In May of 2023 we moved to Cork Ireland for at least a year or more. Since I work part time as an online doctoral student advisor, I had time to return to my painting, absent from my life for almost a decade. Every time I return to painting after some absence, I have feelings of lost opportunity coupled with excitement of seeing things new. There is something to be said for abstinence and eventual progress in viewpoint, technique upon return.

I quickly located the best art supply shop locally (always Amazon for many things but I like a good, well-stocked shop). Cork Art Supplies, a well-established store located in City Centre, quite near the English Market and Oliver Plunkett Street, is a warm place with young and enthusiastic workers. I found most everything I needed and was interested in the Winsor & Newton Water Mixable Artisan oil series. I had never used this type of paint and bought a basic “student” set of 6 colors.