Over the past couple of years I have created works for people such as Martin McGuinness DFM for the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr John Hume - Politician, Stephen Nolan (pictured) BBC1 Northern Ireland, Hugo Duncan, entertainer and radio presenter for Radio Ulster, the late Gerry Anderson , radio presenter as well as his co-presenter Sean Coyle for BBC Radio Foyle, The world renowned writer and playwright Brian Friel, Feargal Sharkey-The Undertones, Amanda Burton - Actress, Irish singing sensation Dana, The unique singer songwriter Phil Coulter, Country music stars like Nathan Carter, Mike Denver, Philomena Begley, Niamh McGlinchey, and Nashville music stars Ron and Leona Williams, and Bo Brown among several others. I've done portraits of Ballymena born Hollywood star Liam Neeson, Golfing No1 Rory McIlroy, Joey Dunlop (voted 2015) as Northern Irelands No.1 sportsman of them all, and not forgetting one of the best... George Best, his portrait is also among my collection.
My works are designed and created to inspire and fire the imagination of others
to hopefully take up the pencil or brush and create their own works of art.
I had no formal training other than the usual school curriculum, but my talent
had shown itself before that, as I would sit and copy all the TV cartoons that were
on at the time I was growing up. My earliest memory was drawing Deputy Dawg
and Huckleberry Hound which were very popular with kids.
Getting a little older during the 70s I would then create drawings of current Movie and Pop stars
such as Bruce Lee, Clint Eastwood, Elvis, Olivia Newton John, Gloria Gaynor, etc.
Around that time in my teenage years I would also take part in a little Graffitti
Street Art with my trusty felt tip permanent marker, I wouldn't leave home without it.
I soon grew out of that and turned my attention to earning a living and raising a family
which I think are my best creations, up until very recently I hadn't lifted a paint brush for over
25 years. Now I enjoy painting more than I ever did, my work has a more mature
feel and look about it. The 25 year break did me good somehow. I do what I love ...
and love what I do. What I love also is a challenge...something I've never been asked to do before. Keeps me sharpened in much the same way you sharpen a pencil. Creativity has to be stretched and sharpened also. Inspiration can find you , but it must find you working (creating).
My early influences would have to be the obvious choices of Michaelangelo, DaVinci, Velasquez Titian, Goya, but as an adult my influences would be Irish Painter William Conor who's work I could just study for hours on end, also Carravaggio, Dali, Vermeer and a current Italian painter blazing a trail world wide Roberto Ferri, his work is just phenomenal.
Please feel free to visit Oliver's Art on Facebook, have a look around or visit my page "Oliver McParland - Artist to the Stars" and leave a like... if you like?