David Dunne set for debut solo art show

Up and coming artist David Dunne from Mullingar opens his first solo exhibition titled "Icons" in The Bad Art Gallery on Dublin's Francis Street on March 4.Canadian born David, who moved to Mullingar with his Irish parents when he was twelve-years-old, studied architectural technology in DIT in Bolton Street.However, when the economic downturn hit, David like so many others found himself with plenty of time on his hands. That was when David decided to turn his hobby, that is painting his icons, into his full-time passion.In Christmas 2008, The Bad Art Gallery - a fine exhibition arena that David used to live near while studying in Dublin, began featuring some of David's work. With a reputation for finding out new emerging artists, displaying a wide range of different styles, from abstract to realism to expressionism, The Bad Art Gallery had captured David's own interest, visiting the space regularly with his brother. Finally one day the owner suggested that David should have his first solo exhibition."It's really going to be something special because it's my first exhibition," David tells the Westmeath Examiner. "It's going to be really exciting. It's nice seeing it all come together."David who is striving towards the photo-realistic stream of art says he only paints people who have inspired him over the years:"It's now that I realise all the people I do paint are people who inspire me, and a lot seem to be American icons. It's not planned, but all the music I listen to is by American bands, or all the sports people I like are American. It's only something I realised myself when I stepped back and took a look at all the work I've done," explains David."When the whole idea of the solo exhibition came along, I kinda wanted to tie the whole American theme with the St. Patrick's weekend because that's when the exhibition is taking place. I was trying to make the connection between Ireland and America," he continues."It's mostly people who inspired me or who have affected my life. Like I'm a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, I've loved his music for a long time and I think I've painted him about ten times. I'm a big big fan of his."I've actually given him a painting already when he was in Dublin last year. He was staying in a hotel and I dropped in a painting to him. I was talking to his manager but unfortunately I didn't get to talk to him. But he did get it."David has about 25 pieces for exhibition and says he treats painting like any job, working nine to five, and through the evening if needs be."In terms of how long one painting takes, it all depends," says David. "I mean some of them flow really easily and then some can be more labouring, I'm definitely getting faster, the more you paint the more tricks you learn. But it's very hard to put a time span on any one painting because they're all different."So does David see painting as his full-time career now?"If I had a choice I would definitely love to make a living out of it," David answers. "If I could do art full time it would be absolutely brilliant because I love it and it's my passion. I think that's what everyone wants to do, is turn what they love into work, then effectively it wouldn't really be work!"But it's a real tough thing to get into, you just have to start at the bottom and keeping working at it, building your name."I strive to make my paintings photo-realistic. In the last year my paintings have improved so much and that's just from doing it the whole time. When I was working full time and trying to paint, an hour here or there in the evening doesn't really get you anywhere. It's very frustrating, you really need to sit at a painting for a day to see anything progress."InspiredDavid takes his inspiration from well known artists like Chuck Close and Sebastian Krugar:"Chuck Close has always worked with large scale black and white portraits, which is rare enough for someone to continue working in that medium.He painted in black and white for years."While Sebastian Krugar does portraits of many of the same people that I've painted, like musicians, actors, politicians and sports people. He definitely has the most influence on me because in my opinion he is probably the best portrait artist there is in both characters and photo-realistic painting," says David."Stuff like that really humbles you - like when you think your own work is getting to a level where it's good, looking at him you realise you've such a long way to go. I look at his work nearly every single day, it's like a motivator for me."So it's onwards and upwards for this young emerging artist who cannot wait to get onto his next project:"I'm looking forward to when the exhibition actually opens because then I can explore a bit more with my work. When you're doing an exhibition you're kinda tied to it. I'll go on to do more portraits, but maybe of more normal people like my friends or family. And I would definitely like to attempt a few caricatures."Check out David Dunne's debut solo exhibition in The Bad Art Gallery, Francis Street, Dublin, opening on Thursday March 4 from 6pm to 8pm. It runs until March 25. The exhibition will be opened by Shane McGowen's other half - Victoria Mary Clarke.