Brian McAvera interviews Donald Teskey about his approach to painting, drawing, landscape and the making of his work
Brian McAvera: Painters have used a palette knife for a rather long time, and occasionally, as with Francis Bacon, have introduced unusual methods of paint application. You take this to extremes, using various trowels, and a plasterer’s float, as well as an assortment of knives and brushes. How did the use of these implements come about, and why?
Donald Teskey: In 1991, I was going through a transitionary period with my work, having spent the previous twelve years making drawings. I was at the stage where I needed to start painting again. I began by exploring alternative painting methods, using rags and sponges initially. As in drawing, I was interested in the relationship between surface and medium, and how they interact; the surface echoing back something of its own character within the mark. I was looking for a way of circumventing the brush mark. I was very conscious of the weight of history with the brush.
On the eve of his show at the Hunt Museum, Limerick, in Winter 2009 Joseph McBrinn considered the unique aesthetic Rudolf Heltzel has brought to jewellery design.
