Michael Collins by Gentian
Gentian Lulani is a remarkable painter. I think his work is captivating. He has a small studio on the grounds of Ballymaloe House in Co. Cork, Ireland, where we've spent quite a few hours talking about art, painting and drawing. Not as many as I'd like, but enough to enthuse me and encourage me to want to be better at drawing and cartooning. Gentian's enthusiasm is infectious.
In 2014, Gentian was commissioned to produce a portrait of Michael Collins, one of the leaders of the fight for an independent Ireland in the early part of the 20th century.
During four visits to Gentian's studio, I captured some of the work he did on the painting. It's not a complete record, but it does at least show the artist at work on what both Gentian and the person who commissioned the painting hope will become a significant piece in Ireland's visual and artistic heritage.
You can find out more about Gentian here: http://www.gentianlulani.com