paintings
biography

I (Darren Patrick O'Mally) was born in London 1972
 
My fondest memories as a child were that of my grandfather teaching me to paint with oils, and it was even then that reading way to many marvel comics had an impact on the outcome of my early paintings.  I enjoyed using bold colours and I predominantly painted figures.
 
Despite enjoying art throughout my youth I got swept away with so many other things, so sadly I did not at this stage of my life follow the path I enjoy so much now.  As a mature student I went to Portsmouth University and later moved into the field of social work.  After a long period of illness in 2002 I picked up a paint brush for the first time in 12 years, and did what so many people do.  I purchased every history of art book under the sun, studied them and after many disasters managed to find a style of my own, and then in 2004 started to exhibit work in Art Ache Gallery in Havant.
 
I believe much of my work now is influenced by Edward Hopper and Sickert, and a good measure of marvel comics thrown in.  In 2005 I held a solo exhibition at Art Ache named "reflections" which gave me the confidence boost and the extra funds to have a studio built in the back garden. In 2006 I kept with Art Ache and held a second solo exhibition named "people places and things".  From here I was advised that as an artist you need to keep moving around, and in 2007 I held an exhibition of my work at Baileys of Petworth, titled "Pathways"

Much of my work I think veers towards either the plight of the underdog, or an exposure of the charismatic persons and interesting situations walked past every day that seem to go un-noticed. Art for me is about being a social commentator, remaining un-judgmental, revealing people for what they really are ... just people.
 
I have started recently to use slight distortions in my work, either with longitude or latitude, which can create automatic depth.  This is something that can almost turn a seemingly bland scene into something you need to look at twice.  Today I live in Portsmouth with my wife, three kids and two dogs.