Artist’s Statement
I paint out of an essential need. Apart from a sense of fulfillment, I want to communicate a thought or inspiration whether it is the simple joy of reflected light or more complex feelings which stem from emotions past or present.
When working I constantly review a painting and if I feel it’s not going in the right direction, I will start over, keeping what is good and discarding anything which doesn’t contribute. I choose subjects with which I have some connection, either real or imagined, past or present.
In painting I represent what I feel is the essence of organic or inorganic objects. Initially, I work before the subject, refining and distilling and keeping the whole as simple as possible. Later I discard any unessential elements and using memory hone it down to the initial inspiration or concept. If, in the process, the painting loses all resemblance to the initial view then so be it. My work is about light and seeing but also about my sensibility to the subject. Using line, planes and colour I sometimes revisit paintings and bring to them a different personal interpretation.
BIOGRAPHY
Kevin Freeney was born in Dublin and grew up surrounded by the craft of painting. After school he worked in advertising and attended NCAD learning techniques in Still Life, Life Drawing and Calligraphy and was a member of the Grapevine Life Drawing Group before leaving Ireland to spend six years in France where he worked painting large scale illustrations for the outdoor advertising industry and honed his skills in painting from life and nature. In 2002, he moved to Wexford where he continues to paint full-time and teach from his studio. Kevin has had numerous Exhibitions at the Wexford Festival Opera Fringe.
EDUCATION
1972 Honours Art, Leaving Certificate.
1976 Painting from Still Life, NCAD, Dublin.
1976 Life Drawing, NCAD, Dublin.
1975 Design for Craftwork(Calligraphy), NCAD, Dublin.
EXHIBITIONS/Awards
2005 “The Opened Door“, Solo Exhibition, Wexford Festival Opera Fringe Event
2006 “Song & Dance“,Solo Exhibition, Wexford Festival Opera Fringe Event
2009 Invited artist at “Art In The Open” Plein Air Painting Festival
2009 “All 4 One”, Group Exhibition, Wexford Festival Opera Fringe Event
2010 Winner of 2nd place Lion’s Club Award at Wexford Arts Centre
COMMISSIONS
2000 Kildare Co. Co./Maynooth Community Council, Town Crest
1983 Book Illustrations for “L’histoire de Prince Pipo”. de Pierre Gripari
Livre de Poche Jeunesse,
1981 “Pelli Mural” Wilchingen, Switzerland.
1979 “The Proclamation of 1916” (Calligraphy on Canvas), The Law Society.
Kevin Freeney Bio (click to view)
