Introduction
My name is Cathy. I am an Irish artist from the Athy countryside,
close to the waterways, in Co.Kildare. Intuitively responding to
various subjects and themes of interest my work is inspired by
personal experience and traditional oil-painting technique.
In my artist’s studio, hand-priming linens and preparing surfaces
for painting, I draw lines, create compositions and use a range of
brushes for different effects. Decisions are made whilst choosing
paints and mixing colours; seeing how the paint feels on application
and questioning if the brush strokes look biting or gentle, if they
appear wet or dry and wondering if it’s best to remove or keep marks
as I sand back or scrape into work.
When the weather is warm, I like to paint outside, flowers move and
flop in the wind as light changes shadows and sunshine warms
coloured tones. Drawing and painting directly from life is an
experience I treasure...it's a soulful feeling that deeply connects
me to invisible rhythms, contrast and natural forms.
There is plenty of north-facing light in my purpose built studio.
Here, using drawings and photographs as painting references, my work
is more contemplative, detailed and precise.
Working both quickly and slowly, each method has its own merit.
Craftsmanship and skill are enabling, however thoughts and themes
often emerge through the work itself. Keeping true to my own
experience, feeling free from the constraints of habit, each
painting is like a new day, a chance to begin again. I set out from
the premise of knowing only what there is to learn and am grateful
when surprised.
More Information
I have illustrated a childrens' poetry book, magazine articles and a family book on the Asian Elephant. I have also worked in painting and design on music, film and Tv projects, including the art-work for an album cover, a series of plays and a feature film.
Reviews
- June-August 2010, Irish Arts Review, "Art that consoles" by Brian Mcvera "In the Current RHA Annual Exhibition we have an attractive well-hung show that has occasional hints of the world around us , such as Cathy Callan's "Election Edition" depicting Obama and family on the cover of the Irish Independent..."
- Sat, 15th November 2008 Irish Independent Review 'From Kinky to Binchy, portraits of a thriving academy' by Bruce Arnold "A work of great promise "John Spillane" by Cathy Callan...."
- September 16th 2007 Sunday Times Culture Magazine
'Cathy Callan Auricle' at RHA Ashford Gallery RHA by
Christin Leech
"A gentle meditation on love
and intimacy, Cathy Callan's show finds it's rhythm in the
repetition of motifs including daisies and blackberries, chocolate
boxes and old master renditions of the Madonna. Her oil miniatures
are painted on wood, tin lids and bottle tops, bu mounted in glass
cases they take on the aura of precious relics. The smallest
appears in the centre of a gold earring, the largest Chrysalis
(After Leonardo), left, is a series of eight icons in which the
Madonna shimmers against gold leaf as she morphs into a modern
version of the same subservient beauty, As Jack L sighs and gurns
over ponderous piano chords in the accompanying sound piece,
Callan's artefacts reveal themselves to be modern love tokens,
mementos of a kind of yearning we have all known."
- May 2nd 2004 Sunday Times Culture magazine May 2nd 2004 "Big is certainly not so beautiful in an art show" by Christin Leech "With so much on show, the art-works the viewer comes across in the nooks and crannies tend to feel like personal discoveries. Cathy Callan's Touch after Rembrandt offers a warm and personal detail......"
- Wed, Sep 15, 1999 Irish Times 'Claremorris is streets ahead' by Aidan Dunne "More straightforwardly, Cathy Callan's very physical paintings of joints of meat are comfortably at home in Clarke's butcher chop. There is some particularly good ..."
- Summer 1991 Irish Times Degree Show Review by Aidan Dunne "Cathy Callan's strong emotive works"