National Open Art 2015 (NOA 2015) London – Rod Coyne’s PR
London: 4000 entries, five jurors and two shortlists later Rod Coyne gets a winning result. The Wicklow based artist is one of only four Irish artists in the final selection of 133 works for the UK’s largest art open. The exhibition, which boasts Ronnie Wood as patron and Hughie O’Donoghue RA as head juror, opens on the 21st of October at the Royal College of Art, London. Rod will be representing Ireland at the National Open Art 2015 (NOA 2015) Artists Preview and Awards ceremony on the 23rd.
“It was Day 2 of my Cill Rialaig residency (Easter 2015) and still I had no painting done. So determined to make a start before the light faded I stepped out into the gale. The Atlantic heaved at the foot of the cliff as I anchored my easel. The wind and sea the roared. The grand vistas across Ballinskelligs bay were completely obscured by cloud and fog. At least the decision of what to paint was reduced to Hobson’s choice so I got to work. The weather conditions and the heaving ocean meant I wouldn’t concentrate on the job of painting as much as staying upright and not letting my canvas take flight. These were perfect conditions for me as I can’t be precious or fussy in my work, but instead have to tear into it on autopilot. It was close to an out of body experience.
And in all that tumult I never once considered if or when the canvas might ever be shown in exhibition. Certainly the last thing I suspected was that it would find its way from the remotest corner of Ireland to the heart of the London establishment and be in line for some of the £60k of awards at NOA 2015.” – Rod Coyne.
National Open Art’s Winter Exhibition takes place at the Royal College of Art, London, between 21 October – 1 November and is free to enter.