URSULA BOYLAN-O'GARA 

 ARTIST

 

I was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, in 1936.

For as long as I  can remember, my older brother Steve and I instinctively knew how to draw.    We thought everyone could draw and when we were asked to 'draw something' by our teachers and grown-ups, we were both baffled and amused!

 

Art, as a subject, was not taught in most junior schools back in the 40's and 50's.   However, the post second-world war years were difficult for everyone and we were advised by our parents to find "proper jobs".

 

I loved books and literature so when I left school, I began training as a librarian.   After a few months, I decided to train as a secretary/shorthand/typist instead and enrolled at a Dublin Commercial College.   I subsequently worked for some time as a secretary.    Later I did a course in journalism and worked for a year for Heibon-sha Publishers in Tokyo, preparing material for Japanese children to promote friendship and peace between children all over the world.   

 

In 1970 I qualified as a physiotherapist and opened my own health and sports clinic.

 

Two years later, a serious disc lesion in my lower back, which hampered responsibilities to home, husband and two small daughters, compelled me to scale down my physical activities and on medical advice, I closed my clinic.

 

During those early years I still retained my passion for art and painted pictures at every opportunity.   I attended the former College of Art in Kildare Street, Dublin, in the early fifties.    The late George Collie, R.H.A. was an old school friend of my late father and George encouraged my brother and I to "keep up the gift".    When I was 17 years-of-age, I attended art instruction with George Collie in his Studio in Schoolhouse Lane and went back again in my late twenties to study technique.   In the mid-sixties I was also privileged to meet Thomas Ryan, PPRHA, who gave me solid advice and constructive criticism of my work.   I believe Thomas Ryan is a very gifted artist.

 

I painted in water colours during the early years and then switched to oils which became my medium thereafter.   In the sixties, two of my paintings were sold in a New York gallery as part of a group exhibition of Irish artists.  An American lady who purchased one of these paintings "Bantry Bay",  wrote to tell me that it hung in the Pentagon for some years.  She worked in the Pentagon and the grandparents of her boss came from Bantry, Co. Cork.  Although this painting was not commissioned by the Pentagon as such,  I was still quite honoured it ended up there!

I also exhibited and sold some paintings in the Combridge Gallery in Grafton Street, Dublin.   I exhibited in Guinness Brewery in 1963 and my painting of the Guinness vessel "The Lady Gwendolyn" hung at St. James' Gate for many years.   My painting of Mother Teresa of Calcutta was exhibited for several months in the offices of First Active Plc - Supporting the Arts.   I also exhibited and sold pictures in the Killakee Art Gallery back in the sixties.  

 

A painting of the Alcazar de Segovia was commissioned for the Knox Hairdressing Group in 1963 and I have painted this subject three times, another of which was on view in a Company in Canada.   The original painting I still retain. My work was shown on National Television on an RTE Mike Murphy TV Show called  "The Real Ursula O'Gara" in 1977. 

 

My husband, an Avionic Engineer, worked abroad most of his working life and so I travelled with him some of the time.    We lived in Lagos, Nigeria on two secondments and later in Sweden, Japan, U.K., Spain and pre-revolutionary Tehran.     I really only had time to paint in Spain and enjoyed the experience as the light is fabulous.   In the mid-eighties we lived in Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow, in the Irish Republic, beneath the Sugar Loaf Mountain.   I painted many pictures there and had a nice studio and gallery.   Tourists visiting the mountain came to view my work.    Many of these finished and unfinished paintings, easels, paints, brushes and many personal items were stolen out of storage when we returned from Spain.   This was a shock as the replacement of these art materials was very costly.

 

Artists whose style and work I respect and have influenced my paintings include:-

 

George Collie, RHA

Thomas Ryan, RHA

Robert Ballagh, RHA

Tissot  (1836 - 1902)

Susan D. Bourdet, American Watercolourist

William Brody, American Artist - http://wbrody.com

 

Having moved house many times, I now live in Drogheda, a large town situated 30 km north of Dublin.    I live here with my husband Donal and our German Shepherd, Helga.   We have two grown-up daughters, Miriam and Adrienne, who both live in Bedfordshire.    We also have three grandchildren, Matthew, Holly and Lucy.  I thank them all for their encouragement. I must also thank Vincent Haslam, a Professional Photographer and Computer Teacher from Dorset, in the U.K., who has compiled this web-site for me.

 

At present, I am painting a series of lighthouses around the Irish coast some of which were shown at the exhibition of my work on June 7th, 2003 in the Martello Suite, Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, 4.

 

Ursula BOYLAN-O'GARA - State Regd. Artist

E-Mail: donalogara@eircom.net  for  details of the forthcoming Exhibition.  

September, 2002