In the studio with Fintan Whelan

Q: When people ask you what you ‘do‘, how do you answer?  

A: I like to say ‘I am an artist‘ because it leads to more in-depth questions about styles, techniques, likes and dislikes and so on.

Q: How would you describe your painting technique?

A: My work has expanded from abstracts on canvas using oils, varnishes and pigments to a variety of experimental surfaces. My technique involves the creative interplay of colour and space, achieved by pouring, tilting and scraping materials, layer upon layer.

Q: How do you start your day?

A: Usually, I have a look at yesterday’s work. The decision is always whether or not the work is complete and if I am ready to consider something new.

Q: Where do you work and how important is the space in which you work?

A: I work in a small, former factory that produced church organs and is now being used by a sail-maker. For an artist, space is critical, not only for natural light but also for physical dimensions – it needs to be used as a work area, for occasional displays, storage of work, as well as an almost countless array of tools, pigments and other materials.

Q: Talking of tools, which is your favourite to work with?

A: The spatula in all shapes and sizes for the endless variety of forms and juxtapositions it allows me to experiment with.

Q: Where do you escape to?

A: Escape for me means a good walk along the nearby river or in the surrounding countryside; also some concentrated time with my favourite writers – John Banville, Patrick McCabe, Samuel Beckett; and a calming listen to any number of wonderful musicians.

Q: So, what’s on your work playlist?

A: My tastes are quite eclectic – from traditional Irish music to blues to classical to jazz; I like to have it feed my mood and keep me company.

I have actually used the music of Leonard Cohen, Marianne Faithful, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan as a theme for a show, ‘Beautiful Losers’, Hanover, 2013, matching 40 songs to 40 of my works.

Q: Which artist do you most admire?

A: Antoni Tàpies for his never-ending experiments with new techniques and materials foreign to academic artistic expression. And Alberto Giacometti for his elimination process, which gave rise to his walking reduced figures.

Q: What emotions do you think your art evokes?

A: As an artist I can only present what has stimulated my own curiosity and creativity. Viewers have reported being moved, if not challenged, by what they ‘see’ in the juxtaposed forms and overlapping pigments.

I cannot analyse it myself but find the energy behind viewers’ reactions quite moving.

Q: Which is your favourite piece from your collection of work?

A: Northern Light is one that I kept simple, it flows well, shows the possibilities within a significantly reduced palette of pigments, and for me represents a bit of a turning point in my style.