AITO 2024

The Art in the Open this year was absolutely fantastic. It’s always one of the highlights of my year, but this time it felt especially magical. The weather was just perfect – sunny at Carne Beach and beautifully misty at Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny. Everything seemed to align perfectly with what I was painting and the mood I was in.

One of the best parts of the event is meeting fellow artists. It’s such a joy to catch up with old friends and get to know new ones, both local and international. I feel incredibly lucky to have this wonderful plein air painting event right here in my county. It fills me with pride to represent our stunning landscapes and share them with such a passionate community.

I’m also delighted to share that I won the Architectural Silver Award this year! This is my second silver award at Art in the Open, and I now have two bronze awards from this wonderful event as well. It’s such an honour to be recognised by my peers, and I couldn’t be prouder. Over the last 12 years of attending, every year brings something new, but this one will definitely stand out.

The painting that won was of Hook Head, a spot I’ve wanted to paint for a long time. I’ve always been a bit wary of this particular spot because it’s so close to the edge of the rocks, and I’ve had this irrational fear that a gust of wind might send me – or worse, my easel – flying off. But this time, with the calm weather, I finally felt like it was the right moment to give it a go, and I’m so glad I did.

Here’s a little story from that day: I would probably never have finished this painting if it weren’t for the kindness of another artist. I had somehow forgotten to bring my drinking and painting water – or maybe I left it in the car, who knows! Just when I was about to panic, a fellow artist nearby, whose name I regretfully didn’t catch, kindly shared his water with me. Without that generosity, I might have had to abandon the painting altogether. It’s little moments like this that make Art in the Open such a special experience.

What do you think about the title of the winning painting, Rock Solid? I was almost going to call it On the Rocks, but Rock Solid just felt right. It really taps into what I loved about this piece. When you walk by the lighthouse, you can feel the solidity of the building, and the way those rugged rocks hold up this magnificent structure just resonated with me.

Below, you’ll find a few photos from the exhibition, a video, and some of the paintings I created during the event. A couple of them are available for sale, so feel free to have a look.

Till next year!

Kate