The Spirit of Water ©John O’Grady 2015
Oil on canvas 10″ x 10″ x 0.75″
It does not require framing and is ready to hang.
SOLD
Like many of my paintings, this piece started life by responding to initial marks made on canvas and seeing where it took me and whether a dialogue could be had.
Often, the painting seems to hang on a turning point at the despair stage!
I was flinging a fair bit of paint around to find a way back in when suddenly, rain and water emerged and merged on the canvas. I instantly felt the connection I was seeking almost like how a metaphor in poetry turns a key in the brain to see anew.
The sheets of rain and the wave were reaching out to each other in some kind of sublime, energetic interconnectedness of nature that shows the elemental force you can experience on the coast of Ireland.
I’d love to read your comments.
Love it, John…I am especially drawn to the sea foam over the rock…beautifully done, my friend!!!
Hello Terry,
Thank you for your comment. I enjoyed making this painting particularly trying to capture the energy and movement of the foam.
I really like that one John. More please 🙂
Hello Eoin,
Thanks very much. I’ll see what I can do 🙂
I love this, John!
Just what I needed today..magic!
Hello Gloria,
Thanks very much, glad to hear that it was a bit of a tonic for you
The energy in this piece is palpable, John. I can feel the rain and smell the ozone. Beautiful and powerful.
For some reason I felt compelled to look back at The Silver Thread for comparison, and I am blown away by the contrast in mood and execution.
Wow.
Hello Josephine,
I also looked back at the last few pages and noticed the seesawing every few paintings from apparent calm to explosive and I am not too sure why but it is clearly there. I think some of the more explosive pieces are sometimes a last ditch retrieval when things have crashed and burnt. Thank you for your comment.
wonderful John, I love looking at the sea and listening to the roar when it’s rough,so I can hear this painting 🙂
Hello Elles,
Thanks very much, as i recall you have a fabulous view from your allotment while you work
This one really does stir the senses John and it is not hard to imagine the sound and smell of the sea. It is exhilarating, energetic and the upward movement of the waves gives it great power. I particularly like the patch of light upon the water to the right and the distant hills as well as the tourquoise as the waves hit the rocks. Wonderful.
Thank you Christine,
Yes it is quite an energetic piece, in contrast to the previous few. I think the furious marks were possibly frustration as I thought it had drifted away from me. What replaced the original I am altogether happier with. Salutary lesson in never giving up. I was happy with the veiled forms of the hills too Christine, it gave the piece distance.
So obviously water and stormy seas .
It’s wonderful when it comes together as you describe.
Beautifully done.
Thank you Mary, the coming together part can be a rare occurrence though 🙂