I finally got round to framing this - which I painted between Christmas and New Year. It’s acrylic and ink. 50cm x 70cm I call it ‘Deeper’ #art #abstract #acrylic #irishartist #natureart

Sometimes there’s a day when every visitor to my studio comments on the same picture. Today this small Monk picture has been getting all the attention. Other days, it’s other pictures. There’s no logic to it….. Ink on canvas board 8” x 8" #art #irishartist #ink #contemplative #surreal

In the middle of a high-pressure few weeks, I took time away. Hand-ground black ink from Japanese Ink Stick. Red ink made from local Red Ochre. Recycled cotton paper handmade in India, stained with tea. 24cm x 36cm Music while painting: Riley Lee: Bamboo Grass #art #handmade #ink #indian #irish

A very simple image: Blue and orange, mixed with some local walnut ink. Canvas Board. 8” x 8” #art #abstract #irishartist #design #simplicity

I posted an earlier version of this, uncertain if it was finished. I added some more. I’m still not sure, but sometimes you just have to stop. Acrylic on Canvas. 60cm x 90cm #art #abstractart #irishart #interiordesign #donegal

I’m preparing a presentation about ‘ensemble’ for organisations. It’s been making me consider simplicity: substack.com/@johnbritton... #teamwork #simple #organisation #connection

This is local (Donegal) botanic ink (Oak Gall, Walnut, Madder Root & Whin Bush) on watercolour paper. I love the beast that seems to be surging out near the centre. 42cm x 30cm #art #abstract #botanicink #donegal #organicart

This is ‘Dragon’. He roared into the world over the last couple of days. It’s ink on handmade Lotka paper from Nepal. Lokta is a sustainable, renewable resource. Plants are cropped above ground level and can be reharvested after 3-4 years. 55cm x 80cm #ink #nepal #handmade #art #myth

This is the second (and for a while, final) mix of donegal botanic inks with handmade paper from Nepal. Inks: Oak Gall, Beetroot, Walnut, Whin Bush/Gorse & Madder Root. Washi-paper made from mitsumata fibre, infused with bamboo leaf. It’s 60cm X 80cm #handmade #art #nepal #donegal #abstractart

I don’t know if this is finished or not. Knowing whether to continue or to stop is a hard choice. It’s a big picture (60cm x 90cm) which makes it powerful - or too powerful. Acrylic on canvas. I’ll wait then add more or leave it be. #art #acrylic #abstract #creativity #interiordesign

I’m very excited to get four of my circle pictures back from the framers today. They look great - kinda archetypal….. Acrylics on canvas board. #art #abstract #interiordesign #irishartist #organic

This diptych sold the day I bought it to my studio. It’s two panels - 10cm x 20cm - of handmade paper from Bhutan. They’re mounted on heavy, handmade Indian paper. It’s the only piece (so far) where Monk appears twice. ‘What is and will be' #art #handmade #bhutan #artisan #interiordesign

End the oligarchy.

Some thoughts about why I spent so much of my life interested in ‘ensemble’ performance - as I write a presentation for a company exploring what that obsession has taught me…. substack.com/@johnbritton...

I love these circle pieces and am making a lot of them right now. This is quite small: 8” x 8”. Ink on canvas board. The inks are a mixture of acrylics (a purple/blue and an orange) and botanic (oak gall) #ink #art #irishartist #abstract #donegal

‘Monk’s Winter Journey’ was a larger piece I made about a year ago. It sold very quickly when I shared it online. I love when pictures go into the world, but miss every one of them. Ink on paper #art #ink #contemplative #meditative #irishartist

I don’t do much acting these days, but I was part of this project. The final scenes were filmed at 2am, in January - the temperature well below freezing Oh the glamour! The resulting film is stylish and well-made. Credit to Marcello and the team for the work they did on it. youtu.be/DaEUdCFBSNA

‘What Rough Beast’ is an uncompromising piece, which always attracts comments from visitors to my studio. Hand-ground ink from a Japanese Ink Stick, mixed with commercial India Ink. 42cm x 60cm #ink #abstract #art #irishartist #interiordesign

This is a large piece (60cm x 84cm) - acrylic & ink on watercolour paper It’s called ‘Winter Embers’. It’s currently in an exhibition at Cionn Fhánada (Fanad Head Lighthouse). The exhibition comes down soon. I need somewhere to put it……. #irishartist #abstract #art #fanad #interiordesign #donegal

Unreal City is acrylic on a wood panel 42cm x 60cm. It’s got a shimmering feeling that, as I painted it, reminded me of Australia or Singapore…. #art #abstractlandscape #Irishartist #homedecoration #wallart

Sometimes I want the simplest possible image. A tree in blossom. A creature. A moment. That’s all……. #ink #cartoon #irishartist #simplicity #interiordesign

My sketchbook is an endless source of joy to me!!!!! #art #creativefreedom #abstract #irishartist

Here’s a short (5 minute) audio reflection on what working with children reminds us about creative freedom. www.johnbritton.co/soundbites #creativity #freedom #school #children #art

I’m preparing a presentation on ‘ensemble’ for a large American company. It’s making me consider how the truly important things can’t be put into words. You can read the short essay here: johnbritton1.substack.com/p/beyond-con... or preview.mailerlite.io/preview/7360...

A delicate piece. Ultramarine/Payne’s Grey and Pale Olive/Cadmium Red - all on a 12”square canvas board. Dive in. #art #acrylicpaint #abstract #organic #interiordesign

A delicate piece. Ultramarine/Payne’s Grey and Pale Olive/Cadmium Red - all on a 12”square canvas board. Dive in. #art #acrylicpaint #abstract #organic #interiordesign

The international oligarchy of obscenely-wealthy individuals, monstrous corporations, and hereditary power, is utterly and irredeemably corrupt. Claims that ‘we didn’t know’ or ‘he lied to us’ are farcical and absurd. They know. We know. We all know. Our choice is simple: collaborate or resist.

Pay fucking attention!!!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd-_...

A quiet day in my studio with few visitors. That leaves plenty of time to create. Monk visited. This is on handmade paper from Bhutan, coated in yellow ochre (a traditional Bhutanese colour). It’s ink. Roughly 45cm x 33cm #ink #handmade #art #ink #specialitypaper

I call my work ‘The Art of Calm’ I have to be calm to make it Making it calms me further I’m told that looking at it brings calmness to the viewer This tree is in my studio One day it will sell. I'ill miss it Until then it delights and soothes me #ink #calm #art #interiordesign #mentalhealth

Here’s Monk. He’s having a pretty rough day. It’s ink on a small canvas panel (8” x 8”). #art #contemplative #irishartist #ink #design

I didn’t get to Oregon but loved the PNW coast of Washington State

This is a delicate and quiet piece: diluted acrylic paint & ink on canvas board. 10“ x 10” #abstract #artist #irishartist #minimalism #interiordesign

We get a lot of storms round here, on the northern edge of Ireland. Wind howls, rain lashes, the sky hovers just above the ground. I painted this during one, distracting myself from the sound of slates coming off the roof. Acrylic on paper #irishartist #abstractlandscape #acrylic #interiordesign

I’ve been waiting a couple of weeks for the frame to be delivered for this. It looks great! Monk in the Winter Twilight. Ink on Canvas. 46cm x 33cm #ink #art #contemplativeart #irishartist #interiordesign

The moon over Fanad. #fanad #donegal #ireland #art #moon

Fanad, beneath a bright, bright moon. #donegal #ireland #moonlight #art

It was a real joy to run a 3-hour ‘Art of Calm: Painting with Ink’ session at The Courthouse Bushmills this morning. 12 lovely participants playing and creating and chatting. A very gentle way to start the weekend. #bushmills #art #workshop #ink #irishartist

This was out on the table in my studio today, and getting a lot of love. It’s quite large, so I guess it attracts attention. Ink on heavy handmade paper from India. #ink #irishartist #abstractart #interiordesign #architect

This is a small piece - 16cm x 29cm. Ink on paper, handmade in Jungshi, Bhutan, using denak fibre from the remote Eastern Himalayan forests - a renewable resource. People ask if my work is for sale. Answer: yes. Message me if you are interested. #ink #handmade #bhutan #irishartist #artisan

I hate wasting ink and paint. I use it up with scrapbook experiments…..

This is the second in a series I’m currently creating (the first has sold already). They’re very diluted acrylic paint and ink scraped onto canvas board. This one is 10” square. #abstractart #irishartist #design #ink #organicart

Here’s a short audio about the limits of a creator’s role. We initiate. The audience/consumer completes: www.johnbritton.co/soundbites #artist #creator #audience #creativity

We’re being battered by another storm. Spring starts next weekend (according to the Irish calendar). Those two things are not contradictory. I wrote about them: open.substack.com/pub/johnbrit... #spring #winter #change #progress #resist

I love making these small pieces. I call them ‘mini-originals’. Usually they are ink on handmade paper-though sometimes I do other things. People often buy them as a memento of their visit to my studio. #ink #art #handmafe #irishartist #affordableart

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I made this yesterday. Two colours of very diluted acrylic paint applied to a canvas board with a wallpaper scraper. So simple and poetic. #irishartist #acrylicart #abstractart #interiordesign #meditativeart

This is wonderful! After posting some natural ink pictures, I connected with Tricia who creates pigment from locally sourced Ochre. She sent me this sample, some binder and a wood palette so I can try making ochre ink…. It is so beautiful!#causewaycoast #irishartist #naturalink #organicart #artisan