Painting in Ireland

Ireland was a big surprise,

Wow wow wow Ireland + outdoor painters, it's a magical combination!!

We loved being there, so much, it was the highlight of our Summer for sure.
AITO, the organizing party, 'Art in the Open' did an amazing job in creating the diverse views, places, all so unique to us.
The schedule was fast paced too, especially because I also painted during most evenings/nights, so full, and so much joy we had. To the reader it might sound too over the top, yet, I felt I was back in time, having fun with other artists as I did in 2014-2017 when I painted in pleinair festivals in the USA.

Ireland to us feels like little America. There is nature, a strong nature all around, but the roads, signs, pavement, construction, gates, all look very similar to US-landscape design. It's like the USA was a copy paste of Ireland. (Can I say that without offending anyone?) It's meant in a good way because we love both.

Here in Ireland the roads were often very narrow, not built for the 'fat' cars that you can rent. Days are over for the little Fiats there, little Clios, anything tiny would suit these roads better(!) The Italian still have their small cards, so why not. I would change it, but I think you cannot even rent a really small car... Ok, nuff about the cars.

Nature! Wow! Ireland has so much of that. Compared to Holland, it feels that here in Holland everything is mowed down. (And it probably is.) Farms, hills, endless small roads, well executed trimming of brambles, everywhere.


The whitish, yellow/orange wheat fields, glowing under interesting clouded sunny skies. Will never forget. The hills far away were a big inspiration, capturing it in highlighted pastels, I'm not done with them..
And the sea, of course, always very near in most painting locations at the South/East part. Wexford, the village/city/center of this festival is at 2 hours driving down from Dublin, and from there we drove to the various painting spots.

You can find the paintings I created in Ireland in my shop: Numbers 438-453. Good news also, I got bronze in the Quickdraw of a cityscape within the town of Wexford, 
and 'Best Nocturne' for a painting with the moon rising in the harbour area. That was both unexpected. Because I came there to teach. 

And I wasn't looking for this trip in the first place, because it's my teenagers who pulled me into doing this. They're ready for traveling and their mom is busy enough with the gardens, the wheeling here at home...

So yes, the driving on the left side, you do get used to it, but, I'd say you would want GPS, or something holding your phone/maps. 

The beaches, cliffs, rocks, waves, seaside views were so stunning, cannot wait to get back, taking bigger sizes to fit it all in...

--> And we will be back! I might teach there again in 2028... We will see.

--> In 2027 I'll do 2 workshops in West-Ireland in Kinvara Plein Air. That's June 4-7 2027, find more info: www.kinvarapleinair.ie

--> And, all excited about these 'far away' endeavours, we decided to ALSO get back to Pass-a-Grille in south/east Florida in FEB 2027!!
I booked a flight and we are ready to come over! So, if you are interested in Painting with me in a little beach town, at a 25 min. drive under Tampa, in Florida, sign up here.

I have 12 spots available. Paint together for 3 days, or 4 days, we'll paint twice a day, sometimes early morning streetviews, sometimes sunsets, find the program and all info here. Of course we'll also paint daytime beach, parasols, figures, summertime!  The dates, Feb. (22) 23, 24, 25 - 2027 St. Pete, Pass-a-Grille, Florida

Find the 'Irish' paintings (438-453) in my paintings shop here

YOU can join us in Florida/St. Pete's Beach to PAINT!
A very unique opportunity, paint a lot, get inspired, come home with pretty paintings, a multitude of subjects.
This February 2027,
INFO | JOIN HERE