Laois County Council Arts Office and the Laois Arthouse, Stradbally are delighted to announce the annual adult summer arts programme 2024. The artist delivering the programme this year is Paddy Critchley. The programme is entitled Staidéar Neamhbheo Still Life: working from life and takes place in the beautiful surroundings of the Malthouse, Stradbally, Co Laois.
The four-day course runs from Tuesday 2nd to Friday 5th July from 10:30am-4:00pm with an exhibition opening at 5pm on Friday 5th July at 6pm.
Over the four-days, Paddy will share his work methods and experience to assist and guide the students. This four-day programme focuses on drawing and painting from life. This will primarily be a series of still life workshops in which they draw form still life compositions curated by Paddy, and progress to making acrylic paintings.
The week concludes with an exhibition opening of Paddy’s work and selected work of the participants also entitled Staidéar Neamhbheo Still Life at the Laois Arthouse, Stradbally on Friday evening, 5th July at 6pm. All are welcome to attend the exhibition opening. The exhibition will remain open until July 26th.
Students will need to bring an easel, 4 canvases, two large and two small. Acrylic paints, brushes, and drawing materials. There are several easels and painting boards available on request from the Laois Arthouse.
Packed lunch and drinks also are recommended.
Paddy is an artist from Portlaoise, Co Laois. Since graduating from Limerick School of Art and Design in 2021, he has exhibited at The Hunt Museum and Limerick City Gallery of Art and the Dunamaise Arts Centre. Paddy has work in the Limerick City Gallery of Art and the Hunt Museum’s permanent collection. He was the recipient of the De Veres Art Award for Work of Distinction at the 191st Annual RHA Exhibition for the painting Nature Morte (After Beckett). His practice is a constant interrogation of his environment. His political ideologies towards his environment shape how he sees the world and informs his practice. Paddy is conscious that in an ever increasingly chaotic world, where money and power rules, he wishes to shine a light on the ordinary person and the life he lives and knows. Paddy Critchley aims to show different voices withing the social and economic backgrounds of his peers and their environments, these take the form on intimate portraits and still lives reminiscent of the American artist Alice Neel, who has had a big influence on Paddy’s practice. Paddy is also a painter and decorator and interested in the politics of this trade.
There are limited spaces and booking is essential. The course fee €120. Concession of €70 available for students and unemployed. Contact Laois County Council Cash Office – 05786 74308 to pay. Please quote: Masterclasses Paddy Critchley. Cash Office Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am – 3.30pm and please send the completed booking form to Laois Arts Office.
The booking form and further information can be found on www.laois.ie or contact the Arts Office arts@laoiscoco.ie / 057 8664109.