This year I have a few works in the Summer Group Show. I have always enjoyed working abstractly. I began my art career painting fully abstract pieces. As the years passed I introduced varied amounts of representational elements. This year I thoroughly enjoyed painting ‘Summer Symphony’. The colours I am surrounded by in my lovely West Cork home.
Summer Symphony’ Oil on Canvas, 76 x 102cms €1,200
Another season at the Blue House Gallery and I am delighted to be exhibiting alongside Mary Carter as part of the ‘Two Painters’ show. Currently running until Wednesday 20th July, 2022. This body of work is like my ‘everyday’ - walking on either Long Island or the coastline where I live in West Cork. Some works are more representational than others e.g. ‘The Pier III’ and some of the pieces contain figurative elements. There are also more abstract pieces where I paint my emotional response to a place e.g. Essence of the Island II’ and ‘The world in your hands’.
The Pier III, oil on canvas 76 x 92cms. SOLD
Essence of the Island II, oil on canvas 36 x 51cms
The world in your hands, oil on canvas 63 x 89cms
Another year ending but not before the annual Christmas Exhibition in the Blue House Gallery, Schull, Co. Cork. This work is part of my ‘Snowberry’ series which I was delighted to see in the Winter edition of the Irish Arts Review!
Unfortunately due to this years restrictions the annual West Cork Creates selected exhibition is an online affair. What the organisers have done - brilliantly - is organise a virtual exhibition. Go to westcorkcreates.com to view the fabulous selection of work from many artists. The theme this year is ‘Harvest’. Hedgerows produce the most beautiful selection of wildflowers here in West Cork. We are surrounded by colour most of the year. Here is one of my works in this years exhibition.
‘Hedgerow - Honeysuckle’ Oil on Canvas 40 x 40cm
Currently in the Blue House Gallery in Schull, Co. Cork there is a group exhibition - I have a few works showing here featuring The Gearagh. The Gearagh is an area near Macroom, Co. Cork that was flooded in 1954 to facilitate the building of two hydro-electric dams. It was densely populated with ancient oak trees and the last surviving full oak forest in western Europe. Hundreds of trees were felled and many people were relocated. Many of the trees were centuries old and had grown since the medieval period. Today only their stumps survive, in flood land, giving the area a ghostly and almost lunar appearance.
‘The Gearagh’ oil on board 25 x 30cms
‘What lies beneath’ oil on board 30 x 30cms
At the moment in the O’Driscoll Building, Skibbereen, Co. Cork I have work showing in the exhibition entitled ‘Under Shelter’. Each of us selected exhibited work we believed fell under the title Under Shelter. Below is the Statement I submitted with my works.
‘Lights in a window, smoke from a chimney, lives lived, warmth, family - and time passes.
this body of work explores the almost identical houses dotted on the long narrow low lying island off the coast of Schull in West Cork - Long Island (Inis Fada). Many generations have begun their lives in this beautiful place. At the turn of the 19th century it was home to 300 people - now closer to 8 live here permanently. Derelict houses with layers of colourful peeling paint on doorways, windows and the remnants of furniture lay testament to the memories locked in this land. A feeling for family, time and place abounds with natural fauna covering pathways echoing footsteps of a bygone era.
In my work colour evokes these lives lived, as well as the land itself - the dark velvet nights where the stars light up the sky and the everyday light bouncing off sea and land.’
Exhibition continues until 16th September, 2018
Myself and my daughter in front of my work ‘Velvet Night - Long Island’
‘Under Shelter’ Exhibition, O’Driscoll Building, Skibbereen, Co. Cork.
Geoff Greenham curated a photographic based exhibition, opening on 8th June. Geoff contacted me as he had seen some of my previous work where I print on the japanese tissue, Gampi and integrate these images with my oil painting. I am delighted to be showing The Bather series, four works with old black and white imagery of bathers at a beach in 1958.
As a fringe event for the Fastnet Film Festival I spent 5 days out on Long Island, West Cork exhibiting my 'Long Island' body of work, from Wednesday the 23rd to Sunday 28th May. Not a hardship really as this is a stunning Island, especially as the weather over the 5 days was beautiful. I was delighted to exhibit much of my work outdoors.
'Where the heart is - Long Island' installed on the gable end of the old Whooley cottage on Long Island.
Other than my painting I also practice Monoprints through screenprinting. Above is an example which was exhibited at the Cork Printmakers Christmas Exhibition, in the Wandesford Quay, Cork, a couple of years ago. At the time I was using the playful image of lollipop trees, painting the image using vibrant screen dyes.
To get my art-fix over the Christmas I called in to see Tom Climents new Exhibition 'Future Light' at the Sternview Gallery, Cork. What a treat! It has been extended until 11th February - well worth a visit.
Helen has been busy in the Wandesford Quay Printmaking Studios preparing a new series of mono prints for Cork Printmakers Show. The exhibition entitled 'Dazzle' is opening this coming Friday 9th December and is running daily until the 18th December.
The Burning Furze l, Mono Screenprint, Unframed €190
The Burning Furze ll, Mono Screenprint, Unframed €190
The Burning Furze lll, Mono Screenprint, Unframed, €190
The Burning Furze lV, Mono Screenprint, Unframed, €190
The Affordable Art Christmas Show officially opened upstairs at Organico Cafe in Bantry last Friday. Helen O'Keeffe is joined by fellow artists Aine Florence, Alice Van Galen, Felix Power, Gordon Moxley, Sonia Bidwell and Tom Weld, who have all submitted paintings or prints which are priced at €300 or under.
Archival Prints of Helen's paintings (framed) at €220 each.
Helen O'Keeffe with curator Catherine Weld and other participating artists, prior to the official launch of the Chistmas Show.
Organico Cafe, Bantry is open from Monday to Saturday 9 - 6pm and the exhibition continues until Christmas.
On Friday 25th November there will be an opening reception at Organico, Bantry for their annual Christmas exhibition from 5.30 to 7.30. I am delighted to be part of this exhibition along with Felix Power, Gordon Moxley, Aine Florence, Tom Weld, Alice van Galen and Sonia Bidlwell.
'Two of a kind; from Sea to Sky', a joint show featuring new work by Fiona Power and Cormac O'Leary, opened on Friday evening at the Aisling Gallery in Ballydehob. Fiona is a previous member of Backwater Studios, where I now have my studio. She now lives in West Cork. Cormac and Fiona met in Art College and have been friends for many years. Here they had a joint Exhibition showcasing some of their lovely work.
Helen with artists Donagh Carey, Fiona Power and Cormac O'Leary.
Really enjoyed the Exhibition. Cormac and Fiona's lovely seascapes - both painted from different perspectives and palettes. Well worth seeing!
Helen with artist Cormac O'Leary
The Aisling Gallery is above Rosie's Bar in Ballydehob and is open; Mon - Fri: 4pm - 9pm
Sat: 2pm - 9pm
Sun: 2pm - 9pm
Or by appointment.
Viewing Cormac's paintings
At the opening of 'Two Of A Kind: From Sea To Sky'
A lovely night was had by myself, family, friends at the opening of my Exhibition at the Blue House Gallery in Schull. These works were focusing on the sea and its surrounds - looking upwards through the sails, the beacon in Baltimore, heading home to Kilcoe and Resting in Schull Harbour! If you get to see the show - Enjoy!!
The Blue House Gallery is open 11am - 6pm daily and the show continues until Wednesday 10th August.
Helen O'Keeffe at the opening with her two daughters.
'Resting - Schull Harbour'
Helen with fellow artist Donagh Carey.
'The Beacon' , a locally well known spot in Baltimore.
'Best Of Days'
'Island Grazing' & 'Day at the Beach, 1960'
Maritime themed exhibition of new work by Helen O'Keeffe, Catherine Weld and James McCarthy opens this Friday at the Blue House Gallery in Schull, West Cork.
Great opening at the beginning of Calves Week in Schull. Village full of sailing enthusiasts! Lovely abstract paintings by Catherine and stunning sculptures by James. Had a steady flow of art lovers over the ten days that the Exhibition was on.
The Annual Members Exhibition opened on Friday 3rd June, 2016. This annual members exhibition (now in its second year in the lovely space that is 'Uillinn') showcases works from all over West Cork.
Some of the Members whose work is on show.
Very happy with the hanging of my one piece ' Where the heart is - Long Island' as shown here on the right as you entered Exhibition.
As usual an amazing selection of work from all over West Cork.
