Seeking Inspiration
Since my semi-retirement in 2017 which coincided with my rediscovery of my artistic talent, I have used my travel experiences to inspire my artwork. I cannot escape the fact that all travel has an environmental impact but I do make the effort to find airlines that offset their carbon emissions. In principle, the fact that I have decided to document my travels and the environments I visit with photography together with painting and sketching, gives me an opportunity to share what I witness with a wider audience.
Iceland
In 2022 I made a long anticipated one week trip to Iceland. I have been fascinated with its geology and geography ever since schooldays and was determined to see as much as I could in a limited time period. I therefore opted for good camera equipment rather than art materials as I was travelling light with insufficient time and colder weather to consider plein air painting. I brought a Nikon D700 SLR camera with a flexible tripod and choice of zoom and wide-angle lenses. This in itself was an experience to improve my landscape photographic skills.
Highlights of the trip included amazing waterfalls, geysirs and glacier lagoons. Most memorable was my boat trip in Rekyavik harbour where we spotted and I was able to photograph a humpback whale emerging and diving
Me and my photo equipment at one of Iceland’s many stunning waterfalls.
One of Thingvellir National Park's waterfalls. Thingvellir is one of the few places on Earth where the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible above sea level.
Strokkur geyser in Haukadalur valley is Iceland’s most famous hot spring. It can shoot jets up to 40 metres high.
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where portions of icebergs float down to rest on the black sand of Diamond Beach, on the south-east coast of Iceland.
The tail fins of a submerging humpback whale in Rekyjavik harbour. One of a series of shots I captured while whale-watching.
The absolutely incredible experience I had midweek was to be surrounded in the night sky by the Aurora Borealis for more than an hour. It was further enhanced by also capturing Jupiter and Venus in some of my images.
I call this my Aurora Angel. I was treated to a spectacular night light show midweek on my trip. I regard it as a blessing to have been present while this electromagnetic cosmic event occurred.
Not only was I able to capture the ever changing dancing colours of the Aurora Borealis, I also quite fortuitously included both Jupiter and Venus in this shot. Totally awesome !
The effects of global warming are to be clearly seen here as the glaciers are receding at an alarming rate. Even though Iceland is a wonderful destination for “eco-tourism”, it is also a reminder that the planet is in crisis and needs our help.
Egypt and Nile Cruise
I have had a lifelong interest in Egyptology. A trip to the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings has been on my bucket list and in 2023 I got to realise my ambition. I initially flew into Cairo and after visiting it’s world famous museum (the new version is not finished), I did my mandatory viewing of the pyramids and the fascinating sphinx.
Pyramid Khafre and the Sphinx. One of my first entries to my Egyptian sketchbook. A wonderful way to record an unforgettable vacation and art trip.
We then took a short flight to Luxor in the Upper Nile valley where the ancient capital thrived for more than a millennium. It is located on the east bank of the Nile and the burial place of many pharaohs, the Valley of the Kings is on the west bank.
My planned Nile cruise lasted for five days and involved a journey heading south going up the Nile as far as it is navigable to Aswan, where there is a famous dam. Although I took many photographs at many locations along the river, my greatest pleasure was to paint when I could out on top deck as we sailed along. I have a sketchbook now that is full of unforgettable memories which I prize more than my photographs. To complete my collection of images from my trip, I actually then visited the Egyptian section of the British Museum before returning home. I then painted images from photographs to supplement (and complete) my sketchbook. Here are some examples of my artwork.
Berthing at the east bank of the Nile prior to our departure up the river.
Typical temple ruins with strong sunlight and shadow. The temples along the course of the Nile are remarkably well preserved considering some are more than three millenia old.
Afternoon shadows on the Valley of the Kings reveal ancient quarry sites as sources of the Luxor temples’ building blocks.
Morning mist viewed from the top deck of the Nile cruiser.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh. This has been carved into the rock of the West Bank cliffs.
Wall decoration depicting Maat on the tomb of Nefertare, wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, in Valley of the Queens.
Wonderful symmetrical architecture at Philae Temple which was relocated to Agilkia Island to save it from flooding by the Aswan Dam.
Bust of Tutankhamun, who had a short rule as young Pharaoh around 1333 years BCE. The Egyptian artefacts at the British Museum in London are significantly better preserved than their equivalent in Cairo and Luxor.
Sunset along the east bank of the Nile. Watercolour in sketchbook. Prints available.
Mountain Meditation
At a critical time in my life I decided to travel back to Ireland and have a few quiet reflective and restful days near the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains south f Dublin but accessible by public transport.
I stayed at the contemplative Glendalough Hermitage Centre for three days of quiet solitude and to be in Nature.
I brought a concertina-type sketchbook and basic watercolour set for convenience and simplicity in order to capture the tranquillity and serenity of the woods, the lough and surroundings. My accommodation was a stone built hermitage cottage (or cillin) built in 2000. They are off the beaten track in a quiet area adjacent to St. Kevin’s Parish Church and close to the village of Laragh, approximately1 km from the Glendalough Monastic Site and National Park. This secluded location is surrounded by a cacophony of birdsong.
The inspiration I experienced enabled me to fill my little sketchbook with invaluable memories of my stay and helped me capture some of its serenity. Here is some of my artwork from that beautiful retreat.
A view of the Wicklow Mountains near Glendalough. Ireland.
A pilgrim’s cillin stone cottage at the Glendalough Hermitage Centre, Laragh, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
The Round Tower as seen from below in the original graveyard.
Entrance to the Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the sixth century by St. Kevin
Ruins of one of the original early churches
The Wishing Cross of St. Kevin. If you wrap your arms entirely around this cross , it is said that your deepest wish will be granted. It didn’t work for me ?!
St. Kevin’s Church ( St. Kevins Kitchen ) This is an example of an earlier bell tower being incorporated into a stone church.
Reefert Church, Upper valley , Glendalough. “Reefert” means royal graveyard and it may have been the burial ground of pre-Christian kings. The cross is from the 12th century.
A beautiful simple statue of St. Kevin holding a blackbird (the legend pre-dates St Francis of Assisi). It was sculpted by Imogren Stuart who is now buried in the new nearby graveyard.
Washington and Virginia
More recently I had the pleasure of visiting my daughter and son-in-law in Norfolk, Virginia. I flew to Washington and spent a few days in the amazing museums that DC has on offer, and all with free admittance. Incredible! It is also a lovely city to walk around or sight-see by electric bicycle. The Capitol Hill buildings and Whitehouse are obvious locations.
Capitol Hill, the centre of U.S. Government, as seen from a park bench on the National Mall.
The Whitehouse looking south from 16th Street, with the Washington Monument in the background.
I stayed Downtown and appreciated the inclusiveness and diversity around me. The National Gallery of Art is a must for art-lovers and has an incredible collection from Renaissance art up to contemporary pieces including a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci. I was particularly taken by painted plaster sculptures that are 500 years apart but could have been produced contemporaneously.
An intersection at 17th Street, Northwest showing great pride.
Painted plaster bust of Lorenzo de Medici dated 1478. Produced after a failed assasination attempt to prove he was still alive. National Gallery of Art, West Building.
Painted plaster bust of “Pops” Indian Bill ( Willie Moore ) sculpted by John Aherne in 1989. NGA, East building.
The more current artworks are housed in the National Gallery East Wing.
Other brilliant museums I visited were the Smithsonians’ National Air and Space Museum the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of the American Indian. I have been inspired by the artwork in the latter two museums in particular and will continue to draw on photographs and images I took from them to add to my own work.
Modern architecture of the National Gallery of Art , East Building, Washington DC.
“One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind” The immortal words of Neil Armstrong as he took his first steps on the moon. This is commemorated at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC
I then headed for Norfolk, Virginia to a beautiful coastline where there is thriving biodiversity of flora and fauna. I love the native Southern Live Oak tree in particular. On strolling along Norfolk beach I was able to observe ospreys and turkey vultures.
The sea eagle (or bald eagle) is also a common sight along this beautiful coastline. I was rewarded with a glorious sunset over one of the many sea inlets in this part of the very much larger Chesapeake Bay region.
The large Southern Live Oak tree outside the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia. This is an evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States
On of the elegant beach houses located at Ocean View Beach, Norfolk, Virginia.
Sunset over Little Creek, a sea inlet off Chesapeake Bay . Norfolk, Virginia.