Stamp Design Inspiration

I came across these beautiful USA stamp designs of Flannery O’Connor when doing research for a workshop on Irish Stamp Designs - celebration 100 years on the 6th Dec 2022!

More about these stunning stamps https://fsgworkinprogress.com/2015/07/23/a-stamp-of-good-fortune/

WiP: What drew you to commission June Glasson to paint the covers of the rereleases, from which you drew for this project?

The inspiration to hire June came from Milton Glaser’s 1967 cover for Wise Blood. His sooty illustration approach reminded me somewhat of Glasson’s layered ink techniques. Her series “The Foulest of Shapes” (2009) struck me with its brutal beauty. I hoped to capture some of this with our O’Connor reissues. I talk more about our collaboration here.

http://www.juneglasson.com/illustrations

Illustration Workshops in Dublin & Athens

This was a lovely idea for a workshop during my time in Athens - based on my love of observational drawing and reportage illustration, can cater for all levels of experience - so the invitation is out, looking forward to work together and learn new skills and from each other! Always looking to collaborate with groups and businesses - just send an email with details to 1evakelly@gmail.com

Setting up for Show - 'Talking a Line for A walk in Athens' with opening 'A Birdseye View' - Christina Paizanis

A Birdseye View is a choreographed piece as a bird, not a drone would view Athens, with precision. Honing in on the dichotomy of ancient versus modern life; the culture, the cafes, the clubs, the narrow streets with vendors selling their wares, the museums, the posh, and the basic living styles living in harmony in one city with a central sun the Acropolis. This is Athens through interpretive dance.

Talking a Line for a Walk in Athens

Talking a Line for a Walk in Athens at Phoenix Gallery Athens September 8th- 17th. Massive thank you to everyone who supported throughout this summer residency and came to my opening! From all the local artists and new friends made in Athens as well as Dublin. Also a massive thank you to the Irish Greek Society for the enthusiasm and connection. The Irish Embassy in Athens for the wonderful support and promotion! To a wonderful interpretive dance performance by the ever talented Christina Paizanis! A truly magical experience despite the roller coaster of getting things off the ground - now for Part 2 next year!

Book Cover Illustration - Ink and Paper/ Energy and movement

From sketchbook ideas to ink and paper and final book cover idea. This is my everyday writing with a little more splash and dash to the title with Quink ink creates lovely tones on paper. Alway delighted to receive interest and ideas for new collaborations with publishers and agencies!

Local Legacies Remembered

A huge thank you to all the amazing people that helped get this show together and for the wonderful support. A privilege to work with the wonderful Historian in Residence Liz Gillis who makes the past feel and look like a pop up book come alive! To Emma Edwards at Ballyroan Library, for her consistent support, organisation and kindness throughout this project. A huge thank you to Síle Coleman Senior Executive Librarian for making all this happen and supporting this collaboration throughout. It was a rare privilege to have had this opportunity to develop, learn and explore new ideas in such an ideal environment.

Local Legacies Remembered were social revolutionaries, political revolutionaries and cultural revolutionaries trailblazing women from South Dublin. The exhibition will be in Ballyroan Library until April 16 and tour South Dublin Libraries throughout the year.

A massive thank you  Duffy Bookbinders // Fine Art Printed by The Copper House // Printed cut outs by DBS

Work in progress Local Legacies Remembered

Work in progress of 8 selected important women connected to South Dublin from 1921-1923 - from left top across - Mrs Margaret Pearse / Margaret Mary Pearse/ Mary Bridget Pearse. Left bottom across Ita O’Gorman and Josie Stallard. This is so interesting to learn about the stories behind each woman - the title above Local Legacies Remembered will look at political as well as cultural figures and what there influence was in the are- its a joy to work on this project and develop my work further - also a pleasure to meet and work with new people like the Ballyroan Library and Historian in Residence Liz Gills. In process of building up new work and digitally collage it together!

Calla Lily

The Calla Lily was a designed by Cumann na mBan into a brooch to raise funds for the destitute families of the 1916 Easter Rising - especially in the States where lots of talks and fund raising started. Its a beautiful symbol of hope and strength.

Músaem na bPiarsach

The Pearse Museum- Músaem na bPiarsach - is dedicated to the memory of Patrick Pearse - Pádraic Pearse- and his brother, William. Pádraic Pearse was an educationalist and nationalist who was withy his brother executed for his part in the 1916 Rising. This is a must see for anyone interested in Irish culture and surrounded by a beautiful park area. Also housed here are stunning examples of Irish art work W.B.Yeats who was originally an illustrator in London for years before returning to Dublin and painting the world around him. Documenting many of the changes and events in Irish history at that time.

Swift Brook Paper Mills

Discovering so many interesting things about South Dublin with this project- like the Swift Brook Paper Mills in Saggart that is now sadly closed. The history of this place is interesting, the paper production commenced at the mills in 1785 when John McDonnell bought a flour mill at the location and converted it for paper making. Also it was here that the paper was sourced to print the 1916 Proclamation. More interesting facts-

  • The mills gained fame for the excellence of their paper and employed many locals for generations before finally closing its doors in 1972- including the Famine times.

  • The name Swift Brook owes its origins to Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin which was connected with Saggart.

Decade of Centenaries Historian in Residence, Liz Gillis

Revolution in Dublin: A talk with Decade of Centenaries Historian in Residence, Liz Gillis.

A wonderful talk, insightful and passionate story from the War of Independence to the civil War and beyond. Especially interesting was St Endas’s and the Pearce family story- this talk really gave me a clear picture of events and the people involved- many thanks to SDCC Historian in Residence, Liz Gillis.

Primary Sources for Inspiration

A privilege to have access to these beautiful editions books from South Dublin Library’s archives . Looking at a wide source for inspiration books, documents and literature relating to Irish heritages. Discovered an important writer that I never heard of before called Katharine Tynan 1859 – 1931 who was a prolific and an important cultural female of this time-part of my research is to highlight or shed light on unknot or lesser heard of female characters 1921-23 from South Dublin.

Location/Site responsive illustration project

Something new this summer with international travel tricky so I’m traveling around Ireland instead. Making some new work - site responsive illustrations with ink, found materials, rain and seawater when I’m at beaches. This is a two month project inspired by the natural beauty of seaside locations around the Burren and Cork. Exploring materials and process and discovering new ways to work that I can bring back to my studio.

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Escape Magazine ONLINE

Delighted to be featured in Escape Magazine ONLINE with fantastic Drawing Cabaret Couture artists

Anna Carlyle, Elly Azizian, Isher Dhiman, Jacqueline Bissett, Jean Warner, Kathy Wyatt, Lindy Dunbar, Loni Mills, Loretta Tedeschi, Maksim Koloskov, Natalie Thomas, Natalie Thomas, Sunanda Docherty, Susan Challinor, Taryn Lee, Tula Parker, Vanessa Lawrence

A stunning article written by Alexandra Bejan from the Johannes Warnke online drawing class https://escapeartmagazine.com/drawing-cabaret-couture-a-drawing-experience-of-creative-freedom/

Drawing Cabaret Couture Online Drawing Experience!

Drawing Cabaret Couture Online Drawing Experience!