Brian McDonagh Artist Sligo

Brian McDonagh Artist Sligo

Erie Canal Exhibition Schedule

                                           Troy, Summer 2010  oil on canvas 20 x 24 ins
Erie Canal Exhibition Schedule

enclosed details of the Exhibition based on the erie canal I am included in -
Due to tour 3 venues in the US from November to December -2010

Drawings from the archive - (ongoing series)

Fishing Boats, Gozo island, 2000

Pastel on paper, 9 x 8 ins

On a small island off Malta, they painted their

bright fishing boats, so they could be seen far out at sea if lost.

The boats were lurid like a mirage on the beach.

The Libyan sea blazed on the horizon, next stop north Africa.

Barcelona Window 1998

Pastel on paper 11 x 8 ins

From the appartment you could see the little table cloths the catalans hung out to dry. The square framed windows into windows, a city of washlines and coloured flags against the hot bleached walls.

Achill Window, June 2010

View from a window on Achill island - June 2010, could make a lovely pastel drawing - planning a few.

Dusk Lovers, Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 ins, 2008-10

                                                         Dusk Lovers, Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 ins, 2008 - 10

A painting that started out as an abstract autumnal woodland - then got transformed
by two deer that emerged from the trees and took over - shy visitants on a dusky eve.
Took alot of paint over the years before they ran off into the wilderness.
Hope to show this painting at my solo show at the Hamilton Gallery, Sligo in November 4th 2010-
'Light Years, New & and selected works'
a sort of mini - retrospective!

Canal Lock, Hudson River, 2010, Acrylic on paper, 12 x 9 ins.

Canal Lock, Hudson River,

Acrylic on paper, 12 x 9 ins,

To be exhibited in the Erie Canal exhibition

in New York later in the year - I did this after

visiting the area where the canal starts - as a storm

gathered over head.

Exhibition schedule;

Reinspired

An Artistic Navigation of the Erie Canal

September 9th - 24th, 2010

World Canal Conference

Rochester Plaza

70 State st.,

Rocherster, NY

Oct 15th - Nov 30th, 2010

Renssler Polytechnic Institute,

Folsom Library,

Troy; New York State.

Dec 1st - Dec 30th, 2010

Italian Cultural Institute

686 Park Avenue,

New York City, NY

Studies from 'Beach Scene'; After Degas (1834-1917). Oil on paper, 2008 / 09

Beach Scene - after Degas, I & II

Oil on paper - 2008-09

Two Oil s on paper unearthed from studio clean out - painted them in 08/09;

based on a lovely Degas painting - 'Beach Scene' - which is

in the National Gallery in Dublin - one of the minor masterpieces

by the great French genius who only produced masterpieces, in oil and pastel.

I had planned to do an entire show of small works, drawings and oils

based on this one painting - maybe i still will!

Jerusalem 2 -stroke, (Donkey at rest) , 2010, Acrylic on paper, 8 x 12 ins.

'Jerusalem 2 stroke ' Acrylic on paper, 8 x 12 ins,   (Jerusalem 2 stroke is the nicname given to donkeys by farmers in Ireland - relating to its slow 'engine' speed and biblical origins)
Here is my contribution to the Scottish mental health's 'How to paint a Donkey' based on the poem by Arab/American poet Naomi Shihab Nye

organised by Louise Greig, a book of Donkey paintings is forthcoming -















How to paint a Donkey

By Naomi Shihab Nye



She said the head was too large

the hooves too small



I could clean my paintbrush

but I couldn't get rid of that voice



while they watched

I crumpled him



let his blue body

stain my hand



I cried when he hit the can

She smiled. I could try again,



maybe this is what I unfold in the dark

deciding for the rest of my life



That Donkey was just the right size.

Just home from Vermont residency June 2010

Troy, NY state, USA

Just returned from great trip to Vermont USA, met many artists

generous friendly folk, great landscapes, plenty of new connections made.

Plus did some art over there connected with Doug Lazarus and his

extraordinary Erie Canal Art project.

Planning to exhibit my Vermont drawings as a series - sometime, somewhere
in the future - what lovely light - high and bright, in the green state!

Am currently editing drawings in the studio - so many -

years of work there, 'too many notes' as they used to

say about Mozart.