Studio Notes
On this blog, I regularly publish new paintings straight off the easel and discuss what inspired them and how they came about.
Opt-in here if you want to find out about the latest artworks.
Take Me to the Island II #147
Take me to the Island II, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Mixed Media on Panel, 12″x 16″ SOLD This painting and I went through a whole lot of trials and tribulations. It started life as an acrylic painting of a seascape, in fact the paint above the horizon line is still acrylic....
The Rising of the Moon #146
The Rising of the Moon, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel, 8″x 12″ Not for Sale (NFS) A copse of trees, backlit by the rising moon provides a backdrop set against the rich blue sky at twilight. There is something special about the time around dusk when the world is...
The View from the Top #145
The View from the Top, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel, 8″x 8″ NOT for SALE
Perfume of the Night #144
Perfume of the Night, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel, 16″x 12″ SOLD This nocturne of the Provençal village of Clansayes shows the illuminated medieval tower built by Knights Templar. There is little light pollution and one particular cloudless summer night, I...
On the Trail II #143
On the Trail II, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Oil on Panel, 12″x 12″ SOLD This is the second painting in a series called 'On the Trail at Dawn' though larger and with a different format. The deep blue/green tree line contrasts with the white light that beckons the start of the...
Take me to the Island #142
Take me to the Island, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Oil on Panel, 6″x 6″ I used a subdued palette of muted greens and red browns to evoke calm and stillness when you look across the lake on a warm evening as the last light fades on water.
Coming Home III #141
Coming Home III, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel, 5″x 7″ This is the third in the series of aerial view paintings called Coming Home. They are also about clouds and how they sometimes appear translucent, how they catch the light in a prism of colour and...
First Light across the Lake #140
First Light Across the Lake ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Canvas with deep sided stretchers 31.5"x 31.5" x 1.5", ready to hang SOLD This painting is about the hazy light and the particular shades of blue that characterise early morning when everything is awakening...
The Dell #139
The Dell, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Mixed Media on Panel 6″x 6″ SOLD
Flight #138
The Flight, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Mixed media on Panel 8″x 12″ SOLD
Bog Fire # 137
Bog Fire, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel 6″x 6″ SOLD Bog fires are a common sight in Ireland. I created this painting to convey the drama of the scene. The grey/white smoke billows on the horizon and contrasts with the deep chocolate browns of the turf. Bog...
Morning Mist and Bog Heather #136
Morning Mist and Bog Heather, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel 6″x 6″ SOLD
The Fairy Rath #135
12″x 16″, Acrylic on Panel
Passing Clouds II, Provence #134
Passing Clouds II, Provence ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel 5″x 7″ Not For Sale (NFS) A distant treeline, the dark oak trees are solid and motionless as the white clouds of summer slowly drift by. The description of bushes and trees in the painting came about...
View from the Bridge #133
The View from the Bridge, ©John O’Grady, 2013 Acrylic on Panel 12″x 12″ Not for Sale (NFS) This is the view looking west to Connemara from the bridge at Leam just outside Oughterard, Ireland. The bridge became famous as it featured at the start of the film "The Quiet...