...It’s picture perfect
The use of the art of photo-realism is capturing a worldwide audience for a Dingle-born artist whose work has been snatched up by celebrities such as The Cranberries and Terry Wogan.
Monochrome oil paintings are regularly mistaken for photographs due to the realism and attention to detail in vivid representations of animals, people, landscapes and nature by Kelly Hood from Ballydavid.
Her unique style has won her fans worldwide with major exhibitions in the 2010 Seattle Irish Festival in Washington, the Lorica Artworks Gallery in Boston and in an international showcase in Margate in Kent.And next month her work will be featured in Kerry with an exhibition in St. John’s Arts Centre, Listowel, from August 1st to 31st.
"Painting for me is a visual language. I allow the paintings to speak for themselves; if my painting is able to touch the viewer and communicate, I am happy,” Kelly explained this week.Kelly’s choice of monochrome palette was originally inspired by old black and white photographs of her family, she added.“My artwork now is based entirely on my own photographic work,” she said.
Effects
“I choose a subject and then recreate the details of the photograph in pigment. Photo-realist paintings, like most, are built in layers and I use many layers of thin glazes, made from water based oil paint and a zinc flake medium. “This gives me the subtle blending effects that help create three-dimensional objects and scenes on the flat surface of the canvas.”
And her west Kerry background provides her with much of her subject matter, from men saving the hay to fishermen with their lobster pots, men bringing home the turf, fiddle playing, drinking, and old men engrossed in storytelling.
Kelly’s work can be viewed online at www.kellyhood.com and is also represented in many major Irish galleries including the Bad Art Gallery in Francis Street, the Sandford Gallery in Ranelagh, The Leinster Gallery on South Frederick Street, Greenlane in Dingle, Kenny’s in Lahinch, Artforms in Carlow and The Buckley and Associates Fine Art Gallery, Clonakilty, West Cork.
By Michelle Crean | The Kingdom News - July 2010
...Solo Exhibition @ St John’s Arts Centre
St John’s Arts Centre, Listowel has invited Kelly Hood to exhibit her paintings during the month of Month of August 2010. St John’s Arts Centre, Listowel is a multi-disciplinary arts centre located in the centre of Listowel.
An ongoing programme of theatre, music, dance & films plus visual art exhibitions featuring national and international artists.
For this exhibition Kelly explores her contemporary style of painting. Taking a more painterly approach, combined with her monochrome palette, Kelly created a body of work, which is a visual feast. Each piece is consistent with Kelly's bold and strong style of painting, which has captured the attention of art collectors worldwide.
"Painting for me is a visual language, I allow the paintings to speak for themselves. If my painting is able to touch the viewer and communicate, I am happy", says Kelly.
For more information regarding this exhibition contact:
Mr. Joe Murphy | www.stjohnstheatrelistowel.com | Tel. (0)68 22566 | E-mail: stjohnstheatre@eircom.net St John’s Arts Centre,The Square,
Listowel,
Co. Kerry.
...Your World Group Exhibition
DLR Festival of World Culture has invited Kelly Hood to exhibit her paintings during the month of Month of August 2010. Part of the DLR Festival of World Cultures at the
Dun Laoghaire Art Gallery @ Brian S Nolan, 102 Upper Georges Street, Dun Laoghaire
on Thursday 22nd July from 6.00-8.00pm
Mary Hanafin (Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport)
will officially open the exhibition at 7.30pm.
...UK beckons for West Kerry Artist
Kelly Hood will be showing her landscape paintings of the beautiful Irish countryside @
Outside The Square
John Houston
3 Duke Street
Old Town Margate
Kent, UK
Show runs from the 25th July - 31st September 2010.
It's a strong, colourful art exhibition of worldwide creatives in a powerful, international show and includes a huge range of artwork, including painting and sculpture from some of the world's most talented artists, from Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand.
The show will be opened by Tracey Emin in Margate, Kent on the 25th July 2010. Tracey Emin, the well-known modern artist who should have won the 1999 Turner Prize but didn't. She produces autobiographical art -- art which is about herself.
Outside the Square Art Gallery opened in close proximity to the new Turner Contemporary and is itself situated in the beautiful old town of Margate in a gorgeous Victorian building. Kelly Hood’s artwork will be displayed at the art gallery alongside such prominent artists as Brian McCann, Jim Houston, John Morris and Kerry Strongman.
...Carrick on Shannon Water Music Festival
The Sandford Gallery, Dublin has invited Kelly Hood to exhibit her paintings during the month of Month of July 2010 to the Carrick on Shannon Water Music Festival. For this exhibition Kelly explores her contemporary style of painting. Taking a more painterly approach, combined with her monochrome palette, Kelly created a body of work, which is a visual feast. Each piece is consistent with Kelly's bold and strong style of painting, which has captured the attention of art collectors worldwide.
"Painting for me is a visual language, I allow the paintings to speak for themselves. If my painting is able to touch the viewer and communicate, I am happy", says Kelly.
For more information regarding this exhibition contact:
www.sandfordgallery.com
...West Kerry artist to exhibit at Kenmare's Sheen Falls
The award-winning Sheen Falls Hotel, Kenmare has invited West Kerry artist, Kelly Hood, to exhibit her paintings during the month of June. For this exhibition Kelly explores her contemporary style of painting. Fresh from exhibiting in Seattle and Baile an Fheirteáraigh during Féile na Cásca, Kelly has taken a more 'painterly' approach with this exhibit. Combined with her monochrome palette, Kelly created a body of work, which is a visual feast.
Each piece is consistent with Kelly's bold and strong style of painting, which has captured the attention of art collectors worldwide."Painting for me is a visual language, I allow the paintings to speak for themselves. If my painting is able to touch the viewer and communicate, I am happy", says Kelly.
A selection of her work can be purchased directly from the Sheen Falls Lodge Gallery. For more information regarding this exhibition contact:Charl Oberholster, e-mail: info@sheenfallslodge.ie or telephone +353 (0) 64 6641600. For more on Kelly's work visit www.kellyhood.com
The Dingle News - May 2010 www.dinglenews.com
The Kenny Gallery exhibits new paintings by Kelly Hood- 'Women in Art'
The Kenny Gallery, Lahinch, Co. Clare has invited Kelly Hood to exhibit her paintings during the month of Month of May. For this exhibition Kelly explores her contemporary style of painting. Taking a more painterly approach, combined with her monochrome palette, Kelly created a body of work, which is a visual feast. Each piece is consistent with Kelly's bold and strong style of painting, which has captured the attention of art collectors worldwide.
"Painting for me is a visual language, I allow the paintings to speak for themselves. If my painting is able to touch the viewer and communicate, I am happy", says Kelly.
For more information regarding this exhibition contact:
Mrs. Carmel Kenny | www.kennyslahinch.net| Tel. 065 - 708 1400
...What the critics say
Kelly Hood’s paintings are so highly realistic they are, mistaken initially, as photographs. Closer scrutiny reveals an infinitely subtle gradation of hues throughout her work.
Meticulously, she replaces duo-chromatics with her own life-like tonal shading in black, ivories and greys, a challenge inspired by old black and whites of her family when they lived and worked as farmers and fishing folk. She paints stories, psychological portraits of Ireland peoples, bringing a sense of celebration to commonplace day-to-day events so integral to Irish culture.
Flying turf one of her paintings depicting horse racing in Dingle, Co. Kerry, brings sounds and fury to her canvases. Dirt kicked high into the air, determination set like stone in the jockeys jaw, his thoroughbred driven wildly to win are some of the grittier realities Hood provides while allowing for the perfect harmony between horse and rider.
Mia Guerrera, Lorica Artworks, MA, USA
'Flying Turf'
24"x 20"
Oil & Mixed Media on canvas
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...Perth Racecourse
2010 SPRING Show - An exhibition of recent works by Kelly Hood @ Perth Racecourse. www.perth-races.co.uk
...Giclee Prints Of Kelly Hood's Paintings Now Available
Limited edition prints of highest quality in Giclée format hand-signed by artist. Prints available in various sizes. For more information contact Kelly
...The Mill Cove Awards Exhibition
The Mill Cove Awards have selected Kelly Hood's painting 'The Triumph' for inclusion in the awards for painting. Exhibition opens Sunday 4th April 11am at Mill Cove House, Castletownbere. Exhibition Opening in Aid of the West Cork Animal Group. www.millcovegallery.com
'The Triumph'
24"x 20"
Oil & Mixed Media on canvas
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