It's been busy lately and I've been lucky. In mid May I had a break from caring when Roch's long awaited respite stay at Princess Alice Hospice came round. For months those with my best interests at heart (and Roch's) had been encouraging me to take a break and get away, to do something just for me. I wanted to, but it took me a long time to get it sorted. The hospice stay was arranged well in advance (before Christmas) and I found what I thought would be the perfect holiday for me - a painting course in one of my favourite places in the world.
The course was called 'Abstracting the Landscape' and was set in County Clare, in the West of Ireland at The Burren College of Art, an extraordinary place which blends in perfectly with the limestone landscape of the Burren.
I can't describe how beautiful this place is and how much it means to me. For years our parents brought us as children on holiday to Ballyvaughan, a small village on the shore and when our children were young teenagers, Roch and I brought them there, to clamber over the rock and swim at the beach in Fanore.
In fact, the last time we were there was in 2010, the year after Roch's diagnosis. There was a strong current at Fanore and he struggled to bring himself ashore - the weakness in his legs and arms meant it was no longer safe for him. I remember that he fell on the wooden walkway, on the way back to the car. It was the beginning of the end of that kind of family life.
 |
| Fanore |
So I guess everywhere there were memories for me, happy and sad. Perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise to find myself overcome on Day Two. I seldom cry but something in me seemed to break and I found myself unable to stop. I hardly knew why or what had caused it. Our teacher told me later that she thought I was abstracting the landscape from within as well as without. I was unprepared for the intensity of the experience. I think almost without realising it, I had tapped into something deep inside and out it came. The studio was open 24 hours a day and so although I took myself off on Tuesday afternoon, back I went with Maura in the evening to make up for lost time and managed to produce some work.
 |
| Abstracting from Within |
The level of dedication, skill and hard work in our group of Abstract painters was impressive and I was proud to be a part of it.
I cannot praise our teacher highly enough. Her skill as a painter is phenomenal. I found some of her work breathtaking. She makes it look so easy! We could not have had a more encouraging or approachable teacher - or one with more knowledge of her craft.
 |
| Last Day Selfie with Maura and teacher Cora |
http://www.coramurphy.com
No comments:
Post a Comment