Thursday 8th August sees local artists Michael Collins, Geraldine Sadlier and Brian MacMahon using their skills in the Garden of the Hunt Museum, painting pets for Pet Plein Air.
Everyone, budding or professional artist, young or old is invited to join them. Starting at 4.30pm until the light fades. Being an observer is also encouraged!
Lavery and Osborne were known for their pet portraits and for their practice of peinture en plein air. En plein air in art is the activity of painting to canvas outside. Up until the mid-19th Century, most painting was completed indoors and in artist’s studios, until young artist’s such as Jules Bastien-Lepage, from the Antwerp school, began to champion the effects of painting outside in natural light. Both Lavery and Osborne joined this novel group of painters, who were influenced by plein-air, use of natural light and capturing the moment through sketches. These sketches would often stand on their own as paintings or were used as a quick visual reference for a finished canvas.
Pre mass photography, society often commissioned portraits of their animals and pets. Indeed Osborne’s father was a well known pet painter. Both Lavery and Osborne were adept at painting pets and animals. Osborne could capture the character of the dog, cat or horse and donkey… Making it real as opposed to sentimental. Lavery painted fewer pet portraits but executed them very well.
Pet Plein Air gives people an opportunity to understand the advantages and challenges of painting outside and painting pets. Easels, paper and paints will be provided - but feel free to bring your own. Limerick Animal Welfare are bringing some pets, but bring your own dog, rabbit, cat, donkey, horse… To cover costs we are charging €15 per person, €5 for kids and this also gives you free entrance to the museum. Squash, water and biscuits will be available and of course the Hunt Café will be open if you get peckish.
Booking is essential, as materials are limited. For more information click here.
