Artist Statement
I am constantly engaged by the effect of light and shade on the landscape. In my art, be it watercolour or print, I attempt to expose the viewer to the beauty of the effect of this light and shade on the landscape.
When I was a youngster, I used to accompany my father on game-shooting day-outings around Co Laois during the “open season”. Through these outings, I gained an appreciation of the surrounding landscape, with a particular “gra” for the stark beauty of the winter months.
I was also lucky to have been influenced by a former schoolteacher, who taught me in Primary School for two successive years, and where he encouraged all aspects of the Arts to his students.
During my 34 years of service with the Irish Air Corps, I was privileged to have had the opportunity of flying over the Irish landscape at all times of the day and night. My favourite flying times were early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the quality of the light was spectacular, due to the lateral light and the consequent long shadows on the landscape. This “quality” light is particularly evident, and prolonged during the winter months, due to the lower elevation of the sun, and the length of the sunrise and sunset. People comment on the ever-shifting light and shade effects on the Irish landscape. This effect is further heightened, as one flies at relatively low level over this beautiful landscape of Ireland. The change is so rapid, as one flies, that it is difficult to capture and commit all of the views to memory.
However, the memories merge with my daily view of the landscape, and I promise you that I have seen something similar to what I depict in my work.
I urge you to get out there and view the everlasting beauty, because you are the main transient in the equation. I hope that my work will provide you with the encouragement to explore and “see” the beauty of the landscape that is around you.
Aidan Flanagan.
May 2009
When I was a youngster, I used to accompany my father on game-shooting day-outings around Co Laois during the “open season”. Through these outings, I gained an appreciation of the surrounding landscape, with a particular “gra” for the stark beauty of the winter months.
I was also lucky to have been influenced by a former schoolteacher, who taught me in Primary School for two successive years, and where he encouraged all aspects of the Arts to his students.
During my 34 years of service with the Irish Air Corps, I was privileged to have had the opportunity of flying over the Irish landscape at all times of the day and night. My favourite flying times were early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the quality of the light was spectacular, due to the lateral light and the consequent long shadows on the landscape. This “quality” light is particularly evident, and prolonged during the winter months, due to the lower elevation of the sun, and the length of the sunrise and sunset. People comment on the ever-shifting light and shade effects on the Irish landscape. This effect is further heightened, as one flies at relatively low level over this beautiful landscape of Ireland. The change is so rapid, as one flies, that it is difficult to capture and commit all of the views to memory.
However, the memories merge with my daily view of the landscape, and I promise you that I have seen something similar to what I depict in my work.
I urge you to get out there and view the everlasting beauty, because you are the main transient in the equation. I hope that my work will provide you with the encouragement to explore and “see” the beauty of the landscape that is around you.
Aidan Flanagan.
May 2009