n
n
n Inn1975 I was doing an art foundation course and so off we all went one day tonThat London to look at their pictures in their art galleries, which meant thatnI also spent some time in gallery bookshops. In one, I forget which, I saw ancopy of Celtia, a collection of works by Jim FitzPatrick, an Irish artist whosenwork I vaguely knew from the cover of Planxty’s album The Well Below thenValley.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nI fell in love with the book at first sight and just had to buy it, fornthe then enormous sum of £2.50 – this was 1975, remember, when a pint was 20pnand I was earning £1 per hour doing casual work on a farm, so it equates tonabout £20-£25 in today’s money. The influence of the Book of Kells is sonobvious it hardly needs to be mentioned.
n
n
n
nOver the years I’ve picked up othernthings by Jim FitzPatrick. Here are three books, one bought new in Dublin,nanother in Blackburn and the other from eBay.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nI have also found greetings cardsnwith designs by him, picked up in ones and twos.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nMy prize buy was a portfolionof prints, the first one of which has been signed by the artist.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnd of course,nthere are a couple of posters, which I think I bought in Bray and I expect I’llnget around to framing one day.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nHere is a link to Mr FitzPatrick’s officialwebsite. Also, his newer flickr site. He has done other, equally interesting work, which is well worth anlook.
n
n