Phil Irish

Phil Irish. A Modest Ostentation. Oil on panel, digital print, 2007.

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This painting just won 2nd Prize in the Shirley Dilworth Jaychuk Painting Competition, at the Elora Centre for the Arts. It was a great evening of festivities, with jurors I respect: Doug Kirton, Will Gorlitz, and Judith Nasby.

Did you know that an "ostentation" is a name for a group of peacocks? A murder of crows... an ostentation of peacocks. The word seemed fitting for this work: the wild opulence of the peacock feathers and postures, set amid the cedar beams and humble window of an Ontario barn. At the left edge, all remains quiet and muted. As your eyes explore further to the right, the colours and spatial tensions increase their strength and freedom.

The textures of fencing interrupt the surface, fading in and out of focus.

Narnia doodle, from my sketchbook.

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I heard about an orchestral and dramatic event based on C.S. Lewis' classic tale, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." They were seeking an artist to create a painting to add a strong visual element to the production. At first it seemed impractical to take on such a huge task --- but then I couldn't get the possibilities out of my head.

I started sketching and dreaming myself into the story. I put my ideas together, and it turns out that they accepted my project. I am in full rhythm working on them now. I will add some photos of the work in progress over the next 6 weeks.

This is a real departure from the main direction in my work. Yet it has allowed me to explore new ways of working, and to allow the fantastical aspect of my imagination to romp uninhibited. Despite this sense of fantasy, there are strong metaphors in the work that move well beyond a literal re-telling of the story. I like the word "wonder" more than fantasy, actually.

The production, called "The Lion, The Witch, and the Orchestra," is a collaboration between the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Lost and Found Theatre, and myself.
Please visit the website of Lost and Found Theatre for ticket information.

So here is how the studio looked earlier this week:
the studio like a family cottage industry, with Anna on the sewing maichine, baby Ravenna at my feet, and paint flying happily.

I am enjoying the thrill of working huge, even if I can only see 1/6th of the total scale at a time.