Thoughts on painting in Ireland

In July of 2003, I participated in an artists’ workshop in County Donegal, Ireland. What I noticed the most about the northwestern Irish countryside was the underlying color. Quite literally, I painted the colors I imagined underneath ground’s surface before painting all of that green on top. Some greens had yellow underneath, some red, while others had purple or orange below the surface. I believe this layering process has created a singularly visceral color experience in the resulting work while, at the same time, faithfully representing the land I had the honor to tread upon.

In addition, ever-present instability in the atmosphere can cause constant weather changes resulting in an endless variety of cloud formations that flirt with and obscure the tops of the sea bluffs and inland mountains. This rhythmic ebb and flow in land/sky relations is an inspiring dance to experience and an invigorating challenge to capture on paper.

Donna Neithammer Cusano

Plein air in Ireland

My experience painting in Ireland challenged my ability to be flexible. Naturally, it rained every day for two weeks. We experienced everything from a passing shower to a day-long downpour so we were prepared to either retreat quickly in response to first drops or head out when the rain did finally subside. The experience, however, has made me a more intrepid and confident painter. I would gladly brave Ireland’s unpredictable weather in exchange for future chances to paint her spiritually infused landscape.