Stephens Green Club was the venue for our night to receive our certificates for the Italian Renaissance Art and also the Students who completed the Diploma In Fine and Decorative Arts. I did that course myself a few years back and I must say it was one of the best courses I have ever done in the IPAV in Baggot St. 

The course this year centered a lot around Florence so that is where we are going on our annual trip next September. We have missed out on our trip for the last two years so it will be extra special this year. These trips are invaluable to me as our tutor brings us to all the best Galleries and Museums and I always come home with great inspiration for my paintings. 

Exciting news for me this week. I am now showing some of my paintings in the beautiful building called The View in Malahide Marina. It is aptly named as it has the most spectacular views of the Marina. This was originally the restaurant called Cruzzo's where I have many happy memories. It is now home to Co Offices, Meeting rooms etc and I can't imagine a nicer place to work. Most of my bigger paintings are their now and can be viewed Monday to Friday but by appointment only. All you need to do is contact me and I will arrange it. I will be having a solo exhibition their very soon so I will keep you all posted as soon as I have a definite date. 

What a weekend !
Firstly a big Thank You to everyone who bought my paintings. I got some great commissions as well so all in all it was a successful weekend.

Secondly the raffle for the Sunflowers for Ukraine was very special as I got a lovely girl from Ukraine to pick the tickets, she arrived in Ireland a few weeks ago with her mother. Her name is Daria and she was helping out on the stand beside me, www.handlecraft.ie with her sister who has been living in Ireland a few years. So the story gets interesting now because out of 90 tickets the first one she picked out was Thomas the owner of Handlecraft, next one was a friend of mine and third one was incredible as it was Daria herself!! We could not believe it, you couldn't make it up. I think it was fabulous that this family who have been through so much got a little joy yesterday. The universe was in tune with them. Photo of my stand below. 

SUNFLOWERS FOR UKRAINE 

Here is a close up photo of the painting I am raffling for Ukraine this weekend at the Ideal Homes Exhibition. Tickets are €10 each and all proceeds are going to the Irish Red Cross. I will be at Stand M20 so hopefully you will all help this worthy cause. 

I am exhibiting this year in the Ideal Homes exhibition which is only a few weeks away now.  It is a great exhibition for anyone interested in anything at all to do with houses , interior or exterior. There is lots of information from Interior Designers and a stunning showhouse designed by Ventura. 

I am going to raffle a painting of Sunflowers I did specially to help the Ukraine cause. 
Sunflowers are the nation flower in Ukraine so thought that was appropriate. The tickets will be €10 each and I will be doing the raffle at 5pm on Sunday , all the proceeds will go to the Irish Red Cross for Ukraine.  Here is a photo of the painting, " Flowers for Ukraine "