On Unintentional Masterpieces

Dear readers, I doodle and draw and scribble everywhere. I do it mindfully and mindlessly. I do it in company and alone. Sometimes, I end up with something rather nice. In many ways, this is a serendipitous delight.

However, it does come with its problems. Above you will see a doodle from a train journey and a work surface respectively. The difficulties arise in that I feel a strange sense of bitterness that some of the pieces I work so hard at lack the lustre that my unintended masterpieces so effortlessly sport.

It's also hard to sell something or submit it to a gallery if the back of it contains my bank details...

A possible solution would be to doodle only on canvas or to use blank canvas as a work surface. Doodling on canvas on public transport might even attract attention. I do enjoy attention.

I shall report back...


www.emerahern.com

The Painted Sentence

Dear readers, I have embarked upon an exciting new project! Over in the wildest recesses of Instagram, another artist gives me a sentence, and I turn in into a masterpiece (or a doodle, at least).

It's challenging, strange and an awful lot of fun. They're going on sale soon and 20% will go to Jigsaw as always. (€148 donated by Emer's Happy Paintings so far.)

We would both really appreciate any new followers. The Painted Sentence, our doggy and I thank you in advance!

So Many Ideas

When I sit into my little old car in the morning and trek half way across the lovely island of Ireland to my workplace, I think. There's so much to see between Galway and the midlands that it all blends a bit. There are roads, fields, industrial estates, farms, people, animals and my thoughts. Melding many of the above into a painting proves a rewarding and ever-changing exercise.

I scrap the ideas that don't compel me or those that won't say what I want them to. I run with all the rest. I'm left with patterns, concepts and pictures - more thoughts and ideas than I could ever hope to put on paper or canvas.

And then I paint. As previously discussed on this blog, the art often takes on a life of its own. And this leads to more ideas and plans. And I'll never paint them all. But I'll keep going, and everyone around me in real life and Internet life will hear or read all about it!

With peace, love and many thanks for listening,
Emer

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.