Monday, 26 September 2011

Rathwood hosts first exhibition by Rathgall Painters Guild



Over 80 oil paintings will be on display from 1st – 7th October

Rathwood is hosting a week-long exhibition of more than 80 oil paintings by the members of the Rathgall Painters Guild. The exhibition opens on Saturday 1st October.

The artists group takes its name after the Rathgall hill fort that has been home to and inspired craftsmen and artisans since the Bronze-age. The Rathgall Painter’s Guild aims to continue this tradition in the visual arts. 

The group originally came together under classes funded by the VEC and the 12 members are mentored by  Jacinta Crowley-Long, an internationally known painter who specializes in rural landscapes and equine and canine portraits.  

“Many of the artists had been painting for many years in the Rathgall area, before they approached me some time ago to attend master classes in oil painting,” says Jacinta. “This will be our first full year working together and the group has been growing creatively since we first started meeting. Each artist has really developed his/her own style over the years and we are all extremely pleased to present our first exhibition as a collective.”

The painters meet up on a weekly basis for tuition and group discussions on the visual arts in general at the Ballyconnell Hall. “The styles and topics of the paintings on display will be varied, from still life to country scenes and landscapes, many of those the public might recognize from the beautiful countryside around Tullow,” she adds.