James Brohan
"James' paintings are about colour rather than tone and the essence of capturing the subtle nuances of light. Due to the increasing modernisation of and an ever-changing Ireland his aim is to record the times he lives in."
James Brohan was born in Dublin in 1952 and attended Blackrock Vocational School. A qualfied motor mechanic, he moved to north Wicklow in 1976 where he began to paint.
Brohan had the chance to study painting and anatomy under Yann Gaoulet RHA, who taught him to 'look and observe', and under Liam Treacys gudiance, Brohan learned how to use colour in a loose impressionistic way. He continued his studies at Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design, and later at the National College of Art and Design as a pupil of Desmond Carrick RHA.
Brohans inspiration comes directly from Ireland and he is heavily influenced by the work of Irish impressionists. His paintings are easily recognised by the rich and vibrant colour that he uses in a loose impasto fashion. Applied with a brush, his work reflects the mood, colour and light that inspire him to paint a wide range of subjects such as boats, harbours, farm animals, and still life. In these scenes, he lays value on colour rather than tone, and focuses on captuing the essence of subtle nuances of light. In his figurative/still life scenes, he aims to capture a moment, a movement but most of all an emotion.
Brohan has exhibited in many major galleries in Ireland and overseas, and his work hangs in private collections in the USA, Ireland, and mainland Europe.