Moonlight over the Sugar Loaf, ©John O’Grady, 2014
19″ x 19″ x 1.5″, oil on deep edged panel, does not require framing and is ready to hang.
SOLD
Here in southern France broom is in full bloom. I was out hiking recently around the wine growing village of Gigondas. As I climbed into the mountains, the air was filled with its perfume. The way they dot the landscape and their similar colours made me think of gorse bushes in Ireland, their distinctive coconut smell and weekend walks in the Wicklow mountains…
The following week I started work on a new painting.
For the underpainting, I laid in a very loose wash. The paint bled and dripped into rivulets that joined each other as I moved the wooden panel around, enjoying not knowing what might come out. Sometimes when I work this way, nothing is revealed to me and I have to see the painting again after a few days. On this occasion it showed itself almost immediately.
Across the middle of the painting, a swathe of dark green, yellow and violet paint reminded me of the rich dark and light shades of gorse on the land. In the upper part of the painting a vague bleed of paint not unlike the conical shape of the Sugar Loaf mountain in Wicklow appeared.
It might be argued that the choice of colours made in the underpainting prescribed the outcome of the subject matter, and I wouldn’t disagree with that but my choice of colour wasn’t premeditated. It could also be said the hike the preceding week had an impact.
I purposefully choose colours quickly as an intuitive response to what is happening on the paint surface.
What emerged as I later returned to the painting was a particular view of the Sugar Loaf with the Irish sea in the distance.
At this stage though, I couldn’t capture in my mind’s eye the shape of the mountain. Fortunately I had a photo taken from the Roundwood side that helped me describe it.
Recently completed paintings offer an aerial vista of landscape but on this occasion, there is an intimate human dimension, a more down to earth feel even though the eye is directed towards the iconic mountain noticeable from afar.
The sugar Loaf’s statuesque presence bathed in the moonlight has I feel a dream-like quality.
Please let me know what do you think.
John, this has the quality and tone (and I mean this in the best possible way) of an illustration for a fable about an enchanted place. The colors, the light, the partly obscured moon, the mysterious path disappearing into the distance all contribute to that sense of mysticism and magic. And although there is that human dimension you describe, the viewpoint also gives me the sensation of somehow floating above the landscape in a way that mere mortals cannot do.
I love your description of how you allowed this painting to reveal itself. It does feel very dream-like — very much arising from the unconscious. It has a haunting and rather ecstatic quality.
Hello Josephine, Yes I think it has all those magical qualities that you have mentioned. I really enjoyed reading your insights. The feeling of floating above the landscape opened my eyes to looking at the painting in a different way, as I saw it to be quite an earthy piece. It maybe has a similar feel to the “Fairy Rath” piece, they seem to emerge every now and then! Thank you very much.
I thought of the Fairy Rath piece immediately, too!
Great minds think alike!
Living in South of France and just back from a fortnight and among other beautiful places, Dublin area and its South Bay… enjoyed the Sugar loaf again… and what is a gift for me for my recent return, your painting and so well described beauty and description !
Thanks !
Hello Dominique,
It is such a small mountain but beautifully formed. That whole area is very special. Thank you for your kind words. Ca me plait que cela vous rappelle un peu vos vacances.
Kind regards,
John
Like ‘The Fairy Rath’ this painting could have been created with the little people in mind. It has an ‘other-worldly’ atmosphere to it which seems to be the effect of the combination of colours – such as the violet, coupled with the low viewpoint. There is such beauty in the reflections of the silvery moon on the Sugar Loaf mountain – truly magical.
Hello Chris,
Yes the colours and how they came out really pushed the painting in that ‘other-worldly’ direction, which I am happy to take. It is a magical place but I suppose most places are once we feel a strong emotional connection. Thank you for your comment Chris