Page 12 - For the purpose of this essay when I refer to ‘spirit’ ‘devine’ or ‘spirituality’ I am referring

responded by email except one who responded by letter. Their answers are not edited
or altered in any way as I wanted to reflect honestly their thoughts and opinions. Below
are the interviews including a short biography and explanation of each painters work.

Helen Gaynor – Interview Appendix 1

Gaynor, H., 2010. Interview Questions. [email] (Personal communication, 21 Feb 2010)

Wexford born, Helen Gaynor attended the National College of Art and Design, Dublin,
graduating with Honours in Fine Art, Painting, in 1995, receiving an award for her
thesis. Helen has exhibited widely and belongs to several national collections, as well
over ten solo shows. Helen was recipient of the Wexford County Council Bursary for
Visual Arts in 2000. Recent art practice has included improvisation with musicians, to
produce sound pieces in addition to visual works, work which culminated in an
exhibition entitled Colour Garden at Garter Lane, Waterford in 2005, and Journey at
Newtownbarry House, Bunclody in 2007.

Gaynor is attracted to the work of artists who respect a painterly approach, brushstrokes
are evident and there is a certain devotion to the potential of colour. She is herself, a
superb colourist. Colour selections and combinations are paradoxically both in tune
with nature but simultaneously at a remove. (Fig- 9)
‘She (Gaynor) has previously been best known as a highly accomplished decorative
painter… The largest, multi-panel piece, Reflection, recalls Hackneys’ bold attempts to
depict the moving surface of a pool of water. Gaynor employs minimal means with
great flair in a terrifically mobile evocation of a rippled surface… current concentration
on space, light and atmosphere’.
Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, Oct 14, 2009

Fig- 9. Confluence, (2007) by Helen Gaynor. Ink and oil on canvas (30cmX102cm)

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