Promoting the Art + Craft of South West Cork
VIRTU A love of or taste for works of art or curios;
a knowledge of or interest in the fine arts as a subject or interest
Search
Virtu
Virtu Home Page
Virtu Services
Email Virtu
Virtu-Art Books
Navigation
Art Brushes - A Virtu Guide
Art Movements
Movement Outline
How to Write an Artists Statement
How to Stretch a Canvas
How to be a Responsible Collector
How to Critique a Painting
e-commerce and the internet
Preparing for an Exhibition
How to Photograph Your Own Artwork
How to Price Your Art
Studio Visits + Gallery Interviews
Guide to Approaching Galleries
Oscar Wilde - Lecture to Art Students
Glossary of Art Terms
Links + Resources
SW Cork Artists, Crafters, Galleries + Studios
Art Guilds, Councils, Collectives etc
Irish Art Related Links
Art + Craft Education Resources
Government Links
Art Magazines + Ezines
Artists Supplies Links
John Eagle Artist
Paintings and Photography
Virtu - Art wanted to get out and meet a few the the artists living in our region. Artistic folk, we had been in contact for several months now with John Eagle who lives the Beara and arranged a visit. On a bright Tuesday morning in January, the Virtu team set off on our journey. Starting out from Ben Duff, (near Rosscarbery) passing tranquil lakes with the mists clearing onwards and westward to the Beara.
Finding our route West without delay we arrived at John's home. I was interested to find out a little more about his paintings although well commented on by various sources I like to get a little close up and personnal with my subjects. During the coffee I discovered another side to John, his photography. To my surprise we shared a few other interests.
To me as an observer and a photographers point of view, what makes a photographer stand out from all the others is the photographers eye. All the very best have this quality that speak the name of the artist. Instantly Johns work reveals his unique view, the one from above with an Eagle's eye.
The conversation went quicly from this point. John explained all about his Lighthouses Project. Here was a man passionatly driven explaining how the adventure began in 1993 taking the first photograph of Roancarrig and ended in July 2004 @ Maidens Rocks off the Antrim coast. Ten years of dedicated work culminating in a collection of Unique Irish postcards going to collectors all over the World
John proceeded to published a book An Eagle's View of Irish Lighthouses Published by Peter Williams Associates. If you want to check this out take the link.
In an article found on Vincent Hyland Photography appeared a comment such as "wonderment at such monuments to the natural world are the essence of Johns magnetic paintings - testaments to both his own journey and experiences of living in and amongst these surroundings".
As John says about his work. "I paint with oils on canvas, inspired by the mountains and seascapes that make up the Beara Peninsula here in West Cork. My work is from memory, as I always make up what I do, everything coming from my observations from a lifetime of being here eversince I was a small boy going out in the big black boats to go fishing with the locals. I know what the mountains look like, the rivers, the houses, all stored in my mind as I work my canvases. I hope you like what I do. Johns oil paintings started to sell in 2000 and by 2002 they were supporting his lighthouse postcard project.
Taken from John Eagle's site under a painting titled The Hags Glen this short verse.
Which in John's word "I just made it up. It has absolutely nnothing to do with the Hag of Beara". To me however it seems a nice way to speak of the environment of the Beara and of The Hag.
She was a dishevelled old woman always dressed in black, who'd walk the narrow paths at both ends of the day, never spoke, just muttered, and you'd be wary of her in case she brought you ill luck. For the most part she kept to herself and bothered no-one, but long after her passing the glen was still aware of her. There are some who say she never passed away, and you'd look to see if there was smoke coming from her humble abode in the furthest reaches of the glen that bore her name.
John Eagle Artist - Paintings and Photography Links List
Copyright © 2005-2010 Virtu-Art
Promoting the Art + Craft of South West Cork, Ireland