Going into the residency at NaCasa I was determined to paint every day. I wanted to have time and freedom to make work that I was unsure of, or that was outside my comfort zone. I have moments where I question what I do; why the marks are important, why I make certain aesthetic decisions, how far I should push a certain idea. I felt that this residency would allow me to work out some of these questions.
The colours in Brazil are so bright yet there is a haze to the air which causes a dulling effect over the landscape. I was constantly met with pinks and wines and dark marroon shades. The light falls in a sparky way; the sun blocks a lot of my vision, and often I found myself squinting to see the colours behind the light. This process led me to a deeper enquiry, a kind of pairing back in order to really view what was hidden. Light bouncing off a purple creates a bright mint colour for a flash. Sun streaming through trees bounces turquoise against it’s leaves.
The landscape, although formed from the same ocean as Ireland, has evolved in a less jagged, rugged way. Boulders are soft and pink and fold into themselves, which reflect in rockpools a much lighter shade.
Throughout my residency in Floripa I quickly filled my notebook with strokes of colour. Nogalina became my go to material. When mixed with acrylic pigments and paints the nogalina transforms the colours into deep vibrant hues which seem to dance across the canvas.
