Patrick Kirwin

I started in Trompe L’oeil at GWU in 1984. I painted clothing because it defined and filled the most illusory space without any linear perspective, which should be eliminated or minimized in Trompe L’oeil. Slowly, this painting of fabric evolved into being vary large curtain and tapestry illusions painted directly onto walls.

In 1991, I attended the Skowhegan School of painting and sculpture in Maine. I painted landscapes using long grass as the brushes to apply acrylic paint. Sometimes parts of the grass would break off and stick to the painting and was left there. This related to Trompe L’oeil in the sense of “mark making”, but was not illusory. I investigated this kind of imagery from 1991 to abut 1994 at the Griffis Art Center in Connecticut and the Hambidge Center for Arts and Sciences in Georgia.

I returned to Trompe L’oeil, Decorative Painting and mural painting in 1995. This is when I started painting large curtains and tapestry illusions. I also began teaching these subjects at the Art League, The Corcoran College, and the Smithsonian Institution.

I have done many interesting and large commercial projects. I painted 30 banners for Tysons Corner Center, designed and painted a shopping bag, and built the Easter Bunny display. The banners were eventually turned into a Children’s Book.

I have painted the interiors of many small shops, private wine cellars and murals in homes.

Submitted by Zenith Gallery