Maynooth Castle Keep Art Group

Maynooth Castle Keep Art Group Susan Durack exploring new mediums and subject matter. techniques within their own medium. We each

The Maynooth Castle Keep Art Group was We had great fun showing each other our artworks hoping to have an outdoor exhibition (pre-level at the end of the night and with permissions 5) sometime towards the end of September or they were posted on our FB page. These sessions beginning of October. Because of Covid and social served to keep the Group together and to continue. distancing limits it was not feasible. We have Now that we have entered another Covid level kept going during the pandemic and if anything, 5, we resumed our zoom sessions in October have had a longer year and more productive year and we have introduced our own free painting that we would have had ordinarily. We have been nights, where we meet on zoom and paint our working away in the background up to August own subjects, very like our “real” meet and paint with our weekly Zoom Art Sessions. Members of sessions. There is some relaxing music in the the Group volunteered to host an hour (or so) of background and we chat from time to time, instruction to other members of the Group. We also showing work in progress, or sharing information introduced YouTube instructional videos to the in relation to art in general such as the Portrait Group during that time which proved to be very Artist of the Year (including the one featuring popular. This replaced our regular meet and paint Maynooth’s Paul Mescal), historic buildings sessions in the Post Primary School. or places we are painting or drawing, and information on art resources, as well as the usual The zoom sessions took us out of “ funny or interesting story. our comfort zones in exploring new mediums and subject matter.” So Covid has presented us with an opportunity to explore different avenues, introduce new The zoom sessions turned out to be a wonderful, Group and to broaden our information on all enjoyable, and fun alternative. Our members things arty. We would like to congratulate Emma really looked forward to the Tuesday night as it Boyce (one of our own) who was chosen as one was a break from the Covid reality. It gave us a of 10 Kildare artists commissioned to take part in dedicated time to sit down to paint together. The the Covid 19 Portrait Project organised by Kildare zoom sessions took us out of our comfort zones in County Council. It gave the members a chance to lead a class if they “We would like to congratulate Emma wished and there was no pressure. We each Boyce, who was chosen as one of 10 shared our strengths with others. Those who mainly used acrylic were introduced to watercolour, pastels, oils, and pen or learned new Kildare artists commissioned to take part in the Covid 19 Portrait Project.” technologies, discover new talents within the took on different subject matter—landscapes, We hope to have an online exhibition in 2021 if we seascapes, floral studies and still life. We cannot have our annual exhibition at Easter. specifically looked at how to paint a sea and waves In the meantime, all good wishes to our artists, and clouds and how to deal with perspective, light supporters, our patron Mr. Tom Ashe, the and shade and reflections. We then expanded our principals of the Maynooth Education Campus and zoom meeting to include free instructional videos everyone in the community who has contributed from YouTube. These were carefully picked to suit to the continued success of the Group. Look out our time and to suit the subject matter. We soon for us in 2021. discovered that some presentations were excellent Congratulation to all involved in the virtual and some less so. Maynooth 10k.

A selection of Art Works from Maynooth Castle Keep Art Group