This article is from page 35 of the 2007-09-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 35 JPG
A NORTH Clare painting school has played host to Ireland’s first ever out- door painting competition.
The contest, open to amateurs, was organised by the Burren Painting Siem EM (ss).
28 amateur artists travelled from all over the country to participate in the event, which was based in three locations.
Competitors were given the choice of three venues where they could paint – Whitethorn in Ballyvaughan, Ballinalacken Castle and Hotel near Lisdoonvarna and Liscannor Har- lereltbe
They were given the opportunity to participate in three different catego-
ries – oils and acrylics; watercolours and pastel gouache or mixed media.
Organiser Chris O’Neill, who has run the painting centre for the past RUA er VEIN EMO SD ETA a LKore MAY aU OMB OComCLU (Or cess of the event.
This year’s competition was open to amateurs only and Ms O’Neill now plans to include a professional category next year.
“T had heard a little bit about some- thing similar that goes on in Amer- ica. We run an outdoor painting course here and I thought there was very little opportunity for reasonable good amateurs to show their work and meet with a challenge. There is quite a lot for professionals but there isn’t for those who are not profes- sionals,” she said.
“Next year, I might have a catego- ry for the professional section,” she added.
“This is the first time an outdoor painting competition has been done in Ireland.
“The whole concept was that peo- ple came on the one day. They reg- istered in the morning, went out to one of three sites and get an idea into their heads on what is available,’ she said.
Margaret Kent from Wexford was the overall winner. Using oils, she painted a picture featuring the Bur- ren. Mark Doughlas-Smith from Killanena won in the mixed media category, while Joan Turner from the UK received first prize in the wa- tercolour section. All received cash
prizes and vouchers from various art material shops.
Lady Alison Ross travelled to Lisdoonvarna from Birr Castle, to present the prizes to all of the win- ners.
Ms O’Neill was particularly im- pressed by one disabled participant who travelled from the midlands in his wheelchair, and went home with a merit award!
‘His carer had to squeeze out the paint before he started, as he hasn’t the power in his hands. He was just fantastic,’ she said.
The event took several months to organise and Ms O’Neill is optimis- tic that next year’s competition will again attract the interests of several artists.