Irish Fishermen 1988

Mary Fedden’s 'Irish Fishermen' brings a colorful scene to life through simple gestures and a playful palette. I can just imagine Mary, brushes in hand, standing before her canvas, building up the composition layer by layer. Fedden has a wonderful way of flattening space while still giving us a sense of depth, you know? The figures, the boats, the landscape—everything seems to exist on the same plane, yet each element has its own distinct presence. Look at how she's rendered the fishermen, each with their own distinct character and costume. She's not aiming for realism here; instead, she captures the essence of a moment, a feeling. I see a conversation unfolding across the picture plane, connecting past and present, the real and the imagined. Mary Fedden and other artists remind us that painting is an embodied expression, a way of engaging with the world through color, line, and form. It’s not about answers; it’s about questions and possibilities.