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Ciaran Harper Fine Artist

The finished portrait of Professor Monica McWilliams.

Monica has dedicated her life to peacebuilding, human rights and ensuring women's voices were heard, including as a co-founder of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations.

It was a real privilege to paint someone whose work has had such a lasting impact on Northern Ireland.

The portrait was commissioned by Queen's University Belfast and now hangs in the Great Hall as part of the University's permanent collection.

@qubelfast

Swipe to see a few progress shots from the process.

The finished portrait of Professor Monica McWilliams.

Monica has dedicated her life to peacebuilding, human rights and ensuring women's voices were heard, including as a co-founder of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations.

It was a real privilege to paint someone whose work has had such a lasting impact on Northern Ireland.

The portrait was commissioned by Queen's University Belfast and now hangs in the Great Hall as part of the University's permanent collection.

@qubelfast

Swipe to see a few progress shots from the process.

A few photos from the unveiling of my portrait of Professor Monica McWilliams at Queen's University Belfast.

It was a real privilege to be commissioned to paint Monica and to have the portrait added to the University's permanent collection. It now hangs in the Great Hall alongside many of the figures who have helped shape Queen's over the past 180 years.

Monica was an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the whole process, and it meant a lot to hear how much she liked the finished painting.

A huge thank you to Queen's University Belfast and to Monica for trusting me with such a special commission.

A few photos from the unveiling of my portrait of Professor Monica McWilliams at Queen's University Belfast.

It was a real privilege to be commissioned to paint Monica and to have the portrait added to the University's permanent collection. It now hangs in the Great Hall alongside many of the figures who have helped shape Queen's over the past 180 years.

Monica was an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the whole process, and it meant a lot to hear how much she liked the finished painting.

A huge thank you to Queen's University Belfast and to Monica for trusting me with such a special commission.

Delivered a very special portrait to Queen’s University Belfast @qubelfast earlier this year. Soon to be hanging in the Great Hall. Full reveal tomorrow.

Delivered a very special portrait to Queen’s University Belfast @qubelfast earlier this year. Soon to be hanging in the Great Hall. Full reveal tomorrow.

For four years, this blank canvas sat on our wall, waiting. We always intended to create something together, but we kept putting it off, waiting for the ‘right’ moment. Today, we finally took the leap.

Inspired by the colors of our beach walks, which complement the living room palette. We stepped away from our usual figurative style and embraced abstraction, leaving plenty of raw canvas to maintain a sense of openness. The process was messy, freeing, and full of surprises.

#abstractart #painting

For four years, this blank canvas sat on our wall, waiting. We always intended to create something together, but we kept putting it off, waiting for the ‘right’ moment. Today, we finally took the leap.

Inspired by the colors of our beach walks, which complement the living room palette. We stepped away from our usual figurative style and embraced abstraction, leaving plenty of raw canvas to maintain a sense of openness. The process was messy, freeing, and full of surprises.

#abstractart #painting

Portrait of @kwa_daniels which featured on screen at @thetelegraphbuilding for @solab_northstar24

North Star (produced by Solab, a new collective led by Kwame Daniels) is a live music spectacular, inspired by writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ historic visit to Belfast in 1845.

Douglass, considered a fugitive slave at the time, delivered a landmark speech, declaring, “wherever else I feel myself to be a stranger, I will remember I have a home in Belfast.”

#oilpainting

Portrait of @kwa_daniels which featured on screen at @thetelegraphbuilding for @solab_northstar24

North Star (produced by Solab, a new collective led by Kwame Daniels) is a live music spectacular, inspired by writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ historic visit to Belfast in 1845.

Douglass, considered a fugitive slave at the time, delivered a landmark speech, declaring, “wherever else I feel myself to be a stranger, I will remember I have a home in Belfast.”

#oilpainting

Today I delivered my painting titled "The Isms" to it's new home. It perfectly matches the style of this funky living room.

Check out @coracurates page for the recent interview where we had a chat about this painting and others.

#contemporaryart #contemporaryrealism #oilpaintings

Today I delivered my painting titled "The Isms" to it's new home. It perfectly matches the style of this funky living room.

Check out @coracurates page for the recent interview where we had a chat about this painting and others.

#contemporaryart #contemporaryrealism #oilpaintings

🎨 Bringing the spirit of the wild to life, on canvas.
🐎 Thrilled to share my latest paintings capturing two majestic horses and their riders galloping along the beach at Waterfoot.
🌊 #EquestrianArt #BeachRide #HorseRiding #CommissionedPortrait

🎨 Bringing the spirit of the wild to life, on canvas.
🐎 Thrilled to share my latest paintings capturing two majestic horses and their riders galloping along the beach at Waterfoot.
🌊 #EquestrianArt #BeachRide #HorseRiding #CommissionedPortrait

Shared a fantastic experience with all at @lcclpopupart over the past few weeks with our drawing and self portraiture classes. It was my time teaching! And what a pleasure to spend it with a great bunch.

3rd Slide is a video montage made by the team on after our first session on week 1.

4th slide a new article in Belfast Telegraph.

#LifeChangesChangesLives

#textures #oilpainting #canvas #workinprogress #wip #painting #drips #watercolour #sketch #drawing #palletteknife #artwork #portrait #contemporaryart #art #closeup #detail #paint #collage #photomontage #fineart #brushstrokes #figurativeart #visualart #realism #dailyart #mixedmedia #instaartoftheday

Shared a fantastic experience with all at @lcclpopupart over the past few weeks with our drawing and self portraiture classes. It was my time teaching! And what a pleasure to spend it with a great bunch.

3rd Slide is a video montage made by the team on after our first session on week 1.

4th slide a new article in Belfast Telegraph.

#LifeChangesChangesLives

#textures #oilpainting #canvas #workinprogress #wip #painting #drips #watercolour #sketch #drawing #palletteknife #artwork #portrait #contemporaryart #art #closeup #detail #paint #collage #photomontage #fineart #brushstrokes #figurativeart #visualart #realism #dailyart #mixedmedia #instaartoftheday

"1969"

80 x 80 cm, oil on canvas.

Available.

▪︎The Miss America pageant's long history of excluding women of color dates from its beginnings. At some point in the 1930s, it was formalized in the notorious rule number seven of the Miss America rule book. Instituted under the directorship of Lenora Slaughter, rule number seven stated that "contestants must be of good health and of the white race."

By the 1960s there still had not been a black contestant. Following the advances of the civil rights movement, black Americans set up their own contest in 1968. Black communities had sponsored segregated black beauty contests for years, dating farther back than the Miss America contest. However, the 1968 Miss Black America Contest, held in Atlantic City on the same day as the Miss America Pageant, was organized as a direct protest of the pageant. On that same day, feminists staged a boardwalk demonstration protesting the pageant. The 1968 Miss America Pageant was confronted with its shortcomings on several fronts. ▪︎

#missblackamerica

"1969"

80 x 80 cm, oil on canvas.

Available.

▪︎The Miss America pageant's long history of excluding women of color dates from its beginnings. At some point in the 1930s, it was formalized in the notorious rule number seven of the Miss America rule book. Instituted under the directorship of Lenora Slaughter, rule number seven stated that "contestants must be of good health and of the white race."

By the 1960s there still had not been a black contestant. Following the advances of the civil rights movement, black Americans set up their own contest in 1968. Black communities had sponsored segregated black beauty contests for years, dating farther back than the Miss America contest. However, the 1968 Miss Black America Contest, held in Atlantic City on the same day as the Miss America Pageant, was organized as a direct protest of the pageant. On that same day, feminists staged a boardwalk demonstration protesting the pageant. The 1968 Miss America Pageant was confronted with its shortcomings on several fronts. ▪︎

#missblackamerica

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@harper.painting

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