Cill Rialaig Artist Residency December 2013

I have arrived at the beautiful , restored ruins of a pre-famine village on the edge if the Atlantic Ocean situated in the Ballinskelligs, South West Kerry. The cottage with studio is in such a wild and remote place it has taken my breath away. It has been hard to leave my little sons and husband but as an artist himself, he has encouraged this residency to go ahead and for this I am truly grateful.
I am waking up late, eating my breakfast outside looking at the waves and the cliffs and the Ballinskelligs.
I have so far worked on 10 small oil studies, 5 medium size oil landscapes and a couple of watercolours that I had no idea I would enjoy doing, ever.
I make sure that I go out somewhere different every day and work on hard into the night.
Much to my surprize, I have mastered the art of keeping a fire going.
The other artists here are warm, we don't bump into each other much as we are here to work alone but there is a beautiful meeting house full of books and catalogues of artists work.
I have never felt this centred nor this rewarded.