Website Update

I'd much prefer to be painting, but my website needed a bit of an overaul, so I've spent almost two days updating it.

I've added a lot of recent work and have also added a new collection "Field Studies", mostly stuff painted quickly plein air, with the sole intention of capturing light effects for subsequent studio paintings. The latter are very keenly priced compared to my other original work. It is also now possible to purchase paintings electronically through the website (my website uses Paypal, but you don't need a Paypal account to make a purchase; most major credit cards are accepted).

Take a look at http://www.michaelmcguireart.com/.

Paint-Out in Clonegal

Our plein air group SEPA, had a paint-out in the picturesque little village of Clonegal yesterday. We were fortunate to get a beautiful sunny day, once the morning fog cleared. We had a lot of new faces at the paint-out, so our little group grows from strength to strength. I took it easy and just did two paintings, but I'm fairly pleased with both of them.

I did the first one at the river bank, facing the sun. Almost went blind with the sparkle on the water when the sun came out fully!

The Bridge, Clonegal
(12" x 10" Oil on Board)

The owners of the Castle in Clonegal were kind enough to allow us paint in the fabulous grounds, so I decided to "paint the obvious" in the afternoon. But it was really the strong backlighting which grabbed my attention.

Huntington Castle, Clonegal
(14" x 11" Oil on Board)

These are photos of both scenes:-

Sliabh Coillte Again!

Our fine settled spell of weather is still with us, so I decided to head to Sliabh Coillte for another panoramic painting. Much more hazy today and it was morning with the sun to my left, so a little less atmospheric bluing with distance. I worked on a larger canvas than last time so as to have better control. These kind of scenes require very subtle separation of values and chroma between and within masses, and it is easier to do on a larger canvas as opposed to a pochade size panel.

Spring Morning, Sliabh Coillte
(12" x 16" Oil on Canvas)

This is a photo of the scene taken before I started:-

A Summer's Day in March!

Yesterday was just beautiful here, clear blue sky all day, and barely a breeze. Temepratures not too bad either, got up to about 10C (50F). So I made the best of the conditions and drove to place called "Sliabh Coillte" about a half hour drive from my home. Great views from there on a clear day, but if it's windy, not the place to spend a day painting! I got three almost finished on location, and then spent about twenty minutes or so on each of them in the studio this afternoon.

I couldn't resist these old farm buildings enhanced by the strong backlighting:-

Morning Glow, Near Sliabh Coillte
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

For my second, I drove about half way up the hill, and this patchwork of fields dissappearing into the afternoon haze caught my eye:-


Afternoon Haze, Sliabh Coillte
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

I was on my way home when this view on the way down tempted me into doing a third one:-

Evening Shadows, Sliabh Coillte
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

These are photos of the three scenes taken before I started painting:-

Something Different

This one is from a portrait workshop, I did yesterday. Not something I've done much of, but I have to say I enjoyed the session a lot.

Colour on A Dull Day

I went out with a few friends to paint yesterday, but once again it was one of those boring, grey days that we've been getting a lot of lately. Usually, I try to find something with a bit of colour to paint on such days, but the landscape where we agreed to meet up is very flat and devoid of any strong colour at this time of year. However, if you look close enough there is always something worth painting. I thought the mud pools left behind after the receding tide (this lake is actually a tidal lagoon) made an interesting pattern, and there was an attractive warmth in the foreground grass and in the reeds, which I played up a bit.

About an hour and a half on location and another twenty minutes or so in the studio this morning.


Overcast Morning, Lady's Island
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

This is a photo of the scene taken before I started:-

So Much for the Weather Forecast!

The forecast yesterday was for clear blue skies once the morning fog and mist cleared, so I headed to Carnivan Beach anicipating perfect conditions. Unfortunately, the fog and mist hung on stubbornly all day, so I had to make do with it. I was attracted to the lead in provided by the tide pools in front of me and also some light broke through the distant clouds occasionally. I should have know better, but the incoming tide quickly took care of the tide pools within about ten minutes, and then I had to move up the beach a couple of times too so as not to be knee high in water!

About an hour and a half on location and another half hour or so in the studio this morning.


Overcast Morning, Carnivan Beach
(12" x 16" Oil on Canvas)

This is a photo taken before I started:-

Back to the Slobs!

I went back to the South Slob this afternoon expecting the reflections and shadows under this bridge to offer an interesting composition. I wasn't disappointed, but perhaps it would have been more interesting if the water was a little more choppy. Still it was dry and sunny, so no complaints!


South Slob Reflections, Wexford
(10" x 12" Oil on Board)

This is a photo of the scene taken before I started:-