northern ireland

RDH: April 2025

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01/04/25

02/04/25

“Trauma = fragmented memories / flashbacks.”

05/04/25

‘A Brush with… Celia Paul.’

Rembrandt’s eye’s defy death!

Sketchbook work early in the day. Paint out - let’s go!

“Art is how you give form to your deepest instincts.”

Celia Paul

A really solid start to “Uniform Hate”. Basic background colours and tones down.

“Self-Portrait between clouds” - using shape inherited from previous composition underneath as elements of the background. Perhaps a little more tonal subtlety - too contrasty at the present time.

Overall, a good day in the studio.

08/04/25

the week off was great, bar some setbacks.

… a little overwhelmed… just need to breathe, take a step back and be thorough in the work at hand. Only mentioning as a little vent was needed as well as reasserting that it’s ok not to get own work done every once in a while. Frustrating, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. It’ll be ok.

Stuart Calvin at the Golden Thread - Stay a while - Great! The work sits in that strange space between fragility and hope. The draped, almost human form reminds me of the cloaked figure in Ferdinand Hodler’s ‘Night’ - grief / fear made solid. Here, there’s the possibility of (neon) light creeping in Definitely one to stay a while with!

12/24/25

Fire on the Glenshane

13/04/25

Studio with Imogen and then onto own work. Building up self-portrait study. Back and forth and back again…

…well, that didn’t go as planned! Back to the drawing board.

16/04/25

An awful morning.

Presentation of commission - nice words and thoughtful comments.

17/04/25

“Decoys and Ghosts” in the Golden Thread by John Rainey. Vibrant, playful and quietly unsettling body of work. Fantastical morphings of classical figures and animal forms reimagined with vivid colour and bolt, unexpected shifts in anatomy. Sculptures feel like artefacts from another planet - cheeky, strange and incredibly precise. The traditional bust is unpicked and reshaped into something wholly new.

See H’s book for feedback / homework. Not for these pages!

19/04/25

I know with the utmost certainty that this will not be an easy or quick fix.

21/04/25

Studio time.

Brought little self-portrait back from the brink of the abyss. I think working from the sketch which was done at the time in the early pandemic (where head was shaved at home!) is throwing off what is in my own mind / self-image. Perhaps that should be the advantage? Beard too generous.

Imogen’s D entry - 21/04/25

23/04/25

Aisling O’Beirn “We Lose Sight of the Night” in the MAC. Strangely calming and thoughtful exploration of climate and environmental change through the lens of science and art. A beautifully reflective collection of installation work rooted in celestial mapping and light pollution.

Open call applied for! Had hoped for some sketechbook time but that wasn’t to be tonight.

25/04/25

27/04/25

The Week in Art

Sketchbook work and admin work. Another sketchbook done - another began.

Move away slightly from direct narrative compositions? Semi-historical? Whose history?

RDH: March 2025

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02/03/25

…it’s finished! Hallelujah!!

This work is taking a lifetime to work out the kinks.

05/03/25

Admin work and a load of stretcher bars home. Had planned on more but literally ran out of time.

06/03/25

Fell asleep on the bus while writing in here… Subsequently have lost my favourite pen to the 212!

Late Night Art Belfast: Majella Clancy in Ulster Presents; Steph Harrison at Atypical Gallery; The Irish Palette in the Engine Room Gallery; Last night of the Catalyst Members’ Show and ‘Cailleach’ at Vault.

08/03/25

09/03/25

Stretching and priming, followed by another round of priming in the evening. No RHA this year.


10/03/25

Been offered a solo for 2026! All chuffed!

13/03/25

Wonderful to be at the opening of 'The Crush' by Sian Costello in PS Squared.

The paintings seem to echo the softened, shifting edges of camera obscura projections, where details are suggested rather than fixed, teasing at recognition before slipping away.

Of the work Sian writes: 'I use my own body and a series of camera obscurae as instruments to magnify and distort the boundaries between what is real and what is the art "work" of composition, lighting, and painterly flair. Through this fractured lens, space opens up beyond the controlling hand of the artist for the narratives told by the subjects themselves.'

'The Crush' runs until the 17th April.

14/03/25

Achilles is banjaxed! Minor injuries is a joke!

15/03/25

A morning of sorting out reference imagery. Feels like nothing productive has been done I know it will prove helpful in the long run.

18/03/25

…RETHINK…

24/03/25

Fancy transit.


27/03/25

It’s been quite a week: Helpdesks, Training in Dublin, More training in Belfast and a student Fair at UU… now first C.H. event.

Imogen is three today. Hard to believe but we can’t picture life without her!

…wisdom to know the difference… It’s not going to be easy.

30/03/25

Studio - drawing up, mapping out structure / composition of a few new canvases.

Feels good to get in the rhythm of making after a good few weeks. Tonal values looking good thus far.

CARVE! CARVE! CARVE! Without dictating a set regimen.

RDH: February 2025

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02/02/25

Looking back at ‘targets’ - pleasantly surprised. Yes, the drawing fell short but KEEP IT UP!

03/02/25

Studio. Paring back of background - so much better.

Several older sketches transferred onto acetate.

Taking back sense of self / purpose.

05/02/25

06/02/25

Busy day. Symposium followed by Late Night Art - with a piece made especially for the Catalyst Members’ show taking part!

Struck me last night - shifting to more personal imagery and away from portrait after portrait IS what’s needed - but is a tired rendering of them going to yield exciting results? I don’t think so.

A little more outside the box thinking and care required - other than throwing multiple imagery on one plain. Although that is one way to expand narrative quite quickly….

LNAB

Gerry Gleason’s Skip Sculptures | Philip Arneill in Arcade | Yvette Monaghan Belfast Exposed | Sinéad O’Neill Nichol in VAULT | Joan Alexander in PS2

08/02/25

Ballyliffen celebrations

11/02/25

Very late sketchbook work - AGAIN.

13/02/25

…aiming for a good new habit. BUT there is no point in sulking or beating yourself up if targets are not reached each time. By the same token, there is also little point in setting goals if they are ignored or you don’t try to achieve them. So, do your best but if it falls short of expectations, learn from it and carry on.

16/02/25

Plates be gone!

Multitasking - not my strongest suit.

20/02/25

Golden Thread Visit and application submitted.

22/02/25

… kicking my ass!

“A Brush with Somaya Critchlow”.

Hilarious! RD was hijacked - brilliant! Goldilocks - just right.

… fingers crossed though that once it’s done and out, a real flurry will take place.

23/02/25

25/02/25

Sally O’Dowd in Ulster Museum!

26/02/25

Array at RUA RED. Something quite cathartic singing Bette Midler to a squad of police Land Rovers.

27/02/25

What does the inner critic say? TW, L, NGE.

Carrying on my engagement with the subjective experience - particularly around trauma. That is something. Interpretation of images … unique.

CRINGE ENDUCING!

RDH: JANUARY 2025

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02/01/25

Sketching - coming back!

05/01/25

Early studio session - Looking at “Gathered” … it’s finished.

Bit of a push and pull on Commission.

NOSFERATU - GREAT!

06/01/25

First day back in Belfast - COLD!

07/01/25

Double deadlines and an open call.

08/01/25

Personal interrogation - double mirrors? Will be good to dust cobwebs off.

What to put into xxx?

Popped round to Golden Thread Gallery on lunch.

Shirin Neshat installation in the Golden Thread Gallery.

Such a headache but it will pass.

09/01/25

GET IT DONE!

Three in the Morning by Charys Wilson at PS2 - fab!

Ran around … but no joy.

Sarah Maple Call me Mother in the Naughton - wonderful show.

(…. add mirror plates).

11/01/25

,,, Done all here I can at the moment.Seemd flst at the minute Still to br

12/01/25

Sketchbook studies in the morning.

13/01/25

Double Submitted!

15/01/25

Dropped '“Gathered” over for Catalyst Members’ Show. Should be a good one!

16/01/25

17/01/25

It might look like a phone induced dopamine hitting laziness - but I do want to try and utilise certain aspects better. Are multiples worth it or is it better to do just one really well?

Will mull this over but in the meantime, gather images to set into … folders.

Late Night Self Portrait sketch.

18/01/25

Should have seen this coming - getting too caught up. Yes, it’s a good idea to curate some meaningful aspects but, and this will always be the case, making the work is and always will be top of the pile.

Less scrollin’, more rollin’.

Setting distractions away to write really helps.

Watched ‘Longlegs’ tonight. The dolls shrouded in a black sheet - but with the demonic red eyes showing through - it has really unsettled me. Like one of Magritte’s lovers but on a bad trip.

19/01/25

Sunday Studio Session - (and pre-session list).

…colour restructure? Starting over isn’t the end of the world. It could be that it’s too small to tackle the source material properly.


And restarted I did. Got to the point of the second looking further ahead than the original pretty quickly. Should use the little canvas as a guinea pig - test out ideas.

Change the background - make it my own. It’s too safe at the minute.

21/01/25

A late night (probably too late a night) of sketchbook studies.

23/01/25

‘Misaligned’ by Katherine Penney in Ulster Presents. Moving work - beautiful use of space.

Bracing now for storm Eowyn.

24/01/25

Guts of three trees fell out our back and power has been off since early morning.

Saw part of one of the trees come down this morning. The thud it made!

Ambient candlelight.

26/01/25

A sketching and scanning day.

29/01/25

Dublin. Eileen Leonard Sealy’s paintings in the LAB Gallery - excellent.

30/01/25

I’ve veered more and mroe away from raison d'être.

Stick Shed. Personal motifs. Untapped.

Dervla O’Flaherty and David Dunnes’ shows in Cultúrlann.

Retrospect - …preferred… with older painting upside down (two tones).

… more of me in there.

RDH: DECEMBER 2024

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01/12/24

It’s been a long weekend - no studio but that is understandable considering the circumstances. Adjust / Adapt.

SURPRISE SURPRISE!!

03/12/24

… application? Glutton for punishment?

04/12/24

Focus! F and A. That is all that matters! The rest is bullshit.

08/12/24

Studio! Part 1. ‘M.C.’ facial tones - hair detail. (Purples / Greens?)

Timely progress on commission. Baby steps - not getting too carried away.

Started well on ‘moss piece’. Think the texture will work well - albeit awkward to get detail and control the paint in the really layered elements.

12/12/24

Has the penny finally dropped? Hopeful that it has. Over Christmas, take a look at [redacted]. Why not!

13/12/24

Submitted!

18/12/24

Didn’t get the P.P. opportunity. But as S. says, it was a strong application so I’m proud of it regardless of the outcome.

22/12/24

Keep forgetting that December is usually a write off - when everything else is taken into consideration.

23/12/24

NT5’s gave an idea. snippets / stills from videos taken out of context. There’s something here (not literally I hope). +

25/12/24

26/12/24

It’s been a month and a half! Art has taken a back seat. There’s plenty to be doing, just zero time to do it. This has been largely out of my control lately.

BUT - in saying that…

When it IS in my control, it is making sure that I’m getting the most out of it.

Energy Levels.

27/12/24

Carving time. Need to get on top of these fatigue levels. Certain points of the day, I could easily pass out and I have caught myself sleeping not long after waking up several times.

Get to the bottom of it.

28/12/24

RDH’s are all well and good - keeping stock of where I was to help where I'm going. But what if, in the new year, at the start of the month, a list was made for that coming month. A target list. Things like:

  • works to start / finish (setting deadlines)

  • upcoming application opportunities

Continued in diary.

29/12/24

Last studio day of the year probably.

Top tone - violet yet still dark.

“…embracing darkness as a tool to shed light on something.”

Hank Willis Thomas (on the ‘A Brush with…’ podcast)

So bloody close! The green background is upsetting my happiness but what to change it to?

31/12/24

When researching ideas for creating a new target list, one thing that came up and, I’ve noticed this in real time, is having or setting a deadline to finish something.

having a time limit to have work completed for the Catalyst opportunity has definitely been helpful. Piece is all but complete.

New Ideas project - NI M’s and S’s. (pandering?)

Target list should include a chance to take my own advice - do the research and contact …

Some resolutions: cull the scroll time - cut out certain habits.

So long 2024. You’ve been good to me,

2024 in Pictures

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

RDH: NOVEMBER 2024

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01/11/24

Pretty sure this is Dad in the Vectra circa 2000.

02/11/24

H, F & M.

…taking a back seat.

04/11/24

Escalation

05/11/24

Late night home.

06/11/24

The fun never stops!

07/11/24

Collected. No late night art for me this month. Exhaustion has taken over.

08/11/24

Proposal started. Excited to stretch and prime canvas tomorrow! Nerd Alert!

In the chaos of the past few weeks, I forgot to note that I’ve had a lovely delivery of a 10m roll of canvas and primer.

09/11/24

Didn’t realise I had so much primer! Two canvases, stretched and primed with one coat (plus one bloodied thumb).

Sketchbook time - this definitely needs time allotted to…

… came back to finish off the two drawings started earlier on. It can be done - just needs some discipline and manoeuvring.

10/11/24

‘Natural Alignments’

GET OUT THERE!

***Updating from loss and eventual return of diary***

12/11/24

MAC Show - beautiful and just a joy to immerse yoursself in. Wonderful homage.

Weird seeing D.M.’s paintings again after so long. Remember getting my graduation photos from NWRC in front of them.

17/11/24

Can’t believe I’ve lost track of RD. First time ever in fourteen plus years and quite annoyed at myself.

ADAPT - MOVE ON - WORK

Primed canvases with second coat. In terms of C’s submission, materials gathering and experimentation ongoing.

18/11/24

Dublin - Day 1. Lights out in middle of set up.

19/11/24

GTG a great success. Good night had by all.

20/11/24

Dublin Day 3. Brian Maguire in the Hugh Lane. Glorious large scale works and great to see some old favourites I first saw in VOID a few years ago.

Douglas Hyde Gallery - ‘LAND’ group show. Beautiful video work from Pinar Öğrenci in situ - videos on display will change to change throughout the run. Tried to get into another space - was not allowed with suitcase in tow.

Lastly the LAB before the bus home. Vanessa Daws’ show inspired by endurance swimming pioneer Mercedes Gleitze. Great show but still filled me with anxiety looking at open water.

Home … and finished submission.

21/11/24

Reunited with diary!

24/11/24

Studio - started commission. Beginning to incorporate moss into c.m.s piece - painting into the final layer of primer. Waiting game.

More progress on ‘L.Y.s.V’.

Love was spread a little in the studio today - bits and pieces worked on in different areas. Covering all the bases.

27/11/24

Dublin again!

28/11/24

RDH: SEPTEMBER 2024

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01/09/24

Should LOFT TALK return?

05/09/24

Met Khaled Barakeh at his show in the MAC.

Late Night Art - Belfast Exposed, DAS, PS2 and VAULT.

06/09/24

‘Hindsight Study’ into RAA show!

08/09/24

Slow and steady progress on new portrait.

12/09/24

Basil Blackshaw: Selected Works in Ulster Presents. Always something incredibly moving about the last work an artist worked on. Almost like a lifetime's experience culminating into one last piece.

Late Night Art - East Belfast. Visit to Platform, Strand Arts Centre, Arts Care and Creative Exchange. Loud in between.

Have really gotten out of the way of note taking. Subbed for worse habits. How to rectify? Stop. Breathe. Think.

15/09/24

Studio time. Portrait - ‘Never Be Seen’. All but there. Some moments where the background tone looks fine and works well and others where it looks like a mistake and falls apart. Chips and changes - probably down to the light through the day (or indecisiveness).

Resting on it for now.

22/09/24

One week on and yes, the background definitely needs addressed. Worked it so its back to a very similar colour to how it started. Finished and full circle.

26/09/24

QSS at 40!

Brilliant show and will be back to see multiple times.

29/09/24

Studio and 'Tesla' painting is gone - for now. Drawing up new works.

What words or text become like the ground of a painting?

Glenn Ligon - The Week in Art podcast.

'Spare Change Study', ‘Running Errands', 'Repulsion from a Clown'.

Some good starts. 'RfaC’ redeemed somewhat for now.

RDH: AUGUST 2024

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02/08/24

Studio time finally - after a slightly longer than usual cleaning session.

Not much progress made with “Turn to Page Five” but still feels great to put paint down after seventeen days of renovating, family time and north coast fun!

04/08/24

“Restraint Study” handed in. Crossed fingers…

Took myself up to the Ulster Museum afterwards to finally catch the two Caravaggio works together for a rare time since the 17th Century.

“The Supper at Emmaus” (1601) and “The Taking of Christ” (1602). The first time in a long time where I just sat in awe. Spent nearly an hour just soaking them up (from near and far). He really was the master of light and shadow. Today has brought memories back of my last trip to the National Gallery in London back in 2019 and a reaction in front of another Caravaggio - “Boy Bitten by a Lizard” (1594-1596). Skipping past pockets of school kids getting guided tours, I stumbled upon it, right in the corner of the room.

There was a guide giving a talk to a class of children about a much larger painting just beside the Caravaggio. Can’t mind what it was - but it was a big canvas. Anyway, I’m looking at the painting and I suddenly start to feel myself well up - and I couldn’t stop it. I started crying.

I remember being in shock and some of the class beside me were staring and whispering among other. Because of where the Caravaggio was in the gallery, I was sort of pinned in with the school kids sitting on the floor all around listening to the guide speak. I eventually had to make a break for it, snaking past them to get out. First time I ever cried at a work.

The next time that happened I think was with Daniel Coleman’s epic work in the MAC show a while back. The sheer audacity of scale, the use of colour in the limited palette - everything took breath away to the point I got choked up.

06/08/24

Called round to check out ‘The Shape of a Pocket’ exhibition at Catalyst Arts curated by Dougal MacKenzie and Christopher Hanlon.

“Hindsight Study” submitted…

07/08/24

Back to spinning plates.

10/08/24

The Golden Thread Gallery has reopened with shows by Robin Price, Charlotte Bosanquet, Rob Hilken and Graham Fagen.

11/08/24

Honey ate more paint than I thought. More put out. “Turn to Page Five” - dark, ochry brown background? Semi-transparent?

FINISHED. Thought I had nearly messed it up with a little too much fixative but managed to pull it back OK.

12/08/24

“Restraint Study” accepted into the RUA! Chuffed!

18/08/24

Three wonderful years - and a lifetime ahead!

Tried a jaunt to the studio - not feeling it. Will try to block in some colour to “bin” piece.

22/08/24

Sketchbook work before bed.

25/08/24

“The possibility of the studio” - Eva Rothschild

From “A brush with ,,,” podcast.

So, after a layer or two on the “bin” piece, it was time to say goodbye. Just wasn't working, especially with the background. So working a new image on top and starting a new portrait from scratch on a nice, clean canvas.

28/08/24

Dublin reconn.

29/08/24

Re-group…

31/08/24

Sixteen Years. Hard to fathom.

RDH: JULY 2024

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04/07/24

LNAB

07/07/24

Early sketchbook work this morning - bit of a delay but in the studio now eventually.

12/07/24

Late Night Sketchbook Session

14/07/24

“Turn to Page Five” - good progress.

21/07/24

Into the second round of the RUA. Taking “Defiant Study” up on Sunday 4th August. Fingers crossed.

25/07/24

Wasn’t successful in Mayo application. Onwards.

Not too much art related happenings this week and next - decorating the kitchen and having some family holiday time. Must make a point of getting thoughts / ideas / notes down as and when if possible. There have been a couple of instances where something has popped into view mentally relating to practice but since they weren;’t recorded, they have faded into lost memories.

Renewal isn’t a lie.

30/07/24

North Coast - burnt to a crisp.







RDH: JUNE 2024

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02/06/24

Studio - focus on one image…

Well, some days just don’t go the way you want them to. Bit of a damp squid in the studio. Superficial work on ‘mugshot’ (working title). Vented frustration out on cleaning the yard.

05/06/24

Organising archive.

06/06/24

Late Night Art - Belfast. Traditional Route.

09/06/24

‘The Week in Art’ podcast discussing Studio Voltaire and Martha Jungwirth’s take on Goya. “Turning off the facuet of emotion.” (on O’Keefe).

The Sleep of reason.

‘Talk Art’ with Nathanaëlle Herbelin.

“Hindsight” - So bloody close! Frustrating. Too thick in hair and isn’t dynamic as rest of picture. Deep breath. Could be worse and be no where near close to finishing - silver charcoal filled linings.

Still haven’t heard anything from S.P. show.

12/06/24

…found wanting. Rinse head - take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

F.W.A.

13/06/24

Being really fucking ballsy!

14/06/24

Didn’t get solo chance. Ah well. Up to Belfast for opening of ArtsFest III.

Great turnout!

16/06/24

Cleaning works in the lower garage. Some damaged beyond repair.

“Hindsight Study” finished. Some substantial progress to “Four Years On”.

19/06/24


23/06/24

Great day.

25 + 26/24

Family sick days so just a total wipeout.

Visual / Ocular Migraine.

30/06/24

Started the day off bright and early with some sketching from photos taken throughout the week.

“Four Years On” finished.

Larger portrait started. Good way to end the month.

RDH: MAY 2024

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02/05/24

Late Night Art Belfast

A busy busy night!

05/05/24

Added crow / plague mask to soldier’s face. Not sure where, if anywhere, it’s going to go. Ran it’s course perhaps? Palette cleansed.

…action painting?

08/05/24

“Gallery Visit” showing in ArtFest 3!

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

09/05/24

Would be good to start thinking about plan…

10/05/24

12/05/24

Drawings to acetate. Cuprinol spillage - use to benefit? Bleached out wartime work - it reached the end. So, today in the studio - rather than painting… worked on drawing up new canvases. NB: Paint needed through the week.

Three works started - went for a dander in a thundery downpour holding a couple of the new canvases over my head. Letting the heavy raindrops move the unfixed charcoal. Funny, the momento mori could have done with a few more and the ‘Tesla’ a little less. HINDSIGHT!

Studio Shot - 12/05/24

12/05/24

Hold the family close. Bus decompress time.

18/05/24

19/05/24

20/05/24

If you’re going to do something, do it right!

26/05/24

“Week in Art” Mona Lisa interview really interesting. “The living earth”.

“Talk Art” Shaqúelle Whyte.

Solid progress. No titles as yet - Hindsight? Could work for all three really.

29/05/24

Dublin.

It’s always sunny in Dublin.

RDH: APRIL 2024

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02/04/24

Utilise own advice! Get pro-active!

04/04/24

Not being idle within practice is key.

LNAB

07/04/24

“A Brush With… Nalini Malani”

“…slippage of imagery…”

Clothing detail work on “Last Fancy Dress” and a promising start on “They Had It Coming”. Keep it raw - how do you describe that?

11/04/24

Submission 1.

16/04/24

Submission 2. Ran out of time for drawing work.

17/04/24

Sketchbook work.

S.A.W.E.D.

18/04/24

Submission 3 - an open call.

21/04/24

Studio - pre paint notes:

  • Headscarf - maroon?

  • Background - a sickly yellow / green (not unlike “Amy Study”.

Now that the canvas is covered (no more blankness) - it’s show time.

24/04/24

Dublin bound. Really bad that I have gotten out of the way writing in this. [slaps wrist].

S.V. confirmed! Class!

Popped into the LAB Gallery to see “Emergency Knowledge: The Missing Archives - Vagabond Reviews”. Great to see Save Our Sperrins highlighted among other important causes.

25/04/24

OK, so I’ve been putting this off for a while and now, it seems that bus time is usually RD time these days.

Project idea I had maybe ten years ago: record a sitter - up close in portrait whilst asking questions - mix of mundane and psychological. Between each question - leave around 20 - 30 seconds. The sitter remains silent throughout - more of an introspective process. The idea was to then take still of video and convert to painting.

What if…

test demo screenshot from 2014

instead of a static camera on tripod (that I tried back in 2014) - the footage moved in, out and around the sitter?

And…

instead of working off individual stills on separate works - merging onto one surface. Showing a variation in composition, scale and method of painting depending on the image taken throughout the test?


So, let’s take stock…

Four submissions done in past 6 weeks plus an SV!

Sketchbook work tonight - since brain is firing on a few more cylinders than usual.

27/04/24

Four years. Surreal.

28/04/24

Studio time.

Well, after nearly losing it on the skin tones - “THIC” turned out better than I could have hoped. A strange feeling.

30/04/24

“mother tongue” in the MAC - GREAT!

Dorothy Hunter’s work took breath away! Bloody brilliant.

RDH: MARCH 2024

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02/03/24

C. S. - death note. (video grab possibly)

03/03/24

‘Séance’ piece might have had its day. Setting it away for now. ‘Final Fancy Dress’ - good progress made. Tight in portrait and looser strokes in the clothing.

06/03/24

Alright - lazy / stupid. No ifs, no buts.

10/03/24

Background progress on ‘badger’ piece. ‘Séance’ has been cleansed. Just went too far. Compositionally flawed from the offset and was fighting a losing battle. Lesson learnt.

12/03/24

Didn’t get in. A bit annoyed but there is always next year.

13/03/24

Bit the bullet and took the initiative. A nice reply - now trying to not get ahead of myself.

‘Mother’ exhibition at Vault Studios.

17/03/24

Drew up F.W. on large canvas and some good tonal progress on ‘Gallery Visit’ today in the studio. Background more vibrant perhaps?

21/03/24

Golden Thread Gallery’s touring exhibition ‘How We Got To…’ in Shankhill Library.

22/03/24

‘Restraint Study’ and ‘Amy Study’ submitted. 🤞

23/03/24

Trip to Derry for VOID Arts Centre opening ‘Composting for the Future’. Harking back to projects of the past yet paving a new, more collaborative direction.

24/03/24

‘Gallery Visit’ - few tweaks, bit more blurring and hey presto - finito!

27/03/24

28/03/24

Did not make the long-list. Ah well.

30/03/24

Trip to Portaferry and a slight change in plans for Sunday. Back to the studio all being well next week!

RDH: FEBRUARY 2024

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01/02/24

Beginnings…

02/02/24

…officially taken a back seat. That’s OK though. Needs - Must. Doesn’t mean the grey matter stops!

I mind a ‘Thunderball’ poster with a table in it - or was it N.S.N.A.?

Knots - Riddled.

03/02/24

20:11 - Malcolm John Kielt born - 7lbs 10oz.

Jan was amazing.

09/02/24

I have been thinking about what was put to [redacted] for the [redacted]. Advice could (and should) be taken on board closer to home.

Certain circumstances, mean that practice has taken a back seat - as it should - but this shouldn’t be an excuse to down tools completely and end any creative activity that could be happening. I don’t know if I could fully switch off anyway.

Just because the practical studio and office / sketchbook time is lowered doesn't mean all artistic outlets dry up! There is room in other spaces. Even now, trying to carve out some creative time will be important. Use any spare time wisely - but also enjoy the early days of baby number 2!

10/02/24

Studio cleaning and some posthumous signing this morning.

Had time cleared for the studio for a few hours - just to get some paint down when no sooner had I started, the skirting man arrived.

The best laid plans etc etc.

15/02/24

16/02/24

BEEP BEEP!

17/02/24

“A Brush with…. Wilhelm Sasnel”.

“I do not control painting; I follow it.”

Wilhelm Sasnel

Some studio work - bit of a no-go. Need to re-energise the on-the-go paintings somehow OR start from scratch OR (3rd option):

Finding - or trying to find a new rhythm. Tough going but we’ll get there. What have I done in the past when I’ve come to a cul-de-sac?

DRAWING BOARD! Practical Next Steps.

18/02/24

Plan set out to be productive this evening - … had other ideas.

Submitted!

X

IX

XIII

20/02/24

THRESHOLD Gallery, Belfast showcasing work as part of the Golden Thread Gallery Collection.

Pond(er) at Catalyst Arts.

23/02/24

“Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.”

Voltaire

25/02/24

“A Brush with… Stanley Witney”

(…a painting has to get ugly before it can be beautiful. If you go straight to the beautiful, you’re aiming at the pretty.)

Two canvases started. Badgers’ is quite interesting already.

Fingers crossed.

28/02/24

“A.J.#240” - well I fell asleep during that podcast. Riveting.

29/02/24

Sketchbook studies.

RDH: JANUARY 2024

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02/01/24

Uncertainty is where the magic happens.

Organising ‘used’ imagery.

03/01/24

…back to the drawing board.

04/01/24

… strengthened my resolve. Sometimes you are too close to the work to see the threads / connections running through it - so another eye is always greatly valued.

…stagger (they talk).

06/01/24

For now, less writing for the sake, less procrastination and more doing please.

Late night sketchbook work - three cadets on the one page.

07/01/24

Second night in a row where the dreams were really messed up.

14/04/24

First day back in the studio for the year. ‘séance’ darkened down by layer of charcoal.

‘Restraint Study’ finished, and palette is clean as a whistle!

18/01/24

Snow Day.

more drawing = more ideas = more work

Andro Wekua: Louisiana Channel (Hand on the shoulder).

Words to Action.

21/01/24

Saltburn - good but gross.

Sick all weekend, missed Watty’s All-Ireland glory. A real dud of a weekend.

22/01/24

Storm damage.

23/01/24

25/01/24

…peaks and troughs. 2020 was unique in that time seemed to last so much longer. Suck it up.

Late night drawing.

28/01/24

A weekend of nesting.

29/01/24

Lost… looked up and down the road, in and out of fields. Came back.

31/01/24

Using vagueness, opens more possibilities for the viewer.

RDH: DECEMBER 2023

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03/12/23

Very cold in the studio. Can’t be a put off though.

Séance piece:

Wall and floor = re-adjust

Blue Figure = push back / get rid of

The woman in blue - basically taking away from the overall composition.

… Getting there. Simplified the back wall. Colours are all wrong but at least it’s going in the right direction structurally.

07/12/23

Warhol at the Hugh Lane, Dublin - Excellent

09/12/23

A round of image gathering is in order. Juices.

10/12/23

14/12/23

Isn’t it funny how a conversation can be the spark that begins to slot pieces into place…

Winter months are slow in the studio - always have been - there’s nothing new there.
What is different is the less time being allocated to focus on drawing [rephrase] not making enough time to focus on drawing elements. TIME CAN BE MADE!


”Artists reflect on what is happening”

Rachel Whiteread

SKETCHING

17/12/23

Studio.

Background work on ‘soldier’ piece and a new portrait started over an abandoned canvas.

Drew the charcoal into a fresh layer of white. Will see what comes of it.

18/12/23

Applied.

23/12/23

I do enjoy looking back over the year that’s about to pass. One eye on the past yada yada.

There has been no strict recordkeeping so an idea flashes in and then fades out only to pop in later in a diluted and obscure way where I struggle to recollect the initial instance. Should be rectified. Plenty of ways to keep quick notes.

Joints are aching from the impending dose.

25/12/23

Merry Christmas. Very mindful… so counting blessings and appreciating the little joys.

26/12/23

It’s been a strange one. Anything but restful.

Crow - Chimera - spark/spark/spark.

28/12/23

In the studio and had intended to clean palette ahead of some painting time tomorrow but there’s just too much good paint out to waste. Some looking and notes to aid tomorrow:

Séance in London - notes:

  • It’s a bloody séance - it shouldn’t make sense.

  • Remove shadows

  • Push fireplace back (cooler / lighter)

  • Chairs - are they needed?

  • Omit / darken bottom section.

Again, it doesn’t have to make sense. It’s a nonsensical act. Defying logic so the picture shouldn’t live by those rules.

Soldier Piece - notes:

(layer of white on right figure’s clothes done)

  • Alter skin tones - middle too cold, left too warm. Find a balance. Soldier has seen / committed horrors - bare this in mind.

29/12/23

A good solid day in the studio - and the last one of the year. Loads of coffee.

‘Séance’ - fireplace removed, chairs gone and front three figures blocked in again. Compositionally, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. How does one make an image ominous?

[insert researched answer here] e.g.: 'Fuseli’s ‘The Nightmare’

The little portrait study came about very quickly. A much looser approach so far and some nice elements in the painting. It does run the risk, however, of muddiness so must be mindful.

Last Studio shot of the year.

30/12/23

Asleep after lunch … never thought I would see the day.

…outline of concrete that covers crack in the wall outside. Repurposing shapes you see every day into works.

Five Uneven Steps.

2023 in Pictures

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FEBRUARY

MARCH

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MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

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RDH: NOVEMBER 2023

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01/11/23

Beautiful print by Chloe Austin arrives in the post!

02/11/23

Late Night Art Belfast - another cracker!

Cameron Clarke’s exhibition in DAS, probably one of the best installations I’ve seen in a long time. The perfect week for it - ending the spooky season with a bang.

05/11/23

Studio - setting aside the two large works for now and going to focus on the two portraits in progress.

It was all going so well until… working on ‘Indifferent Study’ and thought I would be productive in between waiting on a thin layer of paint to set. Began chopping some firelighters for later and…... BAD IDEA! Took a decent chunk out of side of a finger. Just when I was getting into a rhythm! It will heal but my favourite pen won’t. It died this evening too. Doesn’t bad things come in threes?

11/11/23

Short Studio Session. ‘Indifferent Study’ = Hair OK, surprisingly. Eyes / mouth needs tweaked. Skin Tone: slight contrast needed between light and shade.

FINISHED!

See, little checklists of what to focus on before lifting a brush work!

14/11/23

Morning Traffic

16/11/23

BVAF: re-energised and eager to take pro-active steps in art community in city.

19/11/23

S.S.S.

‘Amy Study’: Background - dimmed / dulled - green gold + payne’s grey? Need to get a grip - FOCUS / PRIORITISE / WORK!

…was not expecting to finish this portrait today. Creating little checklists in between layers really does help to critically evaluate the work as it goes - pushes for focus.

Getting to the point where I feel an outlet is needed. What’s holding me back…

Cogs are a turning…

Keening

I have a secret - I listen to Radio 3 to drift off.

21/11/23

An impressive build

23/11/23

The streets are arteries.

Pope L. - advice to the young…

Stuck on a canvas for months. Tutor at the time saw him struggling and said:

“WRITE ON IT!”

Exorcise your thoughts and things will stem from it.

26/11/23

29/11/23

Come rain, hail or shine (but more than likely frost) … solid brainstorming session.

The hmming and writing is all well and good but if you’re actively not doing anything - then it’s just noise.

30/11/23

Weird lights in the sky over Glenshane. Six evenly spaced lights in a diagonal - no sound.

DEBUNKED! Mystery solved, Musk’s star link.

RDH: OCTOBER 2023

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01/10/23

Three white rabbits.

Studio: ‘Passive Study’ going well - bouncing between the brush and the drawing mark. It’s always interesting to see which of the two (if any at all) comes to the fore.

“A Brush With… Sarah Lucas”

‘A Séance in London’ - slowly building layers but, more importantly, working through structure and composition. Very early days.

03/10/23

Anxiety overload!

05/10/23

WOW! Can’t remember a late night art quite like this one in a very long time. Belfast was buzzing!

09/10/23

Put the bloody phone DOWN!

11/10/23

Quick sketch of artist Amy Higgins. Ideas brewing.


12/10/23

Easy to say, but difficult to implement.

In transit

15/10/23

Studio - A.H. portrait study: A good start. There was one point where the charcoal became a little too much but thankfully it wasn’t difficult to rectify. Just before adding the last layer of charcoal, all the previous drawing marks were pushed back with just the paint taking the stage. Some nice areas of tonal quality but overall the image was flat. You would think that adding a charcoal line would make it even more flat in appearance but the opposite is the case! The crux of it - that interplay between the drawing line and the painting mark.

17/10/23

Second straight day of jury service but on the flip side, a good chance to see Kwok Tsui’s new exhibition in the CCA.

18/10/23

QSS - ‘Messy Business’. Great group painting show.

21/10/23

…worth sticking foot in the door.

22/10/23

Studio time. A long session but very little to show for it. Slow progress on all fronts. Perhaps working on multiple pieces (four canvases) is biting a little more off than I can chew?

Setting a couple of pieces off to the side for a while should make it more manageable. It probably hasn’t helped that the palette is in a poor state and needs cleaned badly. Not a complete loss of a day but it could’ve been a lot more fruitful. Several factors at play but, lesson learned.

Palette given a good scrub before finishing up.

25/10/23

Dublin - too dark to write on the bus down - too dark to write on the bus home. The Autumn evenings are here.

Atoosa Pour Hosseini’s ‘The Magic Circle’ in Temple Bar Gallery + Studios is excellent. Remnants of vintage horror films in the video piece.