The exhibition title, “Quarters”, refers to the fact that most of the studies for these paintings were executed on the banks of the Moy across the four seasons. In the process, remembrance and riverscape merged with the tactile process of sketching and painting. Memory combined past and present. Ambient sounds of wind and rain, and sensations of heat and cold became elements of the work.
In the studio, the creative evolution of the paintings was an intuitive fusion of recollections, feelings, and physical and visual impressions, all stretching across my experiences at the riverbank. This work resulted in six paintings directly related to these riverside studies. The balance of the paintings in the exhibition allude to places that have personal significance such as Cork, Ross or Galicia. “Ithaca” is a reference to Homer’s Odyssey and its theme of wandering and the ultimate return home.
Val McLoughlin is a Ballina artist whose art practice includes painting in oils, watercolour and mixed media, he is also a printmaker in wood and lino cuts, often combining the techniques.
This exhibition, “Quarters”, refers to the fact that majority of the studies for these paintings were executed on the banks of the river Moy across the four seasons. In the process, remembrance and riverscape merged with the tactile process of sketching and painting. Memory combined past and present and In the studio, the creative evolution of the studies into paintings was an intuitive fusion of recollections, feelings and visual impressions.
He studied art in the Crawford School of art from 1971 to 1975 in Cork. He exhibited extensively in group and submission exhibitions in the greater Cork area becoming a member of the Cork Artists Collective and Cork Printmakers. Following his first solo exhibition in 1986 he exhibited throughout Ireland including Northern Ireland, with gallery representation in London and the USA. In 2018 he received his Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Art Practices from GMIT.
On his return to Ballina 2011 he became active in the local art scene participating in group and solo exhibitions, he also established the weekly life drawing sessions in Ballina Arts Centre.
Ballina Arts Centre, Tuesday to Saturday 10 am – 6pm