Poet getting friskier by the year

Kevin Ireland’s paintings made one woman week-kneed with laughter. Picture / Carolyn Robertson

Kevin Ireland woke up on his 70th birthday and decided, right, time to get cracking.

"I thought I really ought to concentrate and think about what haven't I done in life that I'd really like to do," says the Devonport-based writer and poet. "A lot of people would opt for something like a helicopter ride, or bungy-jumping but I thought no, I've always wanted to paint in oils."

In typically vigorous fashion, Ireland got up, found a piece of board, unearthed some old oils that had belonged to his mother-in-law and started with the only subject he had on hand - himself.

"I looked in the mirror and painted myself. It was a pretty awful-looking portrait," he cackles, "but it was true."

Two years on, and Ireland has had two shows at his son's Kingsland gallery - "I'm a firm believer in nepotism". The first one was almost immediately sold-out. This one looks set to do the same. Seventeen out of 24 paintings Images & Words are sporting "sold" stickers.

It's not hard to see why. There's a delightful friskiness to Ireland's work. Like his writing, there is a thread of humour and irony, although in some works there is also a great deal of tenderness.

"There is no glumness in my work and I hope no pretension either. I feel very humble about my work as a painter and as long as people look at it and laugh ... do you know, at my first show, my son had to help a lady out of the gallery because she was crying with laughter. She was unsteady on her legs and she was still laughing as she was going up the street. Well, that is a triumph."

The works in this series include a range of portraits of Ireland's old mates such as a young Jim Baxter, Michael King "reclining on the pastures of memory", and Michael Illingworth, as well as playful images of his wife, children and grandchildren. There are three whimsical studies of a rotund little pig, inspired by a kuni-kuni piglet - a Christmas present to Ireland.

There are stormy views of Ireland's beloved Devonport and Rangitoto Channel. And there's a witty series showing Ireland contemplating the prospect of death, being rowed across the River Styx; in this case across the sea towards Rangitoto, arguing the toss with the boatman.

A natural dimension to Ireland's paintings are the unobtrusive addition of lines from his considerable back catalogue of poems, stretching over 40 years.

A film director friend working in America suggested using the poems. "He said, 'Why don't you put little bits of your poems and other comments in there? Don't do big writing like McCahon; people will say you're trying to be clever.' What a great idea. It allows me to recycle my poems."

Ireland still hasn't had any painting lessons but he does belong to a weekly painting group, which includes Mary McIntyre, Sylvia Siddell, Richard Shanks, Jan Nigro and Glenda Randerson. Elevated company - and a great source of gossip, he hoots. "I'm in outstanding company. I'm just there as a kind of a mascot. They are very kind to me, they are amused by the whole thing. It has disciplined me in ways I didn't think possible. Although my painting hasn't improved, my discipline has."

Ireland is having a spell of success on all fronts. Along with this show, he's also enjoying great acclaim for his novel Getting Away With It, and two essay volumes How To Catch a Fish and On Growing Old.

"Painting, compared to writing - you have to be so fastidious with words but painting is great, slapdash, hit and miss. If you do get a lot of misses, what the hell, you can paint over it."

Ireland sells his works at ridiculously low prices, based on a system he worked out for himself: $234, $345, or $456. "I should have made several paintings here more expensive," he admits, "so I could have kept them. You know, they are probably going to be worth a lot more when I'm dead. People are looking at me and saying, 'How are you feeling today?"'

Exhibition

* What: Images & Words, by Kevin Ireland
* Where and when: Studio Gallery, 385 New North Rd, Kingsland, to May 28