residency

Three years ago, I began to dream of participating in an artist residency. I was accepted into the Watershed Artist Residency in Galway, Ireland in January and spent the next 18 months preparing for this experience.

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The residency that I participated in drew artists from Australia and across the United States. We lived in workers’ cottages (formerly housing fisherman) on several acres of fields leading to the Corrib River. 

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It was in this Galway studio surrounded by quiet and the natural beauty of the West of Ireland, that I was able to experience the life of a full-time artist. Every day (and sometimes every hour) I felt such gratitude for the opportunity. I took advantage of the experience by immersing myself in all things art. It is safe to say that for 30 days, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. I mostly painted, drew, and/or discussed and learned about art with my fellow artists. And to be honest, I was slightly surprised that I never tired of this lifestyle. I was instead thrilled to discover that this was exactly what I wanted.

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This residency provided me with many gifts. It allowed me to be quiet and present in nature. I noticed new details and nuances of water, sky, trees, wind, and weather. It also gave me newfound space and patience with my artistic process. I was able to explore tangents like “what does a tree look like when it is blowing in the wind?” I felt like I could take the time to create extensive sketches that explored things like the shapes of the trees in Ireland, the light on calf, or the color of the ever-changing sky. And I also benefitted from creating art with a diverse group of artists that all shared a deep appreciation and love of nature.

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While I found many similarities between the landscape of the PNW and Western Ireland, there were some notable differences.   The sky and weather seemed to change every hour in Galway.  Rather than forests trails, I was walking and running through fields and along the river.  These unique qualities of the landscape are evident in the paintings that you see in this room.   

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I cherish this experience, and am grateful to bring these memories and learning to my artistic practice today.