'Still' Eoghan McGrath My painting 'Still' was partly inspired by a photograph by Martin Parr of a child peering just above a table in a busy English Cafe. (see below) The subtitle 'indistinct chatter', which is painted onto the piece, is a common caption on Netflix to describe the noise of a public place like a pub or a party at the start of new scene as the protagonist moves through it and before the main action begins. (see below) I used the subtitle to try to imply that there was action and noise happening just out of frame. The title 'still' could have two meanings; as in a movie frame still or simply a quiet moment. The child in the painting is my nephew Rian and the man is his grandfather. The painting is essentially a combination of two separate images with the reference photos taken in different years and places. The medium of the painting is oil on wood panel. I used a good deal of Griffin Alkyd oil for this piece. These paints are great for parts of the painting I needed to dry quickly. For the rest I used Michael Harding oils. I use a variety of paint applicators to achieve the paint marks I want. Most of these I make myself from cloth, sponges, toothpicks and foam bought in budget stores like Mr Price and Eurosaver. The table cloth in the painting for example was painted by making a stencil and using foam mini-rollers to achieve a gradual tonal gradation. For finer detail I use conventional brushes. I'm a self-taught painter based in Kilkenny with a background in medicine and teaching.
