‘Half Noon’ is an oil on panel based on a photograph of a pub in Kilkenny, Ireland. It was taken during a walking tour of the area in 2004. The term ‘half noon’ is the Irish version of the American ‘twelve-thirty’, when telling time. It was a bright, sunny day in August after a long cloudy period and the weather seemed to awaken everything and everyone in the town. I was fascinated by the simple, rustic architecture as well as the bold colors of the buildings, in the case of the pub, a deep kelly green.
The bright flowers peeking out of the large plate glass window were strong enough to hold their own against the noon shadows, vibrant against the green of the structure. I had never thought of Ireland in terms of being so lush with flowers, but it seemed everywhere we went a wide variety of of flowers and floral compositions appointed the scenery.
The original photograph of the building front consisted of only the building and window. While I liked what I saw, I decided to add the overhanging window box of Nasturtiums, which was a typical sight on the tour. I chose the nasturtium because it is a favorite variety of mine and the orange, gold and red of the blossoms played well against the green building front.
I don’t recall what was lettered on the wall, however, because the last three letters appeared in the photograph and such wording was typical on Irish buildings, I included them. Note the cap of the wrought iron hitching post in the foreground, another unusual Irish architectural appointment. Erin Go Braugh!