The Long Hall, Dublin revisited

A really, seriously pretty frontage beckons you into this illustration of The Long Hall, Dublin at 51 South Great George’s Street. I doubt you could pass it without even popping your head through the door to take in the stunning Victorian interior that has remained, unchanged, since 1881.

Ridiculously the day I was here taking pics I didn’t have time, even for a lemonade, I think I took nearly 1000 reference shots all over Dublin that day – it wasn’t anywhere near enough. Return trip called for.

I painted this one for myself, I am a brick enthusiast, there’s probably a name for that. I love that ‘red brick’ can have so many variations. Dublin has a terrific variety of bricks, we’ll chat about that another time. The details are quite small on this picture and I had the benefit of a white gel pen to help pick out the tiling details.

It takes me about 3 to 4 days to paint a picture like this. I know some folks would have this done in a day, but working from home is like a magnet to interruptions. I start with pencil sketches and then go to lineart with a waterproof pen – something like a Mitsubishi uni pin fine liner, although I’m eyeing up a fancy fountain pen online.

The Long Hall, Dublin a watercolour illustration of the popular Dublin bar

First established in 1766 the Victorians obviously couldn’t resist decorating the Georgian brick facade and, in fairness, they did a sound job. It’s one of Dublin’s more eyecatching pubs from the outside.

Named for an interior portion of the bar, a narrow hallway/snug at the back, which has since been lost to restoration, nonetheless this is a good pot in Dublin to take the Guinness.

I couldn’t resist the brick. I was worried about the red, because I’ve found red a little tricky in the past, but I think it came out ok. Watercolours on Arches paper. Prints are available here on my Etsy store if The Long Hall perhaps has special memories for you.

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