This year for Culture Night RTE Lyric FM asked four artists to
display their art digitally on the Lyric FM windows at Cornmarket Square,
Limerick. Gerry Davis, Maurice Quillinan, and I provided images of work that
illustrate the making of a painting as it progresses, while Jennifer Shaughnessy has a piece of animation.
Each artist also choose a track of music that they use in their studio that
informs their mood and their work. Many thanks to Lyric for the opportunity and
to Grace O’Sullivan at Lyric for putting all the work together.
Here is the introduction I wrote for my work and choice of music and underneath
the link to the display.
My studio is more than a place for painting its somewhere to
think and write away for daily distractions.
Music adds to the sanctuary of the space.
When painting I stand for long periods, and sometimes, as I
move back and forth, music forms a rhythm as I make a piece of work. It
influences my mood and has the power to energise or relax depending on the
intensity or gentleness of the piece. So music may not be visible like paint on
the canvas, but it is there!
The song I have chosen and one I return to again and again,
from my somewhat eclectic mix ranging from Puccini to Kings of Leon, is Etta
James singing ‘Stormy Weather’. This
soulful song with it slow pace and her smoky voice make me immediately slow down,
relax my shoulders and leave the world outside. And I do adore a sad love song.
