submitting for a few more.

The attention-seeker not-so-deep within me is loving this. My equally internally prominent
sensitive artist is a ball of nerves. But I'm addicted to it now and not about to stop any time soon.

Thankfully, I can laugh at myself. Oftentimes, I really, really need to laugh at myself. So if I'm laughed out of every gallery I walk into, I think I'll survive. I still hope that doesn't happen, though.

A lovely Twitter follower described my work as moving, so that made my day. On the other limb,  a relative has told me that some of my work looks like I drew it with my left foot. But I'm sure he meant it lovingly...

On that note, if you wish to see a combination of moving work and some left-foot pieces, please do come and follow me on Facebook.

Warmest regards and a happy Saturday to all,
Emer

A Frosted Mistake

Once upon a time, I got out a 16x12 inch canvas and all my oil painting implements and started to create. And as I progressed, I became less and less satisfied. So I decided to paint over it and start again.

Painting over it, I realised something. The covering layer pleased me. It revealed soothing glimpses of mild colour and would dry to the texture of a fancy cake. I decorated the bottom corner and couldn't bring myself to paint any more.

My feelings towards it are mixed. On one hand, I'm pleased with the final product. On the other, it feels a tad like I stopped before I was finished. On my third (and most reflective) hand, I'm deeply aware of the fact that something less pleasant lies beneath.

This work means a lot to me. It truly captures the essence of trying to forget the past and right our wrongs. Much like a cake, it is heavy and sweet.

It is my frosted mistake.



P.S. Online shop now active at http://www.emerahern.com/429298325/category/819271/online-store

Happy Paintings

As you may know, I sell as "Emer's Happy Paintings". People have asked me if this is supposed to be ironic or if I have a very disturbed idea of happiness. The answer to both of these is a decidedly firm "no".

Yes, some of my work is cheerful, but I'm told that much of it tends toward the bleak side. Sometimes this darkness is intentional. Sometimes, it's just my way of expelling stress unto a canvas.

They're "happy paintings" because painting makes me extremely happy. And because 20% of profits go to Jigsaw Galway, a youth mental health charity. So while my business name may not be particularly clever or funny, it describes what I do. I hope some of the "happy" will rub off on others along the way.

Find more on my site.

Finishing Touches

So I take my brush and paint and canvas and all my other tools and paint something charming. Occasionally, the final details are exactly what my work doesn't need.

Back when I started painting in earnest, I didn't have any idea when to say "when". Between the elaboration here and the embellishment there, many of my works ended up leaning roughly in the direction of ruin. This was especially disappointing when I had felt so close to creating something I could be proud of. And when I used acrylics and couldn't undo what I had done quite so easily as with oils.

At first, I stopped adding in my final details altogether. A lot of my art ended up with a distinctly unfinished quality. These days I try everything from sleeping on it to adding in minor touches before deciding how much finishing is needed.

I haven't quite perfected it yet, but things would be terribly boring if I had!