The Olive Tree
Drawing-Paintings
'The Whole of Her.' Inktense pencil, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, chalk pastel and pen-and-ink on rough tooth handmade paper, 56 x 76 cm, float mounted in a white wood box frame. €1,000.
'Layers of Time.' Inktense pencil, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, chalk pastel and pen-and-ink on rough tooth handmade paper, 56 x 76 cm, float mounted in a white wood box frame. on Handmade Paper, 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800
'The Earth Within Her.' Inktense pencil, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, chalk pastel, red earth and pen-and-ink on rough tooth handmade paper, 56 x 76 cm, float mounted in a white wood box frame. on Handmade Paper, 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800 and Red Earth on Handmade Paper, 56 x 76 cm. Float mounted in a white wood box frame, €1,000
'Tree Symphony.' Inktense pencil, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, chalk pastel and pen-and-ink on rough tooth handmade paper, 56 x 76 cm, float mounted in a white wood box frame. €1,000
'Still Beating Heart.' Inktense pencil, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, chalk pastel and pen-and-ink on rough tooth handmade paper, 56 x 76 cm, float mounted in a white wood box frame. €1,000 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800
'Tree Geology.' Inktense pencil, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, chalk pastel and pen-and-ink on rough tooth handmade paper, 56 x 76 cm, float mounted in a white wood box frame. €1,000 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800
'Inner Depths.' Inktense pencil, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, chalk pastel, gold paint and pen-and-ink on rough tooth handmade paper, 56 x 76 cm, float mounted in a white wood box frame. €1,000 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800 Gold Paint on Handmade Paper, 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800
'The Simple Truth.' Charcoal and Charcoal Powder on rough tooth handmade Paper, 56 x 76 cm. Unframed, €800
The Naked Truth - Detail
'Where Secrets Lie Hidden.' A drawing-painting built up in layers on fine watercolour paper using Derwent Inktense pencils, watercolour, gouache and dipping pen-and-ink. Image size 23 x 30 cm. Mounted in an ivory-coloured mount, its final measurements are 39 x 46 cm. SOLD
'Woven History.' This drawing-painting was built up in layers on fine watercolour paper using Derwent Inktense pencils, watercolour, gouache and dipping pen-and-ink. The image measures 23 x 30 cm. Mounted in an ivory-coloured mount. Measures 39 x 46 cm. SOLD
'Firmly Rooted.' This drawing-painting was built up in layers on fine watercolour paper, using Derwent Inktense pencils, watercolour, gouache and dipping pen-and-ink. Image size 22 x 27 cm. Mounted in an ivory-coloured mount, its final measurements are 38 x 43 cm. €350
Broken but not Dead. Chalk pastel and charcoal sketch of one view of the ancient olive tree, in yellow ochres, pale brown, purple, grey and green. Mounted in a white mount. Image size 33 x 28, mount size 48 x 43 cm. €100
Deep Rooted. Ink and gouache on watercolour paper, presented in an off-white mount; image size 28 x 39 cm, mount size 42 x 53 cm. €100
Inner Landscape, Acrylic and graphite on stretched canvas. 50 x 60 cm. €500 + post and packaging
The Story Behind the Works
On the cusp of the New Year I met the ancient olive tree that finally broke a creative drought that had gripped me for years. ‘God’s fountain’ rained on my parched artist’s soul. (The Greek word for epiphany, Θεοφάνεια, breaks down into ‘theo’ [god], and ‘fanaiea’ [fountains])
This tree emanated an almost tangible aura that touched me from 50 metres away. I was profoundly and powerfully awestruck by an irresistible force, instantly understood intuitively, but only dimly comprehended intellectually.
I knew I had found my muse. I began sketching her gnarled and twisted limbs, the warp-and-weft of her tangled roots, her tattered amputations and her many textures. Working in her presence, I found that I could only tackle small parts of the complex labyrinth of branches and roots, and only for short stretches of time. Every nuanced texture contained centuries of history, palpable and overwhelming.
I started tentatively with small, rough explorations in different media, and finally girded my loins to progress to larger works. By the time I was working on the eighth variation I felt I knew her a bit better and was able to work more freely - introducing new mediums now - the Ibiza’s red earth and charcoal powder.
I exhibited this series in a solo exhibition at Aubergine Restaurant, San Miguel, Ibiza, in September 2019. I videoed the opening night during a quiet moment (see below.)
There is more work for me to do here, not just personally, but also on the Tree Project that has evolved out of it, collecting global 'Tree Stories,' people's creative responses to trees,. There is a hand-written book of these in the pipeline.
How my own work will develop remains a mystery to me for now. I am sure it will come to me.