Kieran's Art

 Phoenix of the disastrous Irish Potato Famine   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by today's potato harvest and the legacy of Luther Burbank, a truly remarkable pioneer of selective crossbreeding that started as the proverbial phoenix that rose from the ashes of the Irish Potato Famine and quickly progressed to produce delicious flowers, fruits and vegetables we all take for granted Luther Burbank was an incorrigible botanist who was determined to change forever The way food crops were grown - using selective crossbreeding, which was clever! Having seen how potato blight devastate Ireland ‘n trigger the great Irish famine He intuitively knew that biodiversity was the key something worth a close examine Seeing some potato developing flowers and seed balls, he was able to crossbreed Before long he developed the Burbank potato'twas  large, long and vigorous indeed In 1874, he sold the rights for just $150, enough to fund his move out west...

 Magical Crystal Glassware   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by a Waterford Crystal Bowl acquired in Cork, Ireland several years ago that still has a gorgeous luster Glass is molten sand without any specific structure, just an amorphous mass Adding metal oxide crystals magically transforms it into fine crystal glass When cut Crystal glassware causes sparkling rainbow-like dispersion of light Giving a touch of class that suggests sophistication that seems just right  A bowl of fruit suddenly becomes the pièce de résistance that all notice The light and shadow seductively tango together like a shimmering lotus Baccarat, Waterford and Swarovski are expensive brands that people desire Each captures the soul of the craftsman as a fine work of art shaped by fire

 Ash Wednesday reflections   Original artwork and reflection by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, on Ash Wednesday “ Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return .” Lord Jesus, thank you for placing on our foreheads the sign of our mortality. By the blood of the cross you conquered death and redeemed us. One day all our lives on earth will end, though we know not the day or hour. Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee, Our Lord and Saviour. Let this holy season of Lent be a time of grace for all this troubled world, to turn away from the empty sinful promises of the Devil, and turn to you.  Give us the grace to spend more time in contemplative prayer when you open your heart to us, whether it is reading Holy Scripture, adoring of the Holy Eucharist or the Stations of the Cross. Let us willingly give up worldly comforts by fasting and abstaining so that we may journey with you in austerity as you walk the way of the cross. Let it not be a frivolous ritual but a st...

Sweeter than Honey 🍯    Artwork and original poem of thanksgiving by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026,  inspired by the February 16th first thanksgiving mass of newly ordained Fr Andrew Barth IVE, a very dear family friend. This artwork is dedicated to the ordination of Fr Andrew Barth Celebrated his first mass, a young promising lad who’s down-to-earth. I had the privilege to see him blossom from a sporty lad to an artist sublime Now he’s a man of cloth, a good shepherd, answering the call of the divine. I don’t know too many millennials who have chosen a life of austerity In a consumer society obsessed with materialism and unbridled prosperity. That’s why to me, this seminal event is sweeter than honey God knows we need good shepherds who relate to the Gen-Z      Footnote : Here is a photo of Rev Fr Andrew Clement Barth IVE, best friend of our son Alexander, blessing the faithful after his inaugural mass on 16/Feb/2026 at Our Lady of Peace, Santa Clara, CA. ...

 Ode to the Rainbow Trout   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, reacting to reports that coastal rainbow trout have reappeared in the local Stevens Creek watershed The San Francisco Bay Area is home to the remarkable Rainbow Trout These hardy fish are a bellwether that we should all be worried about Historically they swarmed up all the major waterways each and every year Some still do despite the urban sprawl that cause wetlands to disappear Recent conservation attempts have allowed trouts to make a comeback Fish ladders and restored waterways create an effective water track All it takes is a few days of sustained rainfall each year, not much Steelheads return to the same place after 6 years to lay a new clutch

 Lunch at St Jeannete Original artwork and nostalgic poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, recalling my experience of intense software development in the medieval village of St Jeanette nestled along the Route des Villages Perches below the immense limestone cliff called Baou de Saint-Jeannete St Jeanette is a picturesque hillside village near Nice, South France Home to 30 code monkeys in 1992 including yours truly, quite perchance.  Unbeknownst to us ‘twas the dawn of startups before IPO became a buzzword  All we had was a customer spec and 45 days to beta … quitting wasn't heard It was go-go-go six days a week from eight am till six pm with a twist A luxurious two-hour white-table cloth three course lunch... get the gist? Starting with a aioli vegetable soup and rustic Pain aux Céréales bread And Salade Niçoise of tuna, olives and garden-fresh veggies, what a spread My favourite entree, Daube provençale, beef slow cooked in herbs and wine With the house wine flowing, every...