Charles Tyrrell (artist) facts for kids

Charles Tyrrell is an Irish artist known for his paintings and prints. He was born in Trim, County Meath, in 1950. After studying art at NCAD, he moved to Allihies in West Cork in 1984. This is where he lives and creates his art today.

Tyrrell's art has been shown in many places. He often exhibits his work at the Taylor Galleries in Dublin. In 1982, he even represented Ireland at a big art event called the Paris Biennale. His artworks are part of important collections, like those at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Hugh Lane Gallery. His very first solo art show was in Dublin in 1974.

Before becoming a full-time artist, Tyrrell taught art. He worked at the Dun Laoghaire School of Art from 1977 to 1981. In 2017, he was recognized for his talent when he was nominated for the Savills Art Prize. He is also a member of Aosdána, a group that honors Irish artists.

How Charles Tyrrell Creates His Art

Charles Tyrrell uses many different materials and methods in his art. He likes to experiment with how he applies paint.

Painting with Wood

In the early 1980s, Tyrrell found a unique material for his art. St Peter's Church in Dublin was being taken down. He saved some of the old timber from the building. This wood became the base for a series of his three-dimensional paintings. When working with wood, Tyrrell doesn't just paint. He also cuts, scores (makes lines), burns, and sands the wood. This adds texture and depth to his artworks.

Painting with Aluminium

Around the year 2000, Tyrrell started painting on aluminium. For two years, starting in 2013, he worked only on this metal. He uses special metal spatulas (tools like flat knives) to apply the paint. He described his process as "laying it on, scraping it off." He builds up layers of paint and then removes some. This allows the shiny metal to show through. This method creates thin, delicate lines, almost like drawing with paint.

Drawing on Walls and Paper

Besides painting, Tyrrell also creates drawings. He has shown his drawings on paper. Sometimes, he even draws directly onto the walls of art galleries.

What Inspired Charles Tyrrell's Art

Artists often get ideas from other artists or art movements. Charles Tyrrell has mentioned several important influences on his work.

American Art Movements

In the 1980s, Tyrrell visited America. He was inspired by a style called Colour Field painting. Artists like Kenneth Noland and Morris Louis were famous for this. They used large areas of flat color. He also admired Mark Rothko and the wider Abstract Expressionism movement. These artists focused on expressing emotions through abstract forms and colors.

Minimalism and Ancient Art

Tyrrell has also been influenced by Minimalism. This art style uses very simple shapes and colors. He especially likes the artist Sol LeWitt, who often used mathematical ideas in his art. Tyrrell said that Minimalism is his "base line." He appreciates its simple, mathematical approach.

Surprisingly, ancient Assyrian relief sculpture has also influenced his work. These are old carvings from Mesopotamia. This shows that artists can find inspiration in many different places and times.