Friends pupil shows artistic flair

Friends pupil James ONeill who recently was awarded 2 nd place in the Senior section of the 59th Annual Texaco Childrens Art competition.
US1913 SCHOOL 2 The award winning piece of art entitled The Royal Fisherman painted by Friends pupil James ONeill. — Friends pupil James ONeill who recently was awarded 2 nd place in the Senior section of the 59th Annual Texaco Childrens Art competition. US1913 SCHOOL 2 The award winning piece of art entitled The Royal Fisherman painted by Friends pupil James ONeill.

James, who is studying Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Physics at AS level, is a keen artist in his own time and was encouraged to enter the competition by the Head of the Art Department at Friends’, Ms Paula McPoland.

James writes: “I had two months to prepare before the closing date of February 22, which meant that I did not have much time. As a result, I spent many late nights painting, as, once I have started, it is difficult to stop.

“A week before the closing date, I completed what I consider to be my best work to date. Titled ‘The Royal Fisherman’, it depicts a kingfisher emerging out of the water with a small fish in its beak. I used a reference photo taken by

a friend as a basis, but I changed many things.

“I have always had a fascination with painting water, due to the subtle shapes and shades and reflections that occur, and the kingfisher was inspired by a lazy warm summer evening by the river, when a bird fished right in front of me.

“In the painting, I had wanted to capture the action of the event, the movement of the water and the bright colours of the bird. I feel I had achieved this reasonably well.

“Taking 28 hours in total, the painting is in acrylics on a 40 x 50cm stretched canvas.”

James will attend the Awards Ceremony of the prestigious competition at the end of May in Dublin.