Holding Stillness: The Story Behind My Detail Prints

When I first started painting, I found myself captivated by the smallest details—the delicate layers, the subtle textures, the way light seemed to settle into the brushstrokes.

I could lose hours just staring, slipping into a kind of meditative stillness.

It felt like stepping into another world, where time slowed, and everything else faded into the background.

     A close-up of Féitheacha—I often find myself getting completely lost in its intricate details.

I wanted others to feel that too—to experience those quiet, grounding moments of presence. That’s when the idea for my prints took shape—capturing the intricate details of my original paintings, magnifying them, and offering them as prints for others to bring into their homes.

A way to hold a moment of stillness on your wall.

But turning that idea into reality wasn’t easy. At the time, life had taken an unexpected turn. I had been made redundant and I decided to take a breather before rushing back to work.

During that pause, I found my way back to creativity — a silver lining I’m grateful for. Later, when I decided to create my detail prints, I had no camera of my own, so I rented the right equipment and made it happen.

Learning how to capture those tiny details was a whole adventure. I dove into microphotography—a technique usually used for insects and flowers—and it took me multiple attempts to get it right.

Capturing the details, a photoshoot in 2021 —right in my living room. I hired the camera, borrowed the lights from a friend, and with only one tripod, had to get a little inventive!

The frustration of blurred edges and distorted perspectives tested my patience, but with each mistake, I learned. I remember the slow realisation of how long this was going to take, that I’d need to merge images in Photoshop to maintain the sharpness and depth I saw in person. I wanted every detail to be true and alive, just as I had experienced it in the painting.

Eventually, the prints were ready.

I could finally hold them in my hands, see the textures magnified, the colours glowing, the movement within them. And here we are.

These prints are more than just images. They carry the essence of stillness—the same stillness I felt when I first fell in love with those delicate brushstrokes.

I believe our surroundings shape our inner world.

What we choose to bring into our homes has the power to shift our energy, to calm the noise, to invite a breath of peace into our space.

My wish for these prints is that they do just that—that they offer you a place to pause. A moment to step outside the rush, to reconnect with yourself, to remember that beauty can be found in the quiet details.

         More close-up views from the original Blue Veins painting. From left to right: Blue Veins II and Blue Veins III

Original paintings can carry a significant price tag, but art shouldn’t be out of reach. These prints are a way for anyone to bring that experience of stillness and beauty into their home, without the need for a big investment.

A chance to own a piece of that quiet magic, to create a space that reflects the serenity you seek. So, if you find yourself longing for a little more presence in your life, perhaps these prints can be a gentle reminder.

A way to hold that feeling, even on the busiest of days.

There’s so much more to share, but I’ll save that for another time. For now, thank you for being here, for being part of this journey, and for allowing me to share this story with you.