"All children are artists, the problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up" - Pablo Picasso
I'm so thankful that the artist in me survived through my childhood years to adulthood.
First of all I'm not a writer...I'm a painter. But I will try my best to paint a literary portrait with this blog. So here goes...
EARLY RECOGNITION
My earliest memory of showing some ability to draw and sketch would have been around 4 or 5 years old and I had just drawn a cartoon character popular at the time known as Huckleberry Hound, one of my favourite kiddie shows as a child. I vividly remember my Dad proudly showing our milk and lemonade delivery man - Tony Wilde, my drawing, saying "what do you think of this Tony?" to which Tony replied something like "Oh aye Mickey , thats very good...there's a definite skill there, he should keep at it". So pleased at the response to my drawing, that 'keep at it' I did. At every opportunity I would have a pencil and sheet of paper at the ready, when I didn't have paper I would use the backside of a roll of wallpaper, which I really preferred as I could cut the sheets as large or small as I wished. If we ran out of wallpaper my mum would then go and buy me an A4 art pad for sketching and drawing. This was a step up as the quality of paper was far superior to wallpaper and I quickly realised my quality of drawing improved also.
INFLUENCES
Getting older my interests and influences obviously changed as did my selection of subjects. In my teens I was an avid collector of the Marvel Super Hero comics, and would sit for hours on end copying heroes like Superman, Batman etc. The creator of these characters was a man named Stan Lee and I thought he was the greatest artist I had ever seen, so to just copy his work gave me the biggest buzz. If my work even resembled his masterpieces I was delighted. For me at that age, Stan Lee was The Man!! The Master!!. My other influences growing up were the obvious ones of Michaelangelo, DaVinci, Titian, Goya, that was then. Now my influences would be Carravaggio, Vermeer, and a rising talent in the art world from Italy, Roberto Ferri who's work is absolutely stunning to behold, and the work of William Conor, a fellow Belfast man who lived no less than a mile from where I was raised. I could easily study a piece of his work for hours.
FIRST TIME IN PRINT
It was around July of 1969 when I had just turned 12 years of age that my dad and I had travelled into town to the local newspaper offices of The Belfast Telegraph to show them my latest drawing of the late Robert F Kennedy who had been assassinated in August of the previous year. The staff and editor seemed very impressed with my drawing of the late senator that they decided to run a little feature on me for the following days edition. I couldn't believe it the next day when I saw my drawing, my name and my dads occupation (Mechanic) in print. They assured me they would send it to Robert Kennedy's mother Rose, which they did. As far as I know that pencil drawing is now somewhere in the archives of the White House in Washington DC. I'll never forget that day or my dad, for taking the time to do this with me. One of those special moments in your life you always remember.
NORMALITY
This insatiable need and desire to draw was so intense, it just wouldn't or couldn't be ignored. It was always there, whispering ideas. Don't get me wrong I didn't hide myself away in my room like a recluse, no I did what other kids of my age did, e.g. football, handball, boxing, argue , fight, swap comic books, collect football cards, played snooker, the usual every day stuff for a teenager dances , discos and of course the inevitable girlfriends, which is a nice diversion. But the art was always there lurking in the background, like an urge, a need, desire, which had to be listened to.
EARNING A CRUST
In 1979 I met my good lady wife and we married in June 1981. In doing so I turned my attention to earning a living and raising a family of four, which I consider my best creations by far. For the next 25 years I never lifted a paint brush as I was so concentrated on my family and putting food on the table that the art took a back seat. But the itch to paint, was silently hibernating all this time in the background, just patiently waiting for me to answer it, which I did in 2013 when I accepted an invitation to decorate a childrens' play area with Disney characters for a Christmas Winter Wonderland that year. From then I haven't looked back. In fact the 25 year break has had a positive affect on my art which surprised me..as I am creating with more feeling for my work, which shows a more mature quality to it. I enjoy my work more now than I ever did. I'm not suggesting to take a 25 year break to anyone...but it worked for me.
ENCOURAGE AND CULTIVATE
I could go on but in finishing I would just say this, that a child who shows or displays a flair or talent in a certain area be it art, music, sport, or whatever should receive all the encouragement and praise possible to cultivate and nourish that talent. All these things I received in abundance growing up, which I believe now, kept the artist in me alive. Certain persons I must give credit to for their support and encouragement are: My Dad, my Mum, Siblings, Mr Trainor (Art teacher at primary school) this gentleman was the first person to introduce me to oil paints. His first instruction to me was to paint Mount Errigal in Donegal from a postcard he had ... I can still see that painting in my minds eye. So thank you Mr Trainor wherever you are, your encouragement was invaluable. One other thing that kept the artist alive was the unmistakable smell of the paint, the smell of the linseed oil, there's no smell like it for me, I liken it to the smell of freshly cut pine wood, or freshly cut grass. In other words painting for me involves all the senses.
"All children are artists, the problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up" Pablo Picasso
So I'd like to report Mr. Picasso that the artist did survive in me , and is alive and kicking... for sure.
So that's it...my first blog!!.. "Portrait of the artist as a young boy"
So all that's left to do is...b log off. Bye for now.
Oliver McParland (Artist)
I'm so thankful that the artist in me survived through my childhood years to adulthood.
First of all I'm not a writer...I'm a painter. But I will try my best to paint a literary portrait with this blog. So here goes...
EARLY RECOGNITION
My earliest memory of showing some ability to draw and sketch would have been around 4 or 5 years old and I had just drawn a cartoon character popular at the time known as Huckleberry Hound, one of my favourite kiddie shows as a child. I vividly remember my Dad proudly showing our milk and lemonade delivery man - Tony Wilde, my drawing, saying "what do you think of this Tony?" to which Tony replied something like "Oh aye Mickey , thats very good...there's a definite skill there, he should keep at it". So pleased at the response to my drawing, that 'keep at it' I did. At every opportunity I would have a pencil and sheet of paper at the ready, when I didn't have paper I would use the backside of a roll of wallpaper, which I really preferred as I could cut the sheets as large or small as I wished. If we ran out of wallpaper my mum would then go and buy me an A4 art pad for sketching and drawing. This was a step up as the quality of paper was far superior to wallpaper and I quickly realised my quality of drawing improved also.
INFLUENCES
Getting older my interests and influences obviously changed as did my selection of subjects. In my teens I was an avid collector of the Marvel Super Hero comics, and would sit for hours on end copying heroes like Superman, Batman etc. The creator of these characters was a man named Stan Lee and I thought he was the greatest artist I had ever seen, so to just copy his work gave me the biggest buzz. If my work even resembled his masterpieces I was delighted. For me at that age, Stan Lee was The Man!! The Master!!. My other influences growing up were the obvious ones of Michaelangelo, DaVinci, Titian, Goya, that was then. Now my influences would be Carravaggio, Vermeer, and a rising talent in the art world from Italy, Roberto Ferri who's work is absolutely stunning to behold, and the work of William Conor, a fellow Belfast man who lived no less than a mile from where I was raised. I could easily study a piece of his work for hours.
FIRST TIME IN PRINT
It was around July of 1969 when I had just turned 12 years of age that my dad and I had travelled into town to the local newspaper offices of The Belfast Telegraph to show them my latest drawing of the late Robert F Kennedy who had been assassinated in August of the previous year. The staff and editor seemed very impressed with my drawing of the late senator that they decided to run a little feature on me for the following days edition. I couldn't believe it the next day when I saw my drawing, my name and my dads occupation (Mechanic) in print. They assured me they would send it to Robert Kennedy's mother Rose, which they did. As far as I know that pencil drawing is now somewhere in the archives of the White House in Washington DC. I'll never forget that day or my dad, for taking the time to do this with me. One of those special moments in your life you always remember.
NORMALITY
This insatiable need and desire to draw was so intense, it just wouldn't or couldn't be ignored. It was always there, whispering ideas. Don't get me wrong I didn't hide myself away in my room like a recluse, no I did what other kids of my age did, e.g. football, handball, boxing, argue , fight, swap comic books, collect football cards, played snooker, the usual every day stuff for a teenager dances , discos and of course the inevitable girlfriends, which is a nice diversion. But the art was always there lurking in the background, like an urge, a need, desire, which had to be listened to.
EARNING A CRUST
In 1979 I met my good lady wife and we married in June 1981. In doing so I turned my attention to earning a living and raising a family of four, which I consider my best creations by far. For the next 25 years I never lifted a paint brush as I was so concentrated on my family and putting food on the table that the art took a back seat. But the itch to paint, was silently hibernating all this time in the background, just patiently waiting for me to answer it, which I did in 2013 when I accepted an invitation to decorate a childrens' play area with Disney characters for a Christmas Winter Wonderland that year. From then I haven't looked back. In fact the 25 year break has had a positive affect on my art which surprised me..as I am creating with more feeling for my work, which shows a more mature quality to it. I enjoy my work more now than I ever did. I'm not suggesting to take a 25 year break to anyone...but it worked for me.
ENCOURAGE AND CULTIVATE
I could go on but in finishing I would just say this, that a child who shows or displays a flair or talent in a certain area be it art, music, sport, or whatever should receive all the encouragement and praise possible to cultivate and nourish that talent. All these things I received in abundance growing up, which I believe now, kept the artist in me alive. Certain persons I must give credit to for their support and encouragement are: My Dad, my Mum, Siblings, Mr Trainor (Art teacher at primary school) this gentleman was the first person to introduce me to oil paints. His first instruction to me was to paint Mount Errigal in Donegal from a postcard he had ... I can still see that painting in my minds eye. So thank you Mr Trainor wherever you are, your encouragement was invaluable. One other thing that kept the artist alive was the unmistakable smell of the paint, the smell of the linseed oil, there's no smell like it for me, I liken it to the smell of freshly cut pine wood, or freshly cut grass. In other words painting for me involves all the senses.
"All children are artists, the problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up" Pablo Picasso
So I'd like to report Mr. Picasso that the artist did survive in me , and is alive and kicking... for sure.
So that's it...my first blog!!.. "Portrait of the artist as a young boy"
So all that's left to do is...b log off. Bye for now.
Oliver McParland (Artist)