Roundstone Boats
I began this painting standing at the bottom of the street near Wall Steps.
As I painted, I realized I'd have to hurry - the boats were lapping around my feet. Everything was going well, and I was completely absorbed in what I was doing. Then I began to realize the tide was coming in around my heels. As I noticed this, I heard peals of laughter from the shore between my legs and the slipping of my painting gear.
Still, I continued anyway as my feet got wetter and wetter, and the laughter grew louder.
At last, I had to stop. I clambered up the steps and gathered my gear with the help of the bystanders.
When I came back the next day, the boat had been turned around as they began to paint the other side. Then the girls arrived again for a laugh, so I went off and painted elsewhere.
Thus began a week's tuition - they were on a painting holiday, finishing each day with coffee or a martell. I have the boat one framed, and the island, and I often paint it.
My memories of those days, trying to paint oils in the rain, are special. Once, I had a yellow house with a roof patched and painted in blue.
Later, I met up with the WSSI Annual Exhibition in Dun Laoghaire, showing some very nice watercolours.
The second painting was of my (long, wet) painting on the road to Westport - struggling in the rain, pummeled into a gusty, tiring storm under wind, tug, and tide. All energy.