"I have travelled to a lot of other European countries but I wasn’t really sure what to expect of Ireland. I had seen some beautiful photographs of the Irish countryside and landscapes, but seeing things in person is always a completely different experience. I was really impressed with the rich history that exists in Ireland both in the cities and out in the more rural areas. I have a huge appreciation for older structures and some of the castles and ruins were really inspiring to see in person. I also enjoyed seeing the small towns and being able to drive through such vast landscapes.

I was surprised by how different it was from other places I’ve visited. I think I had this impression or assumption of what to expect from Ireland but I was excited to see how different it was from the US and other countries. It’s a really unique place. Having the opportunity to see most of the Ring of Kerry was great. It was just enough time to see some great things but also wanting to go back to see more.

The print was really a product of being in the studio in a foreign place as I worked on my screen print in Dublin. I always like having a creative component to a trip and this provided the opportunity to relax, see new things and then work briefly before leaving. I think that experience inspired me because now I’m wanting to focus back on screen printing. The print was done using a combination of hand cut shapes and ink on a transparency. The black mark came out just the way I originally drew it on the transparency which was awesome to see on the paper. We ended up doing a 2 color print. I ran a few tests with 3 colors and at the end I really felt strongly about the 2 color version. I’ve also been trying to edit myself recently and use simple compositions. Sometimes stripping the image back to only the necessities can be refreshing."

Travel diary

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Some reading material and a few random items packed in the bag ready for Ireland with The Jaunt. I’m looking forward to landing in Dublin tomorrow morning and being on Ireland time. NYC-Dublin ✈️ 

Landed in Dublin this morning and drove a few hours through the countryside of Ireland. Beautiful landscapes and scenes here.

Friday, December 1, 2017

Blackrock Castle in Cork, Ireland. One of the most beautiful countries I’ve visited. So far, I’ve spent the last 2 days driving through the Irish countryside and have a list of places to visit tomorrow morning. Cork was a really cool city, much larger than I anticipated but worth the drive. The small towns throughout southwest Ireland are the best sites to see as well as the views of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Saturday, December 2, 2017

A few photos taken today on my trip through the Ring of Kerry, Ireland. I have to say, this was probably one of my top travel experiences as far as seeing such rich history and beauty. The castle ruins and forts are truly something to see and have a sculptural feel given the context and amount of work it must have taken to create these amazing structures. I love the contrast of old rock and stone with the grass and natural landscapes.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Dublin was a completely different experience than Kells Bay or Kerry, Ireland. One of the first things I noticed was the grit and texture of the streets and buildings. I was staying in The Liberties which is one of the oldest parts of the city. Dublin was settled by Vikings in the 10th century which was still evident today especially in how the roads are laid out.

I also had an opportunity to work on my screen print in a studio close by while in Dublin. This was great because I had just come off several days in the countryside and was really inspired and refreshed.