Ross Stewart is a Kilkenny based artist currently working from
the Castlecomer Estate Yard studios. His artwork is semi abstract; based on landscape studies but organically developed,
focussing on the atmosphere and mood of the place, rather than
the representational form. His highly textured mixed media paintings
suggest wide expanses of bog or moor, solitary trees or boulders
with vivid, intricate details submerged under glazes of earthy
colours. Ross Stewart has exhibited across Ireland and the UK
over the last 10 years and his work is held in public and private
collections internationally. He has also worked as Art Director
on the feature film 'The secret of Kells' due to be released
this year by Cartoon
Saloon/Buena Vista.
Current
Gallery exhibitions
Studio
2, Castlecomer Estate Yard
Battletown
Gallery, Newtownards
Russell
Gallery, Burren, Co. Clare
The
Blackbird Gallery, Kieran St., Kilkenny
Art Exposure,
Parnie St., Glasgow
Joan
Clancy Gallery, Dungarvan. Co Waterford
Forthcoming
exhibitions
Joan
Clancy Gallery, Dungarvan. May 2008
Eigse,
Carlow. June, 2008
The
Hayloft Gallery
Kilkenny
Arts Festival, August 2008
Previous
solo exhibitions
'...Pause,
Compose...'
The Design Centre, Kilkenny. August, 2007
'Line, Colour
and Earth'
Courthouse
Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow. Feb, 2006
'These are
for people!',
Kilkenny County hall. Sept 2005
Stormont
Gallery, Belfast. June 2005
'Return
to Archaic Form',
Bank of Ireland Arts Centre. April 2005
'Constuction
Continued'
Excel Gallery, Tipperary. October 2004
'Construction
on the Horizon'
Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny. August 2004
'Footsteps'
Rothe House, Kilkenny. August 2002
New Paintings
Frameworks Gallery, Kilkenny. August 2000
Previous
Group Exhibitions
2007
Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray
Hazel Williams Gallery, Kilkenny
The Battletown Gallery, Newtownards
Castlecomer Estate Yard, Co. Kilkenny
Art Dublin 2007, BT2, Dublin
2006
The Battletown Gallery, Newtownards
The Blackbird Gallery, Kilkenny
Schull Gallery, Co. Cork
2005
Lavit Gallery, Cork
Kilkenny Art Gallery, Kilkenny
'Seomra 5', Castle Yard, Kilkenny
Art Exposure, Glasgow
'Eigse', Carlow
2004
Wicklow County Buildings, Wicklow
2003
'Living Arts Festival', Kilkenny
'Unseen Voices' Tig Fili, Cork
'Seomra4' Upstairs Gallery, 93, High st., Kilkenny
2002
'Five Years On' County Hall, Kilkenny
'Seomra4' Vicar st., Kilkenny
1999
Upstairs Gallery, 93, High st., Kilkenny
Public
Collections
Bank of
Ireland National Collection
Clare House, Belfast
The Kilkenny Design Centre
Residencies
Cill Ríalaig,
Ballinskelligs. Oct '07
Artist's
Statement
“I like
to think of my painting as being of an Irish style while possibly
being blended with a more global design sense. I have always
been inspired by the beauty of the Irish landscape and tried
to capture the subtle atmosphere, light and moods of the land.
I use limited palettes, natural hues, high contrast focal points
against subtle gradients, anything I can to help convey the
emotion of the place. Using this as the starting point of the
piece, I allow it to develop into something more than a landscape
painting. The painting can become a mix of abstract shapes and
symbols, perhaps interspersed with small sketches or printed
shapes, developing organically toward an amalgam of real and
flat space. My art is always about hidden items and layers covering
layers. It is always about balance of opposites; calm versus
chaos, light against dark, line and shape, colour amid greys.
It is always about the composition - how the shapes within the
frame can play with emphasis, tension, symmetry and balance.
I am constantly exploring the varieties of textures available
through the mixing of oils, acrylics, charcoal, thread and other
media and using these to enhance the energy and mood of the
work.. I would like to think of the finished piece conveying
that energy - the energy of exploration, of the creative process,
of hiding and revealing precious elements and layers, of working
to achieve that ultimate balance or tension.”
Commissions
I am available
to produce artwork for commission
using a particular subject, theme or size. Though my artwork
is abstract/semi abstract, I have completed portraits and still
lifes for commissions. See below for examples.
Contact me for more information.
