Knee deep in my massive calendar mail out, worrying  about the Art Fair at the RDS (see left and below for your free tickets), I am constantly reminded how much my paintings are coveted, admired, even loved... How, if you had the money, this is the one you would love to buy or when you retire/ get made redundant/ get married/celebrate your golden jubilee, that is the one you would want....You tell me this is the one you dream about. This is the one you can't get out of your head. And so, knee deep in brown envelopes and sticky stuff, I  dream up a new, exciting adventure. The chance to acquire your very own original Mary Duffy painting for free.

I want you to tell me (and everyone else), what is your favourite painting and why? Which painting of mine would you be biting your toe nails to get? Why do you want it? What is it about it that moves you?  All pieces on my website are included. No exceptions.*  

Tell me your stories, tell me why you want it. The best story wins the prize. The prize is the original framed painting that features in your story.  The only possible fly in the ointment is if the painting of your choice is sold between now and then. If this happens, and you are  as the winner, you can have your choice of any of my other paintings that are still available on or after February 1st. 2010

Here are a few other guidelines I've dreamt up....

 ·      Your entry can be written or recorded (even on my voice mail).  You don't have to be a great writer, but you just need a good reason and a good story.

·      It has to be about your personal reason for wanting it. 

·      I will put the entries up on my website. I will include your name (unless you ask me not to).

If    If you win, and you live on the island of Ireland, you will be responsible for picking up your prize from me. I will help as much as I can. If you live off this island, I will arrange the shipping of the painting unframed for free (the painting can't be shipped with the frame).

 Anybody can enter.... and no one will be excluded... neither near neighbours, total strangers nor blood relatives...

You can enter as many times as you like between now and the closing date, January 31st.

The closing date is January 31st, 2010

Thanks, and best of luck!

*
Sold paintings are available to view on the archive page of my website. Because of this, they are included in the competition, but you can't win them as a prize. However, you could write about one that has been sold, and choose a different piece as your prize.