‘It is mine, I tell you. My own. My precious. Yes, my precious’.
That’s how I feel about the latest arrival into my collection. Although purchased from Ross’s Auction Rooms in Belfast as far back as last March, I only took delivery of the painting yesterday. I think it is a Mk.II. version of the barn painting as the first one to appear for sale in 2017 also featured a donkey and a cow. There was also more of a glow from the stove in the barn – probably more wood pellets available back then.
There’s something about Andy Pat’s paintings – a certain ‘Je ne sais quoi‘ but I don’t know what it is. They are simple, pretty and some have a slightly subversive (?) message – in the best possible taste – of course.
To date, almost 80 paintings by Andy Pat have passed through Ross’s salerooms, and while the majority feature Northern Irish landmarks the sheep have reached Donegal and most recently were seen busking by the Molly Malone statue on Grafton Street.
I’m still searching high and low for any crumb of information about the artist but it’s like the Third Secret of Fatima. The Auctioneers don’t know, or they have been sworn to secrecy, other artists that I have asked don’t know and there’s been no feedback on many different message boards that I have posted on. I have even taken to asking people straight out if they are Andy Pat – a little embarrassing but life is too short to beat about the bush when you’re on a quest.
So come on, somebody spill the beans – you know that I’ll keep it to myself!
Contact the confidential email address: collectireland@gmail.com
Art for Art's Sake! 