Conor O'Brien

I finally got time to post up this painting I completed a couple months ago. My latest artwork is called ‘Running Out of Ideas’. I was in a state of mind where I couldn’t think of anything to paint. While I was waiting for that ‘bulb’ to light up, upon thinking of a great idea, I thought maybe my ‘bulb’ is broke, which led to this conceptual, surrealist painting which conveys the irony of that idea.

I have finished the painting ‘Running Out of Ideas’. I might paint a bit of blue on the smoke, adding more colour and extra interest to the artwork.

I have started working on the light bulb, adding colour and detail to the screw and painting a base layer on the glass. With the next part, I will paint the glowing filament that has burnt out with bright and colourful smoke to bring this painting to life and completion.

I have completed painting the hand, adding detail and dark shadows to increase the contrast of the painting. The next part to paint, which will be the focal point of the painting, is the exploded bulb.

I have started to paint the hand, adding detail and contrast to the fingers of the closed fist. I hope to have the hand completed for the next ‘Work in Progress’. More to come.

This oil painting will be called ‘Running Out of Ideas’, which was the state of mind that I was in – I couldn’t think of anything to paint. While I was waiting for that ‘bulb’ to light up upon thinking of a great idea, I thought maybe my ‘bulb’ is broke, which led to this conceptual, surrealist interpretation of how I could convey that thought from a painting.

The beginning of a new painting. This is actually the first painting I will have done in over a year as I was creating artwork photography and projections over the past 12 months.