Jenny McCarthy
The Kerry based artist Jenny McCarthy is self-taught whose works include oils, water colours, pastel, stained glass, Pen & Ink and Pencil. Her predominant medium is oils using large brash strokes to convey energy and movement. Born in Limerick, Jenny comes from a family of artists, fashion designers and goldsmiths with direct influences from Limerick artist Darine Byrne and Kilkenny artist Tony O'Malley (RHA). She also draws inspiration from artist such as Louis Le Brocquy, Kandinsky and Braque.
Jenny won the 1990 AIB Limerick - Young Artist of the Year Award (not open to professioanal artists). This was followed by the AIB Limerick Student Art Award when the prize was a day in Tony O'Malley's (RHA) studio which further inspired her contemporary abstract art. The awards were for her works "Dolphins in Pastel", a study of water and movement, and "Church Study" a detailed interior of church stained glass, in pencil.
The Armada series are inspired by the sometimes violent seas and weather around Dingle Bay, County Kerry. The abstract series convey great energy and movement in a realistic and bold composition.
The captured energy is achieved in a single sitting preserving the freshness of each brash brushstroke. control and craft is evident in the work without compromising the vibrant emotional energy.
The Armada series depict the violent destruction of these great shipls on the merci8less rocks off the West coast of Ireland, including the Blaskets.
The Ventry Beach series are inspired by the two mile long beach at Ventry. Inspired by the sea-devils, a phenomenon where the water and air behave twister like, only to disappear as quicklly as they rise out of the sea. The series depicts Air on Water and captures the energy and movement of the interaction of water and waves with the wind.
The abstract evening and night scenes show the malevolent power between the interaction of water and wind but at the same time conveying passion and movement.
