Kris Gets To The Pointilism

Cherry Blossom by Kris Kirwan

atest press release from Holly Carr at Media Consult, issued on Thursday, October 27th 2022…

A self-taught artist whose paintings consist of up to 100,000 individual dots will be showcased at Ireland’s premier art fair, Art Source, at Dublin’s RDS from November 11th-13th.

Greystones resident Kris Kirwan utilises the acrylic dotting technique of Pointillism, which uses tiny dots of various pure colours that become blended in the viewer’s eye to form an image.

“Pointillism requires patience, discipline and preparation. Every dot must have its own unique size, place and colour and each dot is equally important,” said Kris, who came to Ireland 20 years ago from Lithuania.

“Some of my paintings take weeks to complete and I completely surrender to it, not knowing till the very end how the finished work will look.

“I often compare the dots with human thoughts or emotions. It’s like chemistry that connects atoms into molecules to create a visual form. Cycles and repetitive patterns that are always arranged in certain numbers become a story behind the painting.

“I often use bright colours and very dark background to make it look more dramatic and playful. I love adding glitter, crystal stones as finishing touches to mandalas.

“I have a medical education and up until I began pointillism in 2018, I was working as a psychotherapist. I then decided to become a full-time artist. Being an analytical, organised and introverted person, I was intuitively looking for any form of creative expression which would allow my energy to flow naturally.

Bonsai by Kris Kirwan

“Pointillism does exactly that. It requires preparation, technique, patience, self-control and vision. Some of my paintings are very geometrical, while others are more free-flowing. But I only paint one painting at a time and I always finish it.”

An exhibition by Damien Hirst, the English artist who recently burned hundreds of his artworks, will be the centrepiece of Art Source.

The fair will also play host to a unique sculpture garden featuring over 40 top Irish and international artists featuring works by renowned sculptors such as Patrick O’Reilly, Salvador Dali, Giacinto Bosco, Ian Pollock, Eamonn Ceannt, Bob Quinn, Anthony Scott and Sandra Bell.

Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the year’s biggest and most exciting art show, which will feature the best in contemporary Irish and international artists and galleries.

Irish art lovers also have the unique chance to get their hands on 100 pieces of original artwork for €100 each on a first-come, first-served basis on the opening morning of the show on Friday, November 11. This year’s Art Source showcases painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, prints and ceramic art.

The show will also feature Source Your Own Art a free children’s pop-up art workshop where youngsters are invited to express themselves creatively in response to the art they see at the fair.

Art Source takes place at the RDS, Dublin, from November 11-13, admission is €10 adults. Children under-16 free if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Details here.