jane o sullivan

2012-02-13T15:14:00.000Z

we were tidying up the hedge and I was given this beautiful abandoned nest , I saw a rainbow at the same time and I made this drawing this morning (a few more too that are going quite well)

back to life-drawing again

2012-02-09T23:22:00.000Z

was so good to get back to the weekly life drawing class, it is a privledge to do it , just 15 minutes drive away .

glad to be a small part in this lovely magazine

2012-02-06T14:00:00.003Z

Magpie Magazine Issue Five from Magpie Magazine on Vimeo.

I ought really to have put this on my blog sooner ,but I felt a little awkward asking people to contribute etc....but as I know that this publication is just going to be incredible , I decided to let you make your own mind up !
It only costs 15 dollars to get your own copy and help Michaela to push the metamorphosis issue out of the nest :)
There is a feature on me ! and cendrine and LOADS more in metamorphosis magpie magazine no.5.
Its rare for me to find a publication where I am interested in the whole, not just parts.
Like every time I visit, she has something lovely to look at or hear.
I was unaware of magpie magazine until the editor contacted me last year to include my work, I have to say that its a privledge to be included.
She has a truelly lovely off centre eye and only today through her blog I sadly learnt of Dorothea Tannings death on the 31st of January.
I always felt connected to those surrealist gals, dorothea,leanora c&f, remedios etc....

Thank you too to dear erin of erins window ceramicist exraordinaire in australia. She is so positive and supportive (thanks erin xx)

february in my studio .. part one

2012-02-04T00:00:00.001Z

*********** all the following are works in progress **********

***********see you soon and have a nice weekend :) *************

2012-01-31T13:41:00.004Z

resurfacing with the help of deers, swans and their healing qualities

above two images today and yesterday....

above three images 2009-2011

fritz heinle
this woman this photograph such inspiration from ms.f.k

all new ...backwards to someplace over there

2012-01-29T20:13:00.003Z

I am feeling lost so I decided to go backwards to someplace over there to find something new*double life of veronique one of my all time favourite films * she lived an alternative life a drawing from a few years back* tommy chipperfield love that man and his show horses at duffys circus* circus has saved my sanity on occasion * I love working with poloroids but they are so expensive this is one of my favourite ones of all time * oh this lost drawing is the projectionist I only found it the other day I was going to do something about the white bit on his glasses ..........

loving being in my studio

2012-01-25T13:31:00.002Z

some lovely things in my studio

this a lovely film from ana montiel
I would have loved to have seen this alice in wonderland exhib in england

slowly slowly

2012-01-23T14:50:00.002Z

page of my ideas book
my ideas book is one of my favourite places at the moment , I am eager to make my new work , but it is taking time to come out into drawing ... it is gathering a momentum slowly .........
I am so happy to have started a new collaborative drawing project with cendrine rovini and I want to thank katy shayne (see jan 10th entry) for her continued support.

work in progress

2012-01-09T13:39:00.003Z

favourite new/old plate
minton 1890-1920

with the three darlings gone back to school today !!!
I am gearing up to make the most of my time in the morning to create a new body of work.
I have to be patient as my work is so slow , what I do to make it ,its feels the right way ....but it is slow ....like three hours to draw those flowers in the pool , only to decide to paint a wash of ink over them :( and then I am wondering WHY oh WHY do I use the most faded , fragile ,falling apart paper to actually draw on .....but then I know its the piece that felt right and I also know that I will be doing a lot more work on these pieces, which seems to strengthen/resolve(disolve !!) them .

ALWAYS BELIEVE

2012-01-05T20:54:00.003Z

ink and gouache on paper 2011

tommorow I will head into my studio to start my new work and whatever appears ....... I will blindly follow its direction.

a new year is here now

2012-01-02T17:03:00.003Z

❀❀❀❀❀The only truth is love ❀❀❀❀❀❀

vogue magazine december 2011 tim walker

the rainbow
dh lawrence
illustated by charles raymond
folio society 1981(london)

vogue dec 2011 photographer tim walker

victorian new years card present from my dear friend pat :)

I am enjoying a slow start to the new year having been sick in bed the last few days .....snug reading the rainbow .........
I wish all good things for our lives and our futures .
❀❀❀❀❀The only truth is love ❀❀❀❀❀❀

dark and light and inbetween (always)

2011-12-30T19:55:00.001Z

"They felt the rush of the sap in spring, they knew the wave which cannot halt, but every year throws forward the seed to begetting, and, falling back, leaves the young-born on the earth. They knew the intercourse between heaven and earth, sunshine drawn into the breast and bowels, the rain sucked up in the daytime, nakedness that comes under the wind in autumn, showing the birds' nests no longer worth hiding. Their life and inter-relations were such; feeling the pulse and body of the soil, that opened to their furrow for the grain, and became smooth and supple after their ploughing, and clung to their feet with a weight that pulled like desire, lying hard and unresponsive when the crops were shorn away. The young corn waved and was silken, and the lustre slid along the limbs of the men who saw it."
D.H Lawrence The Rainbow

sort of feeling the imensity of it all today .....I am reading dh.lawrence the rainbow ,it took me taking to the bed with a chill to start it but now I am riveted its so .....so ...... so.........stirring :)

interesting reading of Lawrence

merry merry christmas !!

2011-12-24T00:08:00.002Z

highlight of december making fairyland.......

merry

times for you all

it sure is mild compared to this time last year......please tell me where does the time go ?

kirsty and shayne a long time ago singing amongst other lines

I built my dreams around you........fairytale of new york

elf ....my favourite christmas film

spitalfields life ..consistently my favourite blog

the already amazing mark petty is now the equally amazing Boudica Denvorgilla Veronica Scarlet Redd

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

a little seasonal notelet to all my dear friends in blogland and in ire-land
thank you for all your lovely comments , interest and support ....you are all in myland and I am glad
jane xx

contemplating the here and now ....

2011-12-20T19:38:00.003Z

this is where I sit in the morning ......

with stillness

simplicity and

contentment

I am here and I am glad

glade

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

I have so many books which I treasure and find so many sources of inspiration,this image below is from a massive 1970,s book called things to make and do (readers digest)

winter exhibition inside and out

2011-12-16T10:32:00.002Z

the drive over to the exhibition yesterday
turlough at 3.15pm !!

me at the opening .......(bless) :)
." I have no relative but the universal mother, Nature : I will seek her breast and ask for repose"

jane eyre
charlotte brönte
1847

ink oil pastel and acrylic on paper

where all life supports that which grows from it (on right)
ink acrylic and oil pastel

antonio lopez castro
the house by the woods

grainne o reilly
railway ornament

I really enjoyed last nights opening of the group show in the custom house gallerys winter exhibition .
As you may know I had my solo show there this past may and it has the loveliest gallery staff.
I exhibited a new piece of work ." I have no relative but the universal mother, Nature : I will seek her breast and ask for repose"

news ****
My dear friend and collaborator artist Cendrine Rovini new solo show opened last night in Paris ! I wish I could visit it in person , but I take this oppurtunity to wish her the best of luck as I know how crazy hard she has worked on this past year .
Congratulations Cendrine !

kinda busy at the mo !

2011-12-11T21:41:00.003Z

vintage dolls faces made into broaches

....I was given these lovely dolls faces by a retired art teacher nun years ago , they used to make them into cloth dolls at school.
A lot of people recognise the dolls faces from as far back as the 1940's .....I would love to know where they were made , they are pressed from buckram and have transfered features, I just embellish them and put them in a sort of space, with hair and bits and pieces !
I love them , I hope others will too :)
Just some of the things I have made for my market stall, are alchemy upcycled cardigans, handmade hats and jewellery made from assorted vintage pieces also my artists books will be available to buy.
TWO MORE MARKETS

****saturday the 17th and friday the 23rd of december ****

then a break till march.
I am looking forward to having time to draw ....so many ideas to work on .

this looks like a lovely shop and this too looks like crazy good fun !

how beautiful is this drawing the silver bridge by nura in 1937 ?

dublin art book fair and magazine archive

2011-12-04T22:15:00.008Z

a light meditation on cameos

words and drawings

edition of five
there is a bird in her heart (some life drawings)

second edition

my eldest daughter was at a college open day in the big smoke and so kindly took these photos for me, my work was selling aparently....(yipee), I am most grateful for the oppurtunity of this new venture held over the weekend in temple bar gallery dublin.

** thank you lovely ayco for this sweet post

I have been to fairyland and back .......and I am going there again soon soon (I cannot wait)

2011-11-29T19:14:00.007Z

please click to see the details :)

I am fortunate enough to have a good relationship with the great folk that run a local adult mental health unit .Over the last few years I have worked there occasionally as an artist with the fine people who attend these services for many varied reasons .

Feeling a little lost myself lately ,I felt drawn back to this place and decided to volunteer these last few weeks.

We have been making beautiful hats and fairy dolls for the upcoming craft fair.

Yesterday I created a set for our dolls to exist within until they are snaffled up to maybe grace someones tree or live in a new home .

I was channelling the amazing to me Victorian Fairy Painter

John Anster Fitzgerald and will be developing this work in a new project next year :)

All I know is that every single stitch is a major achievement and that I feel privledged to be able to work alongside so many lovely people.

newsflash ****

I will have three of my artists books on sale /exhibition at the dublin art book fair and magazine archive this weekend !!!!

:)

2011-11-18T20:54:00.005Z

I am taking a small break from my blog .............just need to energize myself up again.

all will be well

thank you all

jane x

remember me.........she is back in residence

2011-11-11T12:28:00.008Z

Victorian early souvenir- ware made in Germany .......

(behind is a drawing made my daughter last year of a japanese girl ice skating .....you know like a totally obvious thing to draw...love her so much)

the lovely Inge and Hasmita ,art interns at the life changing museum of everything exhibition held in the old Selfridges hotel London

new alchemy cardigans made in house (here in my house)

no words yet .........

film stills etc ......

2011-11-01T15:45:00.006Z

there were some lovely arts and crafts era tiles at the carboot sale a few days ago.

I have been reviewing my work from a while ago .....I made so much when I was at college that I never explored or understood but knew there was something in some of the images so I kept them , I am starting to work out what or where to find that something.

I posted some more stills on my flickr

Its getting wintery.
Tommorow I fly over the sea to England to see my folks there. I am looking forward to the break , the first one on my own in many years.
I am going to two very exciting shows ,which I will let you know about soon soon .
Grayson Perry at the British Museum
Judith Scott at the amazing amazing .......museum of everything

today is the new moon ....and all is well

2011-10-26T11:55:00.009+01:00

thank you hillery from specks and keepings (so beautiful)

drawing from ayco from osaka japan
my own work slowly slowly........
my new old book against the bleak skies we are getting now

laura deer

oil pastel on glass vintage paper and watercolour

when I was thinking about laura , I remembered this little drawing that I gave to her a long time ago now ....I hope she still loves it :)

....after only just receiving the drawing from laura ,today on the new moon all the way from Japan I got this lovely little watercolour from ayco.

I came across her work on flickr and it makes me feel so happy, she has such a light touch.

Her drawings of deer are exquisite.

That is my most favourite part of being an artist , when you find others of a similar feather :)

**********

special announcement to my lovely readers........

only the river stares back is a brand new short film definately worth looking at , it is by my friend and sometime collaborator Richael.

She is a young emerging artist who lives near by and whom I would be lost without !

Please feel free to give feedback on the film on her comment page, I know that she would love you too.

to jane love laura

2011-10-25T08:02:00.005+01:00

thanks for making my day laura !

Laura Ferrara , an ace painter and a friend.

She also makes wonderful drawings and occasionally collage drawings and one that I liked came into my post box , poetically guarded within a super little french vintage book on malliol the sculptor.

Lauras work is a consistent poignant song to a haunting and surreal space which she alludes to in her gentle yet unsettling paintings full of symbols which I love love love.

I am happy to have met Laura through my blog and count her as an important part of my art/world .

take a look here and you can see more of Lauras work

new works in progress and things I love at the moment

2011-10-17T11:42:00.004+01:00

re-constructed dress

modern pennys dress from 2 years ago and 1950's skirt
sorrow growing from the chance reading of a line in jane eyre

work in progress

oil pastel ink acrylic and pen
1950's light which I got for 1 euro at last months carboot sale
my parrot skirt really makes me feel jolly !
this fantastic painting made me smile when I spied it last week in a health care unit which I sometimes get the chance to work in.
franks new drawings

.....thank you *thank you* thank you *frank who also bought universe of fables .

last week was an unprecedented high.

☂☁....its got awful wintery here , to think last week I was cycling around in the sun !

anyway here are some things that make me feel good at the moment ....I need strong vibrant patterns, the more the merrier..........like this dress that I am reconstructing adding in two side pieces from a never worn 1950's skirt , so my new dress will have a fuller skirt.

I love the clash of the patterns together :)

I made a red coat on friday which really makes me smile too and will photograph it later.

a spectacular week in more ways than one !

2011-10-09T15:18:00.011+01:00

thanks katy the lovely artist and curator of blog pigeon curd

this print from the surrealist artist leonora fini hangs in the same beautiful restaraunt the pantry and corkscrew in westport co.mayo (run by the sweetest janice and dermott)..........that is home to a selection of my drawings and self published artists books !

loving these patterns at the moment.......
hoping these manifest a bit more this week !

a lovely woman from america called by my stall yesterday delighted to find some artisanal(as she put it) products to take home with her, first she bought one of my limited edition book a light meditation on cameos ....then a cute folk art kind of totem pole tea pot - cup- jug kind of object :)....and then she spied the spectacular coat and said it had to go back home with her . She was keen to support irish artists and really went out of her way to find hand made work ,I was pleased that she found me and loved what she found !

thanks cathy x

I make exactly what I feel like and would like to see , that which I miss from around me , same as in my drawings .....and somehow /somewhere others are seeing something they yearn for too.

I have to say I have never felt so connected to my work , my life, my friends and family ....at last I feel fully alive and true.

I simply cannot say all the amazing things that has happened this week , but I can feel them , thank you Patrick, Frank,Janice,Cathy, Michaela, Richael,Pat, my girls and Aidan in particular and also thank you to all my other dear friends who always stay close and true.

What a week !

pigeon curd

a big day/week in many ways ....

2011-09-28T11:41:00.005+01:00

submission

ink/acrylic on card mat
1 ** treasures rising (ballet book 1948)
2*treasures rising(vintage broaches)
3**treasures rising (red metal kitten bin/vase)

I am wildly distacted from my work as my eldest daughter became 18 today and youngest 11 last week and as you know life can be kind of busy with all these occasions !

I am really enjoying the feedback on my work at my market stall and of course glad of the sales too . My alchemy cardigans are really loved and every time I make one they sell ...like magic/alchemy.

On the down side , my sewing machine is breaking my heart ,refusing to work when and if it pleases,so its hand sewing all the way from now on.........

I am pleased with how my beermats turned out and I look forward to seeing the installation curated by sweetheart ian wieczorek next week at the westport arts festival.

Do you remember my part in the group show INVITED there last year in the abandoned 1930's garage.

I was at the carboot sale on sunday and treasures rose to meet me at every turn (delighted)

I wish all my readers/friends a great week :)

pop up shop for tommorows culture night and spectaculars hanging on the church wall etc

2011-09-22T11:28:00.005+01:00

." I have no relative but the universal mother, Nature : I will seek her breast and ask for repose"

jane eyre
charlotte brönte
1847

above are some new clothes I made ****

thanks to alan in tinderbox I am sending a pop-up shop of my artists books and zines up to co.westmeath for tommorows culture night which is a countrywide cultural intiative .

studio 93 in moate is where the exhibition will be :)

where I like to be ♥

2011-09-19T13:54:00.008+01:00

new work is a ...coming
Odilon Redon is helping me

silence

oil and gesso on paper

1911

where I like to be ♥

the bog this morning

my new coat (on the bog ..where I like to be)

just back from one of my favourite activities ...walking with my two dogs around the bog near where I live.It takes about an hour , depending on how long I stay down there....it gives me so much.

**I am going to see the new film of jane eyre tonight ...yipee!

**I was so happy to see that the maverick soul mark petty has been busy making some new clothes for himself ,what a star,another highlight from my best ever favourite blog spitalfields life.

finding my way in the between light

2011-09-14T17:05:00.003+01:00

I am looking and finding my way ,yesterday I drew a woman dressed as a horse with another woman turning into a swan with a hare jumping over the moon in the background .....AND I wanted to show you but .....its not quite there yet.....

maybe tommorow , I feel so full of ideas and am so happy to get some of them down on paper , even humble scetches.

I am also making some lovely upcycled clothes which I will post images of tommorow .

green nail varnish,a horse ring a swan ring , ruminating and whatnot .....

2011-09-06T13:36:00.006+01:00

....whenever I have stuff to do ...I simply cannot do it !

so instead I have spent the morning walking around in the rain and sun on the lovely bog with my dogs enjoying the time on my own now my dears are all back at school 1 2 & 3 deers.

Then as you do ,I painted my nails green and photographed my two new rings for my blog as I am so shallow !

I am actually thrilled with my new rings and green nail polish.

I have also been very busy catching the last rays of sunlight before it goes on its holidays and makes me sad :(

Yesterday I spied sun on my outside yellow table between rain and grey and I actually photographed it , like a stalker !

I am not sure what the next chapter will bring but I feel it maybe very good.

love the colours of the tobias brothers work here

also love what these artists greedy hen are up to

images from the first dublin zine fair and then some :)

2011-08-31T18:56:00.005+01:00

double-click to see better ....this was in the back of my books :)
my new book

a light meditation on cameos

edition of five

2011
richael looking so sweet at our stall

I was a little double life of veronique last saturday as I was an independant artist showing with my comrade richael carroll....and also I was keeping an eye on the tinderbox stall as it was next to ours and I am a member of it too .

It was a great day and a super adventure packed weekend , spent with my friend, staying at a lovely friends house with my three daughters and being in a lovely event with other friends (I am SO lucky)

oh , we also went to planet ikea , exciting as it is only my second visit !

elidas brilliantly clever zine tea matters that she specially made to make funds for the upcoming gods and monsters publication as seen on her blog today
tinderbox members jane o sullivan* samuel carroll maiques *elida maiques *and eoghan carroll*at the zine fair on saturday.

part of the tinderbox stall at the zine fair

above photo from here

more photographs of the zine fair taken by the organiser sarah bracken

making and doing

2011-08-24T18:24:00.004+01:00

oh my ....I am not sure that this book making lark is a reasonable or a sensible pursuit.

It takes forever and there is still loads more to do and only one day left as we are travelling up to the big smoke this friday by train !

I simply loved having my solo and other gallery shows but there is a huge gap to fill afterwards and this is why I decided to make artist books/zines of my drawings ,the first of many I made as part of my degree show in 2009.

artist books/zines are egalaterian , affordable , intimate and a complimentary medium to my original works.

My drawings get to have fun,to be turned into different contexts and be with lots of people....it makes me feel more connected as an artist.

If you are able to come on saturday , do drop by our stall and say hi .

I will be exhibiting with Richael but also helping out on the tinderbox stall too(conveniently next to mine so I can make a fuss of Elidas new baby :) and catch up with the lovely lady herself :)

zines

artists book

article in irish times on the upcoming zine fair

a light meditation on cameos and other assorted bricolage

2011-08-18T16:07:00.007+01:00

the back of a drawing I found,which is going to be the front cover of my new book

a light meditation on cameos and other such bricolage

which I will be exhibiting here next sat week 27th of august

meditating on the oval shape and being home again

2011-08-11T17:06:00.006+01:00

thanks shayne x

me and pat had a beautiful and very observant walk around the bog before I went away ........
soon soon soon !!

dublin zine and artists book fair

saturday 27th august

12-5pm

opposite the ranelagh luas stop

just like the hare I completed the circle and ended back where I started again.

The week in connemara was a week away and for that I am glad (images to follow)

I am exhibiting with richael ,that is her and her RING in the second image............and tinderbox at the upcoming artists book and zine fair in dublin ........that is why I am meditating on the oval shape as my book will be oval and I hope finished in time.

richaels shop

good news and a little break from here to there....

2011-07-31T21:45:00.003+01:00

Happy to say that my drawing was selected for this months carpaccio magazine

Of course I am DELIGHTED :)

I /we are heading off in our new canvas bell tent tommorow so I will not be here for a while.........

holidays two years ago in the same place

jane x

"he seemed so wild she wondered if he had lost his reason" and lots of small ponderings of goodness

2011-07-25T18:35:00.009+01:00

yesterday I went for a lovely walk and found this tiny magical environment ...the flowers are NEON orange.I really love the drawings in this book which I found in the carboot sale for 3euros ! I will post a few more up over the next few posts and I LOVE her name maise meiklejohn :)........

actually the stories are super.
illustrated by maise meiklejohn

the mermaid of zennor and other cornish tales

eileen molony

1946
the market on saturday with new creations ....
amazing 1970'sprinted cotton skirt on stall (sold)
my dear youngest daughters celebration cards she sold all 3 of them ! and a lovely apron she made too.

I have a cold and feel awful :( .....but I will not give into it !

So much sad sad news at the moment , life is so fragile , I must say this at least ten times a week ...its beautiful right , but fleeting and fragile .

I see so much hope in small gestures , a smile ,a cup of tea , and a shared glance , correspondence with people you care about.... ....there is always a way to go towards the light isn't there.

I wish you all a super week and lots of small ponderings of goodness.

a precious quite moment..............AND some lovely links to share ♥♥♥

2011-07-22T12:16:00.009+01:00

photographer unknown 1908

mrs.g.a. barton 1919

louis lumière 1913

all above images are from

color

time life books 1970
photographer toscani for kenzo

more dash than cash

1984 kate hogg(vogue publications)
image courtesy of the v&a

vogue book of fashion embroidery

collins 1976

I found them in a precious quite moment in one of my many vintage books , this time it was

color

time life books

1970

and vogue book of fashion embroidery

1976

this looks great !!

treasures of heaven exhib

via cathy cullis (another treasure of heaven :)

a sweet early video of the truelly amazing artists called the little theatre of dolls

getting away from it to see what you really have ...

2011-07-14T13:57:00.007+01:00

dear Felicity had this copy of the observer magazine on my bed with the dear sweet face of mr.antony hegarty upon it :)

hear antony sing hope there is someone and I dare you not to be moved....

these chairs and tables are MINE all mine ! bought with loads of vintage china for 25 euros at the carboot/flea I did with felicity yes....and brought down on the train to mayo by me.

a dear new visitor to my stall LIZ (you rock girl) sporting one of my limited edish necklaces felicity my lovely friend whom I stayed with has a very extensive collection of the most beautiful plates cups and bowls , she has a great eye for pattern,I nearly had to steal this one !

I have had a very interesting few days break up in the capital Dublin , to catch up with some friends and to be a friend all of which I really enjoyed. The adventure of travelling up on my own by bus from Galway after my market up on the city link was exciting enough in itself ....the rest was just like a dream ....so much to do and see and be present to.

Thank you Felicity and Niamh and Elida ....I am glad you chose me to be your friend.

I saw so much and unfortunately my camera isnt the best , so the deers in the phoenix park (you will have to imagine) ....they were far away fawning and yawning a lot ! ...their heads floating above the long grass.It was wonderful to see them , so many in the wild.In a superb city park.

I went to the henri matisse exhib of artists books at the suberb chester beatty museum ....my FAVOURITE gallery/museum in Dublin-with my friend elida from tinderbox , just weeks away from the birth of her first child .We talked so much .Catching up with a friend I had not seen in TEN years, Niamh (like sleeve) was pretty amazing and staying at my other friends beautiful inner city railway cottage with the most charming garden was the icing on the cake.

so as you can imagine I am swamped with impressions and as is my normal behaviour totally overwhelmed, distracted and in a spin !! (good spin tho)

the divine antony singing from swanlights his new album

antony and the johnsons site

your image that blossoms,a rose in the deeps of my heart

2011-07-05T16:25:00.008+01:00

your image that blossoms, a rose in the deeps of my heart

acrylic, oil pastel,ink.marker and pencil on paper

**please click twice and you will see it better !!! ....okay :)

I have created a flickr page with some of the work on it from my very recent solo show

would not violets grow from her heart

you will find my artists statement and a reflection on my work from Sean Walsh the director of the Ballina Arts Centre

there are a lot more images to post .....

the new moon came today to celebrate my week which also included the SUN☀☀☀☀☀

2011-07-01T22:05:00.008+01:00

all above is by Bláthnaid

all below is by me !

.....what a lovely week I have had , making clothes and hats for my market stall and feeling grounded in the physicality of actual constructing and re-constructing AND having my wonderful 14 year old daughter in my studio doing the same ! She needed some money for a trip and I suggested she upcycle some clothes she no longer wears .

Well she did this with gusto and here are some of the results of both our work, lets hope there are a few small sized fairy types in Galway tommorow :)

AND we finally got some sun ☀☀☀

hey thanks lovely shayne stroud .....photographer extraordinaire !

shaynes site

shaynes flickr

tell thy hearts own true wish in flowers.....

2011-06-27T14:33:00.008+01:00

not sure where I am going at the moment ...but getting flowers like these and having good friends and family sure is a help (a bit of sun would do the trick)

love this image by caroline gaedechens

fragility in general

2011-06-23T12:34:00.003+01:00

fragile was re-worked and here it is afterwards , it is now in Vienna,Austria (thank you Gabi)

I dedicate this post to the full and absolute recovery of dear friend Laura Ferrara

re-focusing

2011-06-20T14:40:00.005+01:00

hmmm...excuse the stray pin
I made this and Penny loved it :)
book production

hello there if you are reading and thank you for dropping by , do leave a comment today ,it makes me SO happy .

Well , I am fine keeping on making and do-ing and such like. I have 2 of my edition of 10 house drawing books left after the show

illusions of stability

edition of 10

They cost 20euro +p&p

I will make a second edition , smaller this time with a fabric cover and some of my writing in it too. (please let me know if you are interested , by email or comment )

I have some of the life drawing books too, tommorow I will post up the images.

That IS me in the green hat ! I still make special one-off creations , never forgetting the skills I learnt as a milliner all those years ago!

Thanks to Penny who fell in love with my frida kahlo-ish jacket and skirt which she bought for her birthday on saturday.

I really enjoyed making it.

I hope everyone is getting a little sun . I went completely mad working in my garden yesterday and today feel about 130 years old !

is it that time already ! half of June is GONE FOREVER

2011-06-15T12:47:00.003+01:00

I have been away for a week in England as my dad was 75 and had a party.

We had a time away experience , visiting family and pottering around generally .

Even after our exciting day in London , the knitting ladies came out top again ,these wonderful women come to their stall,come wind come rain , ages between 78-85 spending their time very fruitfully making blankets , dolls , knitted clothes and a full range of doll size knitted boots ....they are beyond words (love them all)

I am between worlds at the moment in most aspects of my life ....I quite like it though :)

the market feels my love

2011-06-07T08:22:00.003+01:00

I have to say , I really enjoyed my market stall last saturday , its always been there , a loyal friend that has supported me to be an artist, given me countless amazing inspirations and chance meetings and kept me going when all else faded.

It is totally up to me to make exactly what I feel like at the time and at the moment that is nice cardigans and hats and this necklace ...oh and a few chic french 1950's records for balance :)

It is an ongoing love affair of twenty years and I greatly appreciate it .

summer , fresh mint tea, musing in general and being grateful for friends

2011-06-03T13:03:00.005+01:00

I went to see my show for the first time since the super busy opening.

It was good to actually see the work and I was accompanied by my best friends forever lovely Pat and my youngest daughter Méabh.

We took lots of photos and I made a bit of a film which I want to edit really nicely and put up on my blog just as soon as I can.

Afterwards we went for the most gorgeous fresh mint tea, hot chocolate and complimentary tasting cakes at the lovely Janice and Dermotts Pantry and Corkscrew who did such a fine job at my opening.

Leonora Carrington ( a thousand thank yous ) 1917-2011

2011-05-30T23:58:00.005+01:00

image by Katy Horna

image is taken from this book surreal friends which has been on my wish list for ages ....about the painters Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo and the photographer Katy Horna

It doesnt surprise me one bit that it was via my dear friend painter Laura Ferraras blog that I was to learn of the death just a few days ago of one of my most inspiring artist heroes the surrealist Leonora Carrington.

I have just spent two and half hours (and I had planed an early night !) reading and watching rare footage of this most fascinating artist who lived to 94 , working up till the last.

I felt a connection to her that I cannot explain and often dreamt of writing and telling her this , like I often imagine having tea with Kiki Smith :).......

well what can I say but look her up if you are not familiar with her work , and her life which has inspired many short films and documentaries.

She was a brave artist (I hope to be that too)

obituary from the guardian newspaper

joanna moorhead film 2010

pamela robertson -pearce film of leonora carrington

you are as welcome as the flowers in May

2011-05-22T20:03:00.010+01:00

home sweet home

a limited edition artists zine made to be given away free !!!

please click on the image and you will see everything ....I am SO excited about this little element of the installation.The zine is made from an A4 piece of paper which is folded in a certain way to make a cute 8 page book (love it )

see the zine above :)

We travel great distances with our ideas of home.

Metaphorically or physically crossing the sea we take our hopes and dreams and artefacts.

With instinct,intuition and collective experience we create

an idea of home.

the image above is one of the drawings in :-

Illusions of stability

Some house drawings

artists book available in limited edition

Jane O’Sullivan

2011

All that connects us is our tears ….we are all connected somewhere in the ether, the collective soul of the world.
People will always make romantic interpretations of home, it is central to us all to want to feel at home.
our home is a reflection of our selves.
Home is where the heart is ….

Here are some images from my work in the museum of country life.
It is a temporary installation , and will be gone in a few weeks.
I really enjoyed it , the work made itself as my collection of home related artefacts were perfect for our brief.
The installation is hiding away a little and has to be found but I like that aspect, my work is not loud or easy to read and where it is, suits it perfectly.
I still have books to print from my recent solo show and send of to the lovely people that ordered them (thank you !!)and want to go over to make a film of my show next week ...only 2 weeks left if you still have time to visit it.

feeling the full moon is right inside me

2011-05-17T13:38:00.009+01:00

my dear one Pat ...who gives me so much support mad about that girl :)
Richael also helped me a lot coming up to my solo mio show (love her) She is is making some beautiful work at the moment and is definately an emerging artist to watch. Go Shelly Go
wow ...I went to Dublin on sunday to see this show and do some light shopping with two of my girls ,we had a great day !
needlepoint from c.1960

do you remember me ?
2005

I am in a reflective mood for sure and today is full on reflection for me as I am quite connected to the moon ....here a few images that I want to share .
I am looking forward to installing a new piece of work within the irish museum of country life ....
Do you remember last year , my outside piece , well this time I will be inside .
Timing is a little tight with all the preperations that my solo show demanded , but it is such a lovely project that I could not let it pass me by.
My piece will be situated in two museum display cases and is called

you are as welcome as the flowers in may (all that connects us is our tears)

I will post images of it tommorow , Mayo Arts Squad (an artist led umbrella group) are addressing the poignancy of our ties to home,in a series of installations by individual artists and community groups.

would not violets grow from her heart.....YES it has opened and YES it was a dream come true xxx

2011-05-09T13:02:00.006+01:00

PART ONE

would not violets grow from her heart

solo show of new work
jane o'sullivan
custom house studios gallery
westport
co mayo
may 5th -june 6th

details

would not violets grow from her heart.....YES it has opened and YES it was a dream come true xxx

2011-05-09T12:36:00.005+01:00

PART TWO

I hope you enjoy these images , I am going to make a virtual tour video of the show in the next few days so you can see all the actual work !
Funny , it was kinda hard to do that on thursday at my dream opening !!!
ummm.....ummmmm am so happy am so grateful to all you wonderful people that came , many of whom made a lot of effort to get there in person (involving planes etc )....my parents and sister were definately guests of honour.
For all the people who couldnt thats cool , we couldnt have fitted you in anyways !!
I am only joking ,your presence was and is felt in many other ways which will sustain me for a very long long time.
love and respect
jane x

there is no going back tommorow is May and with it comes many new things to do.......

2011-04-30T22:33:00.007+01:00

a bit of my market stall on saturday
can you believe this cheeky little amethyst miner leprauchaun ?
I spotted him last week on Achill Island

the precautionary primroses ready for distribution on the thresholds

I am feeling very excited now , it is only 5 days till my opening , I am totally uncool to be so excited , I guess I just cannot do nonchalence.
Today was a beautiful day at the market and I enjoyed it with lots of well wishers giving me well wishes for thursday :)
We are on May -Eve and in Ireland a lot of folklore gathered around the auspicious day that is The first of May.
For indepth research The Year in Ireland Irish Calender Traditions by Kevin Danaher is brilliant , with whole chapters just on May Day or Bealtaine which is the celtic festival to welcome in the summer.
May -eve \Day was seen to be a day of much fairy mischief making,an inbetween mutable time when anything could happen,such was the forces of nature around.
One of my favourite precautions taken was the liberal scattering of primroses outside on the ground of the threshold of the house (front and back)
No fairy would be able to cross over this threshold ...I will be doing this myself tommorow definately.

one or two of these dolls head planters will be one of my post exhibiton treats to myself.

blackthorn blossoms are thankfully distracting me

2011-04-20T13:24:00.007+01:00

nb. the scarf is a vintage gucci one OMG how bonkers is it ?
wonderful !
...and I spied that lovely russian doll skirt on a woman waiting to buy olives from the stall opposite mine last saturday :)

...its all getting a little hectic but I guess it just has too ...I got the lovely glassine bags today (thanks laura) to put the books in for my opening :)
I was bought a guillotine for my opening present from dear Pat ! ....for cutting my book pages precisely.
all the framing paraphenalia arrived too ,drawings to be put in the wonderful frames (thank you aidan and mick) , glass cleaned , books to be printed ....and I am making sure to get out on my bike early in the morning (essential)

......it has been so lovely here the last few days, see the lovely old hooks in the derelict cottage lots of items have hung there over the years huh .
I am loving the blossom , it seems to appear overnight and just blinds you with its all encompassing white beauty !
It will be gone soon , I spied the huge lilac bush is about to bloom soon , its like an orchestra , all the flowering is at precise times in relays as and when we need it.

*** I want send my heartfelt greetings and thanks to all my friends for your love support and practical help coming up to this show (you know who you are xx)

***** late news
O.M.G Ritva thrilled that you are thrilled :)

invitation to the dark side :)

2011-04-13T17:48:00.003+01:00

I would love to see anyone that can get there .....allowances will be made for those in far flung places !

keeping going

2011-03-30T13:51:00.006+01:00

the two above are my favourites from yesterdays life drawing class which finishes next week :(

searching yesterday uncovered all these unread books which will be my reward soon :)

all is going quite steadily, I had a lovely day yesterday and visited the gallery where my solo show will be , it is a lovely space and the people who run it are sound.
In the evening I saw an amazing animated film The Illusionist the sequel to Sylvain Chomets masterpiece Belleville Rendez-vous.
The Illusionist is based on an unproduced script by Jaques Tati about a down at heel magician , struggling in the fading moments of variety theatre and a young girl Alice who joins him on his travels.
I was captivated from start to finish ,the finish made me cry and if you get the chance to see it ....do.
the illusionist trailer
sylvain chomet talking about animation

imagining all the new books I would love to have have just arrived in the post :)

2011-03-22T18:48:00.006Z

all above images are from around my studio today

I feel the need of new books and films ...this film and this film and this book and maybe this book and definately this book and finally if I could please get this wonderful book aswell they would keep me very engaged and happy when I get a break soon soon :)

channelling kate bush and trying to stay focused on the job in hand :)

2011-03-17T20:48:00.006Z

kate bush
still from wuthering heights 1978

I am getting all my work together now and measuring for frames and what not....I missed the st.patricks parade to make the most of a quite house and the intense concentration that is so rare for me to find ......I have aimed to make all my final choices of work by this sunday in time for the full moon.
(I simply have to as I am overwhelmed with all the work I have ...edit edit edit.)
And then I have a little film to put together (top secret ) and the artists books to finalize ,my statement to write up and decide on an image for my invitation and probably back to the market next saturday altho it is still absolutely freezing but needs must :)
I have exactly seven weeks till my opening from today.
I am thrilled that a very special woman has agreed to open my show (that is giving me a tingle)
I am looking forward to meeting the lovely customers who come to my market stall and dont have a clue about my upcoming show and all the soul searching I m going through !! they just want to know if I will sell those lovely cups for any less.

I was having a little break earlier and decided to re-visit the wonderous Kate Bush singing wuthering heights SO many years ago.
She is still one of my favourite artists and has remained challenging and single mindedly individual for over 30 years .
Love her ;)
I will NEVER forget being stunned by her when I saw her on telly when I was still at school.
Kate Bush original 1978 video for wuthering heights (european)
this one I LOVE even more....(american)
Read about Kate Bushs one and only ever tour (amazing )

everything is okay (really ....really)

2011-03-07T17:53:00.009Z

“and above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” (roald dahl)

I am preparing for my first solo show and there seems so much to do (aswell as all the regular stuff)
Its all a bit spinny and whizzy and I want to run away.
..........everything will be okay (it has to be)

I spent a lovely time looking at the work of a russian born illustrator living in the us yelena bryksenkova
It was thanks to her that I remembered the lovely Dahl quote above :)

marching bravely into march-ness

2011-03-02T22:42:00.010Z

french needlepoint book 1974

life drawing from tuesday
ink on found paper
more lifedrawings

happy march said 10 year old queen meábh to me yesterday
happy march then I say to all :)
this post has an orangey kind of feel to it funny enough to match my glowy feeling right now :)

nick cave dancing in the video for his song fifteen feet of pure white snow makes me feel glowy too :)

I look at life from both sides now ....from inside out and still somehow its lifes illusions I recall.... but still I dont know life at all.....

2011-02-24T13:33:00.011Z

All work above is work in progress
ink pastel and acrylic on paper

kirsten dunst in sophia coppolas film as the young marie -antoinette on her way to meet her future husband

I like these irreverent lively drawings they make me smile :)
ink on paper

.......looking at both sides (of my drawings) as always.......... why is the wrong side always preferable ????

I enjoyed watching sophia coppolas film marie antoinette last night , it is very shallow but so beautiful....that blue inside her coach (sigh)
watch annie leibovitz on the set of the film photograph kirsten dunst for Vogue magazine.

I am so glad to be back at life drawing classes , had fun making lots of quite quick and not careful drawings :)
I am enjoying spinning around on my bike.
I actually saw with my own eyes a hare this week , I was thrilled and feel it necessary to place one soon in a drawing.

the lovely camilla engman is collaborating with ana ventura and it was good to see anas lovely blog and links.

a blue bird too,I'm sending you. to bring you every Happiness

2011-02-21T08:45:00.002Z

(for pat)
ink watercolour pastel and marker on waxed paper
feb

studio

no words at the moment :)

Thank You Cendrine Rovini ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿

2011-02-16T10:21:00.009Z

I have been in communication now for over one year with Cendrine an artist who I am proud to call my friend.
We found each others work through flickr and just through commenting have built up a super and supportive relationship.

We have made two collaborations of a shared drawing series entitled drawings from our hearts.

Cendrine has had many sucessful shows and publications.

She works with other artists aswell.
Mostly she works towards the investigation of what she calls ANIMA MUNDI.
By looking at her huge body of work you can work out what she means by anima mundi.

I have wanted to make a little homage to cendrine for a long time now and as you all are so aware ...there is never enough time

So here it IS ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿
featuring some images that I particularly like.
Cendrine is an important artist .
She looks very deeply into the connection of animal,spirit and the earth.

Thank you Cendrine for all you have inspired in me :)

its definately coming ,definately ❁❁❁

2011-02-10T11:52:00.005Z

there is a bird in her heart
pencil *ink* watercolour* marker* and acrylic on tissue paper
feb 2011

I had a lovely morning a few fields back just pottering and walking with the dogs and my beloved today.
I felt I had stepped back in time as I wandered around a collapsed old homestead , nature reclaims with such force , that there is not much evidence left of what was once a home.
It is both sunny and misty ,birds singing quite enthusiastically .
I am glad of many things , there is always light.......in the darkness ...always.

I have mentioned this magical blog before and I have to again , it offers me so much from his beautiful writing to his wide areas of interest , he (the gentle author) is like a bird.
I strongly recomend that you take a spin with him , you never ever can guess where he will go next !
generations of wallpapers in a 17th century spitalfields house
used clothes dealers
mark petty a wonderful local character

you can never hold back spring and being generally mesmerised ❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

2011-02-02T12:41:00.008Z

temperance
ink on paper
jan-feb 2011

so its february all ready !
❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁
I am in love all over again with mary poppins , everything about her makes sense to me :)
The film is giving me loads of ideas.
The bird woman in the film mary poppins is a character that I am especially mesmerised with at the moment.
Look at her in this film clip.

feed the birds

I saw a hare on monday , it was nearly white because of the recent adverse weather ......have we all turned white too ??

I am amazed that it is february, although it still is definately wintertime here and I am still enjoying hibernation (with occasional forrays for food and light)
The group show finishes this saturday at 3pm if anyone reading this still has time to go , but I understand if you cannot .
I have been enjoying looking into new corners for my work in progress ....so far I am not sure where it is going .....but I trust it
I hope that all are well out there .
* enjoy
* love
* smile
* make amazing work
* and most importantly

ALWAYS BELIEVE

tom waits singing
you can never hold back spring
❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

a loverly day ❁ lovely day ❁❁❁ lovely day ❁❁❁❁..a lovely day :)

2011-01-23T16:21:00.011Z

margot dreaming of the moon
new new new work in progress❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

was SO good to have a little trip with my dear friend shelly yesterday ....our sole purpose being me taking her to the divine meet you here cafe run in the unlikely location of ballaghadereen.
well not only did the cafe give us plenty of renewed energy but so did the little town (we had such fun for a few hours)
I love nothing more than to wander aimlessly , it always frees up my mind and then I get really clear connections pinging in that I have to hurriedly write down.
I wish everyone a busy and enjoyable week :)

intelligent clashing
the amazing miss julia pott

some random out takes that just seem to express how I am feeling

2011-01-19T23:00:00.008Z

film still
this is not the end only the begining
4:26mins looped digital video film
part of a song for edith
november
my beech trees
older brighter work
watercolour on old book
some older work that I still love :)
watercolour on glass

I was drawing today.......
........so were two of my girls ♡♡
I just had too, it was the full moon and it cant be avoided on a full moon.
I always feel happier when I am drawing .

songs and questions opening

2011-01-15T20:42:00.005Z

yvonne woods susan montgomery and moi !
rachel agnew missing unfortunately at time of photo

all work above is part of my work called a song for edith

well its open now and thank you to my family and friends who were able to make it , you are the best :)
It was lovely to meet the other artists and I can imagine us working together one day.
My photographs came out very dark :( and that is why I have not posted any of yvonne,susan and rachels work until I get some better ones (which I will soon soon)
The gallery is run to a very professional standard by sean ,rob and sarah (thanks guys)and it was a real pleasure to work with them.

The show is on until febuary 4th and you can find out all the opening times etc here.

searching for light and finding it

2011-01-13T12:45:00.011Z

the series britain in pictures was published in 1941 and was done to boost morale and ensure certain aspects of life were preserved, read here for more information ...I love the design and colours of them and the information within is so interestingly presented.I have a few more but on saturday was delighted to add the music halls and fair book and english women by edith sitwell.

dear tom thumb from the book below

notice my favourite new broach that I got in Dublin last week in a lovely vintage shop called om diva ,it is enamelled metal and I LOVE swallows

with the girls back at school now and the market over for a while I feel it maybe soon time enough to make some new work.
I am of course looking forward to the opening of my part in the group show songs and questions tonight but I am really feeling the need to go into my work in some other way ....deeper , simpler ,not sure yet but it has led me to where I am now and now I feel I want to go on .
I search endlessly for clues and I see them in my imediate vicinity , last week the beautiful rainbow, my magical day on my own in Dublin where I added to my book collection and visited the suberb douglas hyde gallery to catch the last day of the jockum nordström show.
I am cycling again as the roads thaw and the energy this stirs up of good feelings is a song to me .
I want to thank again all of you who have encouraged my work and let you know that when I feel directionless I can always remember that you are there.in my everyday life , my virtual life and in my imagined life which to me have always been one in the same ;)

oh by the way ....
so so glad that dear ritva is blogging again
such beauty within her blog lumetta

songs and questions .....

2011-01-07T14:58:00.003Z

I am delighted to be in this group show which opens next week :)
more details here

hand made presents.proseco.cake.friends.walking.poems.hugs.love.pancakes.more love.....................(my birthday was today and I am smiling)

2011-01-03T20:59:00.010Z

some of my presents :)
me THIS MORNING lying atop of the heather up on our local mountain in the sun :)
I have been totally spoilt the last two days ! it was my birthday today but yesterday was the start of it lots of lovely memories of friends and family and their love for me.
I am truelly blessed , what a lovely start to the new year !

we are always at the
begining of things
in the fragile moments
that holds the power
of life.
we are always at the
morning of the world

francois cheng
extract from Heartland

thank you Pat for transcribing these lovely words into my birthday card..... which I share now on my blog xx

Do you like markets as much as me ?
well , you may enjoy this funny (to me) 1950's film about the london markets narrated by the iconic Sid James.

happy new year (always believe)

2010-12-31T18:01:00.006Z

I was out with the dogs and brought back some holly to plant ,a little holly tree would be nice :)
I hope wishes can be fufilled for us all.
always believe

nick cave (love love love him !)
spitalfields life what a beautifully written blog all about london behind the doors , the shadows.... I am addicted to it :)
I really want this paint tin but its a bit too much really .....
the moon and the sledgehammer....ummmm this film is so strange , so compelling ( a family living in woodland virtually cut of from civilisation in the 1970's) and its my favourite christmas present

looking backwards to find my way to come

2010-12-22T08:23:00.007Z

all work above 2008-2009

we are suspended in deep whiteness and cold at the moment and it has made me feel both melancholic and strangely euphoric ...all very otherworldly atmospheres are very near to me as I look out of my window.
I was looking back at some of my older work , some that I have never shown here and it gives me hope that I WILL be able to find my thread again .
I am impatient to resume drawing as the making of artefacts is over now (for a few months~) THANK YOU so so so much all the people who came out and supported me at the market stall which I enjoyed more than ever this year xx
I am joyful to now have a bit more time to make some things for me !!)

look ! she even wears those wellies into the city of Galway- a day in the life of a country mouse who braves weather to triumphantly ring the bells

2010-12-19T22:32:00.008Z

this is ME coming down from the medieval bell tower YESTERDAY of St. Nicholas cathedral in Galway , which is behind my market stall....the bell ringer Jilly , also has a market stall on saturdays and invited me to join her !
I rang out away in a manger and did a peal of bells with her , it was SO EXCITING !!

driving to Galway early yesterday morning (scary.....)

me and fiona at my stall
THATS what makes it worth all the work and trauma of braving the ice and snow ...dear fiona made me and A some lovely cup cakes and brought them specially in to me ! (thanks fiona xx)

lucilita (detail)
ink 2010
....relevent to how I feel juggling the whole time ....
feel awful sick today caught hell of a cold (not that unusual I suppose after standing out in the freezing cold !)

magical landscape (again)

2010-12-18T05:04:00.003Z

today is my last market for this year , thank you shelly for helping me and my girls who have made lovely dolls face broaches (images to follow)
there is very heavy snow , I DO hope that I get there today , after all the hard work .
The full moon will be here soon ,and all looks well.
I wish all reading this happiness and a lovely day .

if I could I would LOVE a subscripition to this venerable magazine
raw vision

Happy St.Lucias day etc.....

2010-12-13T16:55:00.005Z

I made my self a new dress last week and have been wearing it for days and days !
I sent all the zines off at last to the contributors.
Everyone seemed really pleased with it and loved getting their free record too !
Oh its been so pretty the last few weeks here.

St lucia 's day

for the love of friday (e.e.cummings as promised)

2010-12-10T17:02:00.003Z

stranded (serenely) in my ice palace:)

2010-12-06T09:46:00.007Z

me stranded in the freezing fog with my magical rabbit to keep me company
detail from a drawing for my a song for edith series
my garden last week(when there was sun to cheer my heart)
all that connects us is our tears
ink on photograph
2008
pen on linen embroidered hankerchief
2009

.....well ,we are officially stranded with the schools closed, events cancelled , warnings not to venture out unless necessary (can you believe it !!)
its true , our main roads are ok, though freezing fog is hampering the diligent grit machine drivers ,all secondary roads , country roads are un safe and we have run out of salt in our county again .
....but one must rally round and that is what I am doing.
I have started to upload my house drawings series to my flickr page .
I look forward to resolving and completing this series as soon as time here allows me :)

Thank you SO much to the lovely people that braved the weather to visit me at my stall on saturday ( I am eternally grateful)
The brown and black spectacular , see previous post , has found a new home !!
I have two more market days, saturday 11th&18th december and then I am in a group show at the Ballina Arts Centre opening in the first week of January 2011.(more details to follow)

walking and drawing (sort of the same thing really)

2010-12-01T07:45:00.006Z

ophelia
pencil and gouache on old card
studio table last night
journal page
journal page
my towser in the snow yesterday

one thing I know is that I am most content when I draw.
I stayed in my journal drawing , I look forward to stepping outside it tommorow :)
.......the other is that I love being with my dogs, everywhere looks so magical outside.
I think I like winter

have a look at the very interesting victorian blood book

spectaculars in the snow .............

2010-11-29T14:08:00.008Z

Thanks to art blog the pigeon curd !
Shayne is a photographer who hosts a personally curated selection of images
the pigeon curd that fall within her very particular radar.....I like all that she does:)

.........it has been snowing here in Ireland and I LOVE snow it makes me feel so pure and positive ...like a new blank page.
I have been busy making some lovely bits for my dear old market stall.
last years spectaculars
a nice post from a year ago

poetic musings ....

2010-11-22T20:07:00.009Z

the last few days have been bright bright bright and the full moon last evening was splendid .
I am thinking a little towards my solo show next may , and what I will call it ....
she grows her own shadow
those without shadows
the embroidered sleep......hmmmm, I am sure I will change my mind 100 times again.
I am being helped by Rilke the poet and Gaston Bachelards book the poetics of space , which I havent put down in three years , so deep and rich that it sounds different ,looks new every time I read it.
I was delighted to belatedly come across the moon and the sledgehammer (an amazing forgotten film)
this film will be screened at the douglas hyde gallery trinity college dublin my absolute favourite art galley this thursday go go go go (if you can)also on show at the gallery is the first solo show in Ireland of swedish artist jockum nordstrom ( I am going to see this exhibition no matter what !)

YaY !!! drawings from our hearts (second series) an artist collaboration between Jane O'Sullivan and Cendrine Rovini

2010-11-16T19:02:00.005Z

Drawings From Our Hearts
Part two

she grows her own shadow
oliskobolice
cendrine rovini
I think of you (le tout son cœr)
la naissance des fleurs
cendrine rovini
o rose,bloom ever in my lonely heart
la robe de blanc
cendrine rovini
everything will be okay
masquée de forêt
I will wait for you
le mantel d'oiseaux bleu-timide
cendrine rovini

You are most welcome to this second online exhibition of work that I have created in dialogue with the artist Cendrine Rovini.
These drawings were made between september and october 2010.
First is my drawing and underneath it is the drawing of cendrines that inspired me to make a new companion drawing.
If you go over to cendrines blog you will see her new drawings that she has made in answer to drawings of mine that she finds interesting.
We called this collaboration drawings from our hearts
They are an important part of my practice as an artist.

cendrines site
cendrines flickr
drawings from our hearts part one and a bit !
part one

the embroidered sleep (always believe)

2010-11-16T10:30:00.003Z

pencil and watercolour on paper
november 16th 2010

.....there is always more .
sometimes you have to move things including yourself to find them :)

midwinter ups and downs

2010-11-15T07:32:00.006Z

pen on wallpaper
2009
sometimes it gets too much and I know the only way out is to make new work .
This week I have to sit down and do that :)

me transforming into a copper beech tree and special stuff at this time eternal........

2010-11-10T12:00:00.009Z

the zine cover
me and elida at the tinderbox artists collective stall
esmerelda sold on saturday , she sure is pretty :)
oh ....!!!
this is a cute book I found in the portobello market for like 1p or something , I love the colours
aiming for groundedness this morning
transforming into a kind of tree goddess , I cant remember her name(Daphne ?).......but I would like to be her :)

Its been a very interesting few weeks.
I loved being part of independants daywhich took place sunday just gone in Dublin ........ and the zine got finished and all looked well.
Thank you sincerely to richael for helping me out last minute when the cutting out overwhelmed me ie.340 pages to be cut individually to the exact size.She saved the day.
And then to the sparkling elida ...who I am so happy to have met through tinderbox , what a dynamo , a comic book artist , animator ,.......so many talents , one huge heart and ( I am in love)
I am so used to working on my own , geographically and artistically that these last few weeks collaborating and being in a gang have been a blast.
Thankfully I have my collaborative work with the super talented cendrine rovini to keep me going , and one day I hope to meet her .

I am back !!!

2010-11-02T18:24:00.008Z

life drawings

Hello there ♥
I had an interesting time in england, spending it with my parents and sister and I am glad that I can :)
I am very busy and challenged with a tinderbox project at the moment .
It is called the tinderbox heartstrings collective of song drawings.
You can read about it here here and here
I found lots of nice things to amuse and inspire me in England (I always do)
Life drawing was hard hard hard today and I was amazed when I finally produced the last two drawings which I post here.
The museum of everything was my highlight of our one day in London
and if you are able to see it do do do it finishes in december.
It was unbelievable and you could take no photos so.....believe me !

yellow leaves smiling at me, life drawings and life........

2010-10-21T17:48:00.004+01:00

Pat my best friend who I visited this week (love her)
below are the saved life drawings from tuesday

I am going to visit my folks over the pond tommorow , myself and Blathnaid , we are looking forward to it very much.
I will post some nice things on my return or even while I am over there as this time I am bringing leads and stuff :)
I wish all my lovely blog friends the very best ,isnt autumn (fall) magical oh.....sigh that is really me smiling at the yellowness of today (bless my innocence!!))

lovely lovely website of u.k illustrator etc mr nick white

life

2010-10-15T07:49:00.004+01:00

some of my life drawings from my life drawing class tuesday........ that I feel have maybe something (life ?) in them.

I find life drawing very hard and it makes me feel humble to my means of drawing when I look around me and there are big expressive charcoal studies , correct looking drawings etc....but I know I can only make what I am able to do and lately I am begining to realise thats all any one can do (its humble and truthful and if it is lucky to have a smidge of life within it .....I am happy (for a while !)

doll broaches are an important part of my work :)

2010-10-15T07:31:00.004+01:00

richael and towser on the sofa in my studio on wednesday

I LOVE making these funny things.
They always sell really quickly on the stall, its so rare that they make an appearance .
Thats because I have so few of the heads now and they are not made anymore.(and I do have to be in a particular type of mood to make them)
I had a lovely week sewing up stuff for my stall.
I went to life drawing and actually liked three of the 20 drawings I made .
Having my darling artist friend richael around certainly made a difference ,sometimes its nice to work with others and she is such a dear.I tidied up my studio too and I feel more productive now.
I hope you have a lovely weekend if you are reading this :)

the story of the happy dress

2010-10-11T16:45:00.007+01:00

do you remember this dress ?
joan as fantastic customer this is her new happy dress
she was so happy that she had to get these boots (lucky girl)

I was in a great bookshop this morning

delicate
tentative
truth of feeling

swans .......(hmmmmm)
....these are just some of the reaccuring thoughts in my head right now.
I am going to make some broaches with vintage dolls heads that a lovely old nun (who used to be an art teacher) gave me.
This morning richael and I took down our installations .
This morning a lovely austrian artist in residence at the custom house bought a piece of work from a song for edith
I am truelly blessed :)

thank you everyone X........... thank you world X

2010-10-07T12:59:00.011+01:00

emerging from the freezing cold but fantastic abandoned garage that held our show.
my treasured comments book
film still

~I was at the exhibition yesterday and it was wonderful to get a chance to look at the other artists work.
Myself and richael looked after the gallery and in the evening went to the glorious french cirque trottola .......pure magic ;)

I have to say I feel very very lucky to have so many people wishing me well , thank you to all who were able to visit my show
a song for edith,who emailed and sent texts ! who left lovely comments on my blog and who gave me the much appreciated encouragement to go on .
This year has been a very important one for me , the one in which I finally emerged !!
For one who was put on to a special table for slow eaters at school, it figures that I take my time (its ok , I am not permenantly damaged about being labelled a slow eater :) )
I have met through my blog, through tinderbox ,flickr,hand drawing, through college...... some monumental artists too numerous to mention , some I am still in contact with and I thank them all, for their braveness and their doggedness and their work.
I specially thank those fleeting connections, I heard you .
Its like an oscars speech this !
Anyway a song for edith comes down this sunday @ 6pm :(.....I have to reflect a little , and develop stuff more for my solo show next may 2011. at the custom house gallery.
I havent a CLUE as to what to do ! but thats ok.

resting and feeling in betweeny

2010-10-04T12:44:00.005+01:00

I have a lovely old leather briefcase full of drawings from the last two or three years , which I place in a quiet space on my saturday market stall just in case.....
and sometimes people do actually pull one out and buy it .
I always think that this is very sensitive of them because to see the drawings in and amongst all the vintage china , handmadeness and all ....is very special for me .
This little pierrot lady has been hidden under the pile of drawings by a woman who is hoping to get it next week .
I will let you know :)

I need this locket !!
I ♥ Grayson Perry

opening *

2010-10-01T09:22:00.008+01:00

film still
the rose tree house

A song For Edith
-is an installation of drawings with a film element-
it is my desire to set up a poetic space for re-imagining Edith Holdens life and tragic death.
So little is known of this artist and naturalist who is eternally connected to the well known publishing phenomenon The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
The diary was found by her great niece in the 1970s (fifty years after Ediths tragic death whilst only in her 40,s)
She has always held a personal fascination with me and seems to accompany me on my own journey as an artist.
When I recently discovered that she died of drowning by falling into the river Thames at Kew (whilst reaching out for some chestnut branches to draw) she became marked indeliably in my mind.
My own work is rooted in the expression of personal and fleeting moments in the time between the life we are in and the life we would like to be in.
The site of my investigation rests firmly within the space between these worlds.

I am tired tired tired....but feel relieved that last night went well.
It is very special to see my work up in a good space and people looking at it , that is all I could wish for .
Now I hope that I will be able to keep making work :)
Thank you to all who came and left lovely comments in my book and that let me know they will visit the show next week.
Also thank you to the visual arts committee (ian caroline and breda xx) who invited me to show , therefore validating what I do.

Hope (as promised and as needed always xx) Ken Kiff/pretty biscuits dyptych (just because) and work in progress

2010-09-29T12:19:00.006+01:00

I love the back of this drawing , hand drawing posted the both sides a few days ago take a look and see which one you like :D
this book is my favourite inspiration du jour
ken would have loved these biscuits if he were still alive , my youngest daughter had a birthday party last week.
Hope
Richael Carroll
Richael installing her piece on monday

Richael has made a beautiful work which is to the right of mine in the exhibition.
She is a dear friend who graduated this year from textile desigh\fine art and I am delighted that she has a piece of work in the INVITED show which as you know if you have been paying attention opens tommorow at 6pm !!
I think she has made a great use of the available space for her piece hope

cendrine my dear collaborator has just launched a lovely artists book !
It is called Le tissage de la forêt,

Hastings garage show nearly ready....opens 6pm THIS thursday !!

2010-09-28T07:32:00.003+01:00

my film will be going IN the little black box ! to be viewed through the gap.

yesterday with the help of dear aidan and richael I installed my show a song for edith into a great space within an old derelict garage.(it is part of a group show called INVITED which I was invited (duh ,,,to do ! )
It came at an ideal time as I feel that song for edith has become itself.
Last week I cleaned it up and painted the walls a bit , but it was already mostly white therefore easy to do .
I have just a little cross fade to smooth out on my film and all will be well , oh and re-do my artists statement .
Tommorow I will show you richaels beautifully poignant installation .

this is not the end only the begining (a song for edith)

2010-09-22T09:44:00.005+01:00

film still
a still from my film which is what I am working on at the moment , it will be about 4.30 mins on a loop.
The show INVITED will open next thursday 30th september in hastings garage fairview westport co mayo not sure of time yet .I am going to see the space in the next few days ,it is an old empty industrial space and I have the old office which is 10ft by 15 ft.
I am looking forward to seeing the other artists work and to finishing my film :D
I hope to get more time soon to visit my favourite blogs and today I wish you all well if you are reading this and may all flow ❤

london visit part two

2010-09-20T07:20:00.007+01:00

edvard munch

Here are some more images from my trip last week .
I am feeling quite turned upside down from all the events within the visit but I know that I have to be strong and work through them ...they are the big questions about life\death, why we are here ......
Thats why I love life so much , the life of a street , a market , the people in a place ,all of this is so vibrant in east london .
The last three images are from walthamstow.
4** a lovely trimmings shop
5**a real life ....hindu chariot racing preperation !
I could not believe my luck when I chanced upon these guys washing the golden animals for the festival tommorow.
6**in a book life....hindu vahana animals ,this was a lovely book on woodcarving which was too big and heavy to cart back to Ireland , it was in a charity shop in the morning .
The amazing thing was , it pre-empted the scene above , that of the men getting their vavaras ready ,which I saw in the afternoon !
this image on cendrines suberb blog
hortus noctis is probably a vavara .....isnt it wonderful :)

london visit part one

2010-09-15T19:36:00.010+01:00

lorna crabbe

***here are some selected images from a very intense and unexpectedly uplifting visit (funeral of a dear woman who was also an artist)

"Lorna's wonderful drawing is not from my recent trip ,it just looks good with them and I have been meaning to show it as I WANT it !! and she wont let me have it :(
Lorna Crabbe
The middle three images are from the fantastic William Morris gallery in Walthamstow East London.
We visited it on the day before the funeral, go if you can and look at all the arts and crafts era drawings textiles and furniture (I LOVE it there)
The last image is from a book of 1970,s illustrations,which belonge to our absent friend whose presense I feel very much still.She had loads of wonderful art books and it was my pleasure and honour to look at them in the evening in the cozy nest she had created with her husband :)
this illustration is obviously influenced by alphonse mucha ,but I love it still :)

the last days of summer and some new work.....

2010-09-09T20:21:00.003+01:00

things merely are
ink marker and acrylic on paper on board
she fell deeply into herself
ink marker and acrylic on paper on board

.....last friday it was his birthday and we cycled out to a favourite spot for fresh coffee and french butter biscuits.
It was extra special because I know we will have very few sunny days left like this.
The two drawings are for a group show called double vision,all the work will be the same size and from all the current and graduated students from my old art college.It is just one of the many exhibitions held during the westport arts festival
I am working towards finishing my film for the exhibition INVITED in Hastings garage ....cross your fingers for me:D

interesting art and design books

slowly slowly getting back to work.....and a news flash !!!!

2010-09-03T21:23:00.006+01:00

moi sewing winnie the pooh elements into an average everyday skirt :)
La tippet

my vintage dress and scarf hanging up on my balcony shutter last week in Donostia (weep weep....)

**here is my studio before I went on holiday .
Aswell as drawing ,thinking, napping and reading, I also make clothes to sell on my market stall here in my attic studio.
It takes up a lot of my time but it allows me to make art aswell (I like to think they help each other)
I make fairly improbable and quite dressing up style clothing from older pieces and deconstructed vintage trimmings \clothing.
People seem to like them and at the moment I am enjoying making these tippets from felt which I make from boiling old knitwear (hee hee :D it is kind off mad but fun !!)

news flash !!

I am thrilled to announce that I have been offered my first solo show !!
It will take place next year 2011 in the custom house gallery westport co mayo.
I am also in a group show INVITED at this years westport arts festival which takes place in october.
I will show my ongoing work a song for edith which will include a film element (more details to follow)
I spent the day today making c.ds of irish music and trying to write in euskara which is the basque language (you try it ) and spanish to the wonderful people we met in Donostia.
The parcels have gone off in the post now so I can concentrate on finishing my little film (and a few other things too) and remain a little focused.

Eskerrick asko Donostia !! (thank you San Sebastián) part one .......

2010-08-31T17:33:00.006+01:00

eskerrick asko !
that is basque for thank you Donostia.
Donostia is the Basque name for their beautiful city (known more commonly as its Spanish name San Sebastián)
We are just back from a lovely break in this most exciting and beautiful of cities.
I feel moved and privledged to have been welcomed by these down to earth , passionate people, specially when I tried to speak euskara , with the help of a little dictionary we were given in a bar.
My memories are fading already as I type , I dont want to loose anything.
We swam,cycled on their wonderful city cycle paths,ate lovely pintxo (tapas),walked everywhere,enjoyed the warm air on our impoverished Irish skin :)

*1 how beautifully is this book wrapped !! I cant open it and show you the wonders inside it yet , I love looking at the wrapping.
*2 loved this image in our local bookshop window.
*3 hand written sign in the cutest little cake shop.
*4 so sad I could not afford this bathing hat it was 25 euros in a very chic chemist in the old city which although beautiful, was too touristy and overpriced to me.I prefered our area of Antigua , down town.
*5 this was Queen Marie -Christine s bathing house ! isnt it fantastic.