A slice of time is basis for new Black exhibition

A slice of time is basis for new Black exhibition

24 February 2016

ARTIST Kieron Black loves to travel and his latest collection attempts to capture some of the moments that have resonated the most.

His new watercolour exhibition, a series of paintings inspired by his travels in Ireland and Europe, goes on display next Friday at Down Arts Centre.

Scenes of the Mourne mountains and Inch Abbey at dawn are among the local beauty scenes captured.

“I travel as much as I can,” said Kieron. “It always seems to me that a moment, that slice of time, has more resonance in travel. 

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a journey through the Austrian Alps, the deserts of a Spanish island or to the café in Downpatrick, there is something about 

movement and experience. I wanted to capture this in my painting.”

Killough-based Kieron is a professional artist, writer and illustrator, well-known across the world for his cartoons and unique snowboarding creations. 

A keen snowboarder himself as well as being an illustrator for snowboarding site whitelines.com, Kieran said the response to his own illustrated boards had been “fantastic”.

“People really seem to like the skateboards,” he said. “For people who are expecting to know my work, for good or bad, this is a bit of an alternative exhibition.”

The Down Arts centre exhibition is certainly his most traditional collection yet, but the water-colour medium itself is presenting plenty of challenges.

“I have always felt the process of watercolour, of adding layers and growing an image, to be quite organic and exciting – it is only at the end that you know if it has worked or not,” said Kieron. “And sometimes, inevitably, they don’t.

“That’s the process, the discipline of watercolour. This exhibition is a collection of the paintings that worked.”

The Alps, the Mournes, and Scotland are among Kieron’s recent inspirational travels, and the hazy border between land and sky is explored in his paintings. 

“In the Alps I liked the interplay of clouds and mountains,” he said. 

So when it came to Inch Abbey Kieron “wanted to see what would happen” at first light, using his father as the inspiration for the figure in the foreground. As in other darker landscapes he portrays, there is light attempting to break through.

“We’re all looking for that hint of light,” he said. “Otherwise it would just be grey.”

‘In Travel’ by Kieron Black is running from Friday, March 4 to Sunday, April 2. The exhibition is free to view during normal opening hours.