Books
Below are Brian’s most recent publications. See five star reviews for the two books below: ‘A Pilgrimage of Site’ and ‘A Tragic Carmody’ on Amazon. Reviews for the other two books: ‘ An Unscheduled Life’ and ‘The Exchange’ are provided below.
The Black Stuff – New!
by Brian Whelan
The Black Stuff is a collection of seventy five uncompromising black and white drawings by artist Brian Whelan. Whilst some of this work skirts the darker edges of the human experience, much of it sits on a satirical knife edge – on one side the cosmic and on the other the comic. Sacred art pilgrim John Kohan decribes his work as “A divine comedy in its truest sense.”
$15.99
Yet More Public Personas – New!
by Brian Whelan
Yet More Public Personas by Brian Whelan, published by Roseberry Crest, is a book of startling paintings of the famous, the infamous, and the family and friends of the artist Brian Whelan. Not portraits in the conventional sense, but what he considers to be the masks humanity wears as actors in life’s drama. The book also includes a revealing Q & A between Whelan and theoretical physicist Ronald Rendell on the art of a drawing a perfect circle, the connection between Oppenheimer and a mushroom farm, painting of the American West and Native Americans, God playing dice, and the medieval tale of Sweeney.
$15.99
Beautiful Beasts
by Jeff Frohner and Brian Whelan
Share in the love of storytelling as Pastor Jeff Frohner and artist Brian Whelan explore art, faith and myth through the paintings of Brian Whelan, depicting animals in not only the bible, but also in classical legends and in folktales. From Balaam’s talking donkey, to St. Patrick’s friendly wolfhounds, Beautiful Beasts finds new perspectives on old themes. Eavesdrop in on a conversation between an artist and a pastor when they explore faith, art, myth and culture, through the depiction of animals in the bible, in folktales and in legends.
$16.99
More Public Personas
Paintings by Brian Whelan
More Public Personas, published by Roseberry Crest, is a book of startling paintings of the famous, the infamous, and the family and friends of the artist Brian Whelan. Not portraits in the conventional sense, but what he considers to be the masks humanity wears as actors in life’s drama. The book also includes a revealing Q & A between Whelan and theoretical physicist Ronald Rendell on portraits, caricatures, the difference between truth and facts, paradoxical states and even a boot on a face as a vision of the future.
$15.99
Mzungu – How are Yoooou?!
Words and Pictures by Brian Whelan, Travels in Uganda, Botswana and Ethiopia
A stranger in a strange land, artist Brian Whelan writes sharp and often humorous emails to family and friends made during stays in Uganda, Botswana and Ethiopia, making this book, Mzungu How are Yoooou?!, an evocative backdrop to his rich and colourful paintings.
$15.99
Martyrdom of Saint Edmund
Paintings by Brian Whelan
In Martyrdom of Saint Edmund, over fifty paintings and drawings by artist Brian Whelan depict one of the iconic moments in British history; forever commemorated in the name of the town of Bury St. Edmunds.
$13.90
Public Personas
Paintings by Brian Whelan
Public Personas, published by Roseberry Crest, is a book of startling paintings of the famous, the infamous, and the family and friends of the artist Brian Whelan. Not portraits in the conventional sense, but what he considers to be the masks humanity wears as actors in life’s drama.
$15.99
A Simple Line
Drawings by Brian Whelan with quotes from his friends
Artist Brian Whelan explores the mystery of A Simple Line and relates stories in his long career as an artist that shed light on what some will call the illusive capture of likeness and others the stealing of a person’s soul – and he does this with more than 200 playful drawings, each with a quote declaring their own view of life.
$11.99
A Pilgrimage of Sight: Behold the Holy City
paintings by Brian Whelan at the Washington National Cathedral
There is a sacredness of place that resides in the heart and imagination of the pilgrim. This book is about those places. Those thin places. Where heaven and earth are so close they actually seem to touch.
$13.90
A Tragic Carmody
novella by Brian Whelan
This novella is a true story about a collaboration between Brian and Galway man, builder and self taught artist Danny Carmody, as they attempt to stage an exhibition of London Irish art.
$11.99
This is Divine Comedy in its Truest Sense
—John Kohan
An Unscheduled Life
written by Joseph Horgan, paintings by Brian Whelan
28 poems composed by award winning Irish Poet Joseph Horgan, each accompanied with a drawing by Brian.
$13.74
Reviews
‘Nothing lights up a yard like the moon’- that line did me good and I’ll be reading more of An Unscheduled Life for similar lyric flashes.
Seamus Heaney, Nobel Prize Laureate for Literature
…a handsomely produced collaboration…Whelan’s pen and ink drawings have a life of their own and do not in any way merely illustrate the poems…In poems that have the lyricism of Paul Eluard and the solipsistic austerity of Samuel Beckett, Joseph Horgan has created a vision of the city that is unique, memorable and disconcerting.
David Cooke, Poet and Literary Critic
Every poem and picture works closely together like sections of a puzzle joining the fragmentary lives that exist on the edge of society. The combination makes for a haunting book with every poem and drawing enhancing the view of the other’s perspective. Whelan’s lively illustrations – there’s one on each left-hand of the page – embody a childlike flamboyancy, many of them displaying a dashed-off panache as if scribbled quickly on the back of a napkin. These aspects are what give this book its unique and moving aesthetic. This is poetry and visual art working at its best together. …a book of great heart and subtlety.
Adam Wyeth, Poet and Literary Critic
Often, Horgan writes in a blunt free verse, but there’s a ballad-like quality to many of his poems too, with certain lines repeating almost like choruses. Another musical analogue that comes to mind is the song “Working Class Hero” by Liverpool-Irishman John Lennon, with its bitter lyrics describing exactly the sort of upbringing that Horgan reflects in An Unscheduled Life. He often matches Lennon’s irony in these angry but satisfying poems. Paired with Whelan’s drawings, which are occasionally reminiscent of Picasso’s, they make for one hell of a little book. When it ends (and it goes quickly, half of its 61 pages being poetry and the other half the artwork) with the tight, compact, alliterative “Last orders,” you just might want to start over from page one.
Michael S Begnal, Poet and Literary Critic
The Exchange: Thoughts on Faith, Art, Science and Culture
written by Joseph Horgan, paintings by Brian Whelan
For anyone who has tried to find the words to describe the power of an image or the vision of the artist – this book is for you.
$11.00
Brian and I have not set about to define the meaning of his art, but to invite you into the space we have discovered.
It is a place where angels and demons sit side by side and join in the conversation. Nothing would make us happier than having you join us in this journey, but I’ll warn you in advance, it might cost you a round or two—unless the angels are buying!
Jeff Frohner. San Clemente, 2010
Reviews
This book is the best night out I have had in ages. Great conversation about all the things that matter and that don’t. It takes you everywhere. Like sitting around a table listening to two wise friends. I’d recommend it wholeheartedly. And bring a beer.
Joseph Horgan, poet and columnist
…stunning and beautifully illustrated book…
Sabina Clarke, Irish Edition
What a triumph! It could not be better done, more insightful, more enquiring. I felt moved when I read it.
Art historian, Sister Wendy Beckett
The Exchange has renewed my excitement for narrative once again! It is just a delight and is fabulous to read
Ron Rendell, Washington D.C.
He goes to dark, grim places, places that in the modern world we like to pretend don’t exist and when he gets there he cracks jokes. This work is the work of the medieval jester.
—Joe Horgan, Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award winner