Robert Coan
he/him
Nighttime Landscapes from the Cooley Peninsula
In 1994, I acquired a derelict cottage in Whitestown, County Louth, and became captivated by the evening light across the landscape, especially where hedgerows meet the sky. Twilight’s magic and night’s quiet beauty inspired a series of 16 paintings capturing the Cooley Peninsula at dusk.
The fleeting light simplifies forms and deepens colours such as blues, reds, and greys, while shadow softens detail. These works, minimalist yet vibrant, explore the essence of night through the interplay of light and dark.
Using gouache on heavy watercolour paper, the colours are allowed to bleed and blur, embracing spontaneity in the process. The matte finish enhances the moody, atmospheric quality of the scenes. Loosely sequenced, the paintings evoke a quiet journey through this rural landscape, immersed in the fading light.
Greenore
Willville
Blackrock
Maebh's Gap
Shore Road
Marmion's
Whitestown
Kearney's
Lilly's
Lillies 2
Research