Huston Gallery

 

Michelle Dirks is an Irish native who paints with vibrant acrylic colors and visible brush strokes to create a sense of dramatic, lyrical movement in her paintings. Although she has lived in the United States since 1990, she continues to be inspired by the countryside of her hometown of Limerick, (which she visits frequently with her three sons, ages 13,14,and 16).

Michelle Dirks, Not Good Storyteller  see more images!

Her background as an illustrator and graphic designer is also reflected in her work. Dirks describes it as following in the abstract-expressionist tradition but driven by lively mood of contemporary Irish art. She suspects that her range of tones – pale yellows to bright oranges and blues – may be part of her need for strong contrasts. Growing up in Ireland, she was accustomed to dramatic changes in the weather and to the dizzy heights of the rocky West Coast overlooking the Atlantic. "You could see the rain coming across the ocean, coming towards you in the sun, "she says.

The paintings now on view though February 15th include portraits ("Not Good Story Teller"), landscapes ('Wheatfield’s" and "Poppy Fields" ) as well as paintings that recall dreamscapes and Mattise-like flights of fantasy ("Disneyland Meets Celtic Tiger.")

Dirks earned her degree in graphic design from the Limerick School of Art and Design and worked in major advertising firms in Dublin, London and Los Angeles. She is also the author of two books on macrobiotic cooking including a coloring book for children.