Kieran's Art

Coffee wash artwork   Original artwork and ode to gourmet coffee by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, using only instant coffee as a stain. My first attempt is at https://kieranart.blogspot.com/2025/05/coffee.html I was inspired to try once more, artwork using coffee wash. The recommended stain is instant coffee for a touch of panache For artwork in monochrome, go easy on details, keep it starker. Coffee stains become lighter when dry, so paint it darker! By varying the amount of water, one can change the viscosity. By using successive light washes one can vary the luminosity.  The scene is a master chef savoring une tasse de café gourmet Raising up the cup of brew ever so slightly to relish the bouquet À la tienne!

 The Genius of the Clumsy Mourning Dove   Original artwork and ode to the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, celebrating the counterintuitive nesting strategy that turns out to be quite ingenious At first blush, the nests of mourning doves seem reckless, an epic disaster!  Built carelessly with just a few twigs in three or four days, if not faster😳 An architect's nightmare, this minimalist approach is actually quite ingenious! The time and energy the Golden Eagle wastes on a nest for one egg is strenuous The dove cleverly uses that time to lay a pair of eggs that hatch in a fortnight. If disaster strikes, as it may, they simply repeat the cycle rather than sit tight. The squabs are fed with crop milk from the parents, thus don't rely on grubs or insects While most birds lay only one set of eggs each year, doves often lay upto six sets. In a game of chance, this brilliant strategy of many eggs yields a treasure trove. Perfection is overrated, m...

 Trompe-l'œil   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, as I continue to explore light and shadow Trompe-l'œil in French means to fool the eye with an illusion of a 3D object Painted on a flat surface it uses light, shadow and perspective for the effect In my first crack at this, I painted a cornucopia of garden fresh ripe tomatoes From red Romas that make delicious paste to a bunch of cherries, anything goes I love the heirloom Purple Cherokee, a brandywine tomato that's rich in flavor First a burst of sweetness followed by an earthy smokiness, delicious to savor The Green Zebra as delightful to see as it to taste with the right bit of tartness When framed in a box these tomatoes seem to hang in balance in animated sharpness

 St Joseph - Patron of Fathers and Workers   Original stained-glass style artwork and ode to St Joseph on his feast day by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by the stained glass window at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven, Venice, Florida. This artwork was a no brainer since Joseph is my middle name and I turn to St Joseph all the time for inspiration. Today is the Feast day of St Joseph, a man who did his duty quietly and cheerfully. From the house of King David, he is steadfast in his dedication to the Holy Family!   Chosen by God to guard and nurture the Holy Family on Earth, he was a carpenter by trade Time and again he set aside his plans, hearing God's word in dreams he simply obeyed   The epitome of a just, kind and merciful man, to life's hardships he was no stranger A model for all fathers today who spare no effort to keep their family safe from danger   His actions speak loudest yet like so many quiet workers not much is written or said Her...

 A Study in Transparency and Opacity   Original painting and ode by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, as I continue to study glass in all its intricacies Objects of clear glass bend light, subtly refracting and even distorting it. Now add to it curvature with a slight tint and just for fun make it sunlit 😅 Add water for yet another dimension to the composition, making it interesting While we're at it, throw in a juicy peach (that's if you are still listening)😳 Juxtapose it with an opaque green decanter that casts a stately graded shadow 🤭 It glints in the sunlit and gently reflects the colors with a soft muted glow I'm sure there are some interesting interactions at play that I may have missed It started off as a study in transparency and opacity that I just couldn't resist

 Loose floral bouquet   Original watercolor and ode to Impressionism by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by the idea of loose painting focused on mood not details Masters of oil and acrylics left us breathtaking floral artwork - loose and incomplete. This inspired me to employ a tonal background that made loose flowers pop off the sheet The brushstrokes are visually broken allowing the minds eye to complete the picture Art’s a strange bedfellow, everyone has an opinion maybe appreciation, maybe stricture! Monet, no less, was a pioneer to venture down this road less traveled, less is more Critics used to highly refined photographic realism, were quick to scorn, mock and abhor But Monet kept painting vague shapes without sharp edges that audiences just adored It's very looseness struck a deep chord, revealing something new when explored