The hare in the folk myths of our ancestors.

One of the largest fertility festivals of the ancient calendar, Eostra, falls on the spring equinox when day and night are in equal balance and life has returned in profusion.The Anglo-Saxon Goddess of sunrise and spring was known as Eostra or Eastre and her sacred month was called 'Eastremonath' - Moon of Eostre.
Like all the Christian church's moveable feasts, Easter shows it's pagan origin in a dating system based on the old lunar calendar.It is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.The Christian festival wasn't called Easter until the Goddess's name was given to it in the late Middle Ages.
The Irish observed Easter on a different date from that of the Roman church, probably the original date of the festival of Eostre, until the Roman calendar was imposed in 632 A.D.
The most striking thing about the mythology of hares is the degree of commonality across the globe, there are long-spoken tales of hares from the Americas to the Far East, from Africa to Europe. The hare is embedded in the folk myths of our ancestors. It is associated in mythology with the Moon, the celestial skies and the Sun, with fertility, the dawn, cunning and bravery. There is evidence of hare mythology in ancient pottery, coins, seals, and hieroglyphics and in oral history. (In Egypt the hare symbolised the very essence of life itself: the hieroglyphic 'Wn', depicting a hare on top of a single blue-green ripple, means 'to exist'). Similar to the fact that most ancient cultures have a flood myth, most also seem to have hare mythology. What was it about the hare which led to this mythology? We will probably never know for sure, but the fact that wild hares lived in proximity to people, perform unique and uninhibited courtship dances, are extremely sexually active in the spring and are active at night, were all factors.

Further musings of a watercolourist

Even after many years of practice there is always an element of excitement and surprise for me when painting in watercolour. Unlike other painting techniques (oil painting , acrylic, chalk pastels and oil pastels etc.) in which the materials have an inertia of their own, watercolour painting is based on an elusive and moving substance which posesses its own metamorphic energy ( water).
An essential requirement for a watercolourist is patience -it has taken many years of working in watercolour to develop a working method that allows sufficient time for various techniques to produce the effects required .

No pool of water is like any other - Musings of a watercolourist

Watercolour paintings are not usually prey to forgers –the very difficulties of managing water, of imitating the instantaneous marks produced by the action of the artist in combination with pools of pigmented water ensures that each work is unique and almost impossible to recreate.

'Wet in wet’ is the most complex, but also the most basic of all the techniques of watercolour. When the water on the brush meets the water on the page something remarkable happens. It is this phenomena which makes the art of watercolour painting exciting and immensely satisfying .

Painting wet in wet requires a calm mind, spontaneous movements & focus - when I am painting in the flow I lose track of time; I am in the moment yet out of concious time - a seeming contradiction.

Gaining an understanding of watercolour takes patience and practice and many pools of colourful water both on & off the paper.

TUSCAN Art holiday

FLY TO PISA and I will organise the rest - Hotel - airport transfers, food, wine, painting excursions visits to Florence and the Uffitzi Gallery and much more - Italy will charm you!


Photos of the area in Italy where I am holding my art holiday in Montecatini , Tuscany from Wednesday 18th August to Weds 25th.2010.

PAINTING WEEKENDS with Trudi Doyle

This is my new 2010 list of ART WEEKENDS & CREATIVE WORKSHOPS at Bunbury Art Studio Ballyconnell Tullow Co Carlow Ireland

I have reduced fees to 2003 prices

1. WATERCOLOURS with Trudi Doyle

2 days €140 or 1 day €75

Whether you are an apprehensive beginner or have some experience but feel at sea in this medium of watercolours, this course will help you to develop a range of simple techniques; how to use & mix colour, lay washes and compose a painting. All will be demonstrated in Trudi's paint along method which will reinforce your understanding of how to handle this exciting and beautiful medium, giving you the confidence to produce paintings to be proud of. You should complete at least one finished painting and several sketches. SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS & IMPROVERS

MAY - Sunday 2^nd & Mon 3^rd (bank holiday)
JULY– Sat 10^th & Sunday 11th
OCTOBER - Sat. 16th & Sun 17th

2.OIL PAINTING with Pat Maher 2 days €150

This weekend is tutored by award winning artist Pat Maher, a master at capturing the elusive effects of light and shade. He is a patient and experienced tutor who knows how to bring out the best in painters of all level of ability. He includes instruction on good composition, colour and tone with demonstrations and individual tuition. If you are starting out or want to develop a surer approach which can be adapted to suit your own personal style this course is for you. SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS & IMPROVERS

MAY - Saturday 15^th & Sunday 16^th

SEPTEMBER— Saturday 4th & Sunday 5^th

3. ALL NEW -ART SAMPLE DAYS with Trudi Doyle 1 day €55

A chance to try Drawing & some Watercolours & Acrylics. Suitable for those who have always wanted to take up painting but haven’t got round to it.

This day will introduce you to basic drawing & painting techniques & skills on how to compose a painting and give you a taste of painting with watercolours & acrylics. All materials are supplied for the day and you will go home with a new insight and hopefully enough enthusiasm to continue painting.

You may bring your own materials if you prefer.

Materials supplied.

MAY - Sunday 30^th 10 places

JULY Sunday 25^th 10 places

OCTOBER Sunday 3rd 10 places

4.VIBRANT WATERCOLOURS with Trudi Doyle 2 days €140

For those who wish to loosen up and enliven their work and stretch their knowledge of watercolours beyond the usual. Learn to experiment with a variety of techniques and "tricks of the trade" e.g. sponging, masking, salt effects, cling film textures and the use of mixed media. Delight in the discovery of unexpected effects, keeping an open mind to happy accidents, finding ways of incorporating your new skills into your paintings whether abstract, figurative, landscape, still life, etc. Learn from Trudi the well kept secrets of transparent glowing watercolours and how to effortlessly achieve freshness and vibrancy in your paintings from now on.

JULY - Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th

AUGUST- Sunday 1^st & Mon 2^nd (bank holiday)

5. ACRYLICS with Trudi Doyle 2 days €140

Acrylics are an easy to use & versatile medium. Diluted with water they can be used like watercolour or used straight from the tube, they produce depth and colour similar to oil painting. Their quick drying nature allows the painter to build up layers of colour faster than oil paint and their opacity means that they are forgiving of mistakes. This workshop will include simple drawing skills and painting techniques, learning the basics while completing a simple painting

JUNE- Sunday 6^th & Mon 7^th (bank holiday)

SEPTEMBER - Saturday 25th & Sunday 26^th

6. DRAWING DAYS tutor Trudi Doyle €55

Although ideal for someone taking their first steps in art , this basic drawing day will be enjoyed by painters who might have bypassed drawing and want to improve their draftmanship . Learn essential drawing techniques which will provide a solid foundation to build on & will develop good observational skills to enhance painting.

MAY - Saturday 29^th

JULY- Saturday 24^th

7. ART & NATURE SUMMER SCHOOL

For boys and girls aged 4 to 11

Enjoy Art lessons in Painting , Drawing and Collage. Stimulate the imagination and encourage recycling by making wonderful creations from colourful textured papers, fabrics, found objects, beads & buttons in the studio. Also enjoy outdoor nature walks to encourage observation skills –weather permitting- and interactive fun and games in the garden. All Materials provided. Bring a packed lunch each day.

JULY -Tuesday 7th Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th €55

€10 off all 2 day adult course bookings before April 1^st 2010

email for further details and bookings - trudiart@eircom.net

PAINTING in FRANCE 2010

I am delighted to have been asked to tutor on this exciting art holiday in September in the SOUTH WEST OF FRANCE - Saturday 11th to Saturday18th September 2010.
It promises to be a very special and inspirational week . see www.breakaway-to-bearn.com
For information on 2011 courses visit www.breakaway-to-bearn.com in late 2010

Cultural Holiday in Montecatini, Tuscany

In April 2009 I visited Montacatini to find just the right place to meet my criteria -namely a small comfortable Italian owned hotel, with character , friendly service and excellent food and wine in the heart of Tuscany in which to base a relaxing painting and cultural holiday. I found La Pia Hotel run by Maria and her family. This is the unique holiday experience I have come up with . All of these images are photos taken by me during the trip last year.


Anyone interested in an all inclusive holiday with like minded people ?- Want to do some painting with the benefit of advice from a tutor? Enjoy viewing world famous masterpieces ? Long to bask in the Tuscan sunshine?
If the answer is yes to the above , this Italian experience will suit you. A unique holiday in Montecatini , including trips to visit Florence and Sienna, from Wednesday 18th August to Weds 25th.2010.



The itinerary
Wednesday 18th August. Arrival at Pisa Airport where you will be met by our courier and taken to your hotel La Pia by bus. Meet your tutor Trudi Doyle for an informal introduction to painting outdoors , dinner at Hotel
Thursday, 19th Aug. Montecatini Terme (morning) A guided tour of
Montecatini and the Tettuccio spa building with welcome drink in the historical cafe, situated inside the Tettuccio building. Dinner at the hotel.
Friday, 20thAug - . Painting day with artist Trudi Doyle in Buggiano and Massa , two beautiful medieval villages by bus. . Dinner at the hotel
Saturday 21st Aug. Florence - Departure for Florence by train with our courier .You will be met by the English speaking local guide of Florence at the Uffizi Gallery. Guided visit of the Uffizi gallery in the morning. Lunch break. Guided visit of the historic centre in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.
Sunday 22ndAug. Painting day tutored by Trudi Doyle / Free day, your choice . Dinner at the hotel.
Monday, 23rd Aug. Free day or optional excursion to Sienna. Dinner at the hotel.
Tuesday, 24th Aug. Free day / shopping / sightseeing / relaxing -or painting day tutored by Trudi Doyle your choice. Dinner at the hotel.
Wednesday 25th Aug. Departure day - transport to Pisa airport by bus.

Deposit of €200 will secure your place on this wonderful holiday in Italy . Contact me - trudiart@eircom.net - for booking / inquiries . 10 places available .


The cost of the Holiday €875 per person -great value in high season ( no single supplement) €50 reduction for artists or non painting partners ( not needing tuition )
Holiday includes: Seven nights Half Board accomodation at La Pia Hotel, Montecatini , all rooms en suite and air conditioned , (breakfast buffet and evening meal with wine or soft drink included each day , breakfast on last day )
Transfers by bus or taxi to/from Pisa airport (Luggage service & courier on arrival included ).
A local guide (2 hours and half) in Montecatini plus entrance ticket for Tettuccio spa building & welcome drink.
Bus or taxi (full day) for a painting day excursion to 2 Medieval villages Buggiano & Massa
Full day Excursion Train ticket for Florence and ticket & reservation for Uffizi gallery plus guide, Local guide and courier in historic Florence ( afternoon)
Painting tuition with Trudi Doyle .( view her paintings on www.trudidoyle.com ).
Parking fee for the bus or taxi.
Use of fold up-artist- chair.