I am the Venus of Willendorf, not the Venus de Milo!
With that said I created this piece a few months back, and I have been living with her since. I knew she had more to tell me. And today, in the shower (because that's when things often click in my head) I realised that she was telling me that my 5 foot 1 inch body, of...
Parra Dubh and the Ghost
Between 1937 and 1938 UCD collected stories from children in Primary Schools all across Ireland. I happily came across the archive holding these wonderful insights into the minds of children back then. The stories range from pieces of local history, stories about life...
Bailieborough Shop Fronts – Crosson’s Pub
Crosson’s pub, at the bottom of Bailieborough town, has a delightfully understated traditional shop front. It drew me and made me wonder what stories it might have to tell. I started to paint it and Eugene Markey posted one of the memories that came to his mind. “I...
Christmas Gift Guide 2021
Chats with Friends – In Conversation with Sarah, Attracta and Andrew Manson on The Irish Art Podcast
Its always wonderful to chat with friends, and this conversation was a very special one. Following a chat during a zoom call with other lovely members of the Biscuit Factory the effervescent Sarah Eva Manson invited me to come and chat to her wonderful family for the...
A Gallery Wall – A simple idea to display your favourite art.
You may find that you have several pieces of art that really resonate with you, so what is the best way to display them so you can enjoy them every day? One simple idea is a Gallery Wall. Basically use one wall in your room to create a collection of...
And the Clouds are Lifting
Maybe it's the coming of brighter, longer days or maybe it's the fact that I will be vaccinated tomorrow, but things seem brighter and more cheerful this week. It's been a long and difficult year, and I am looking forward to getting the chance to meet up with much...
Why you should use art in your personal space?
Your home is a reflection of you, of who you are and what is important to you. It is your ‘space’, and it is so very important that when you decorate it you do so to your personal taste. It is not necessary, or even advisable to decorate to meet current trends...
Three reasons why it is good to have art in your home office
Art can cheer us up! Just the act of making your workspace ‘yours’, and bringing something you love into it can create a sense of belonging, but added to that art has been proved to benefit your cognitive processes. Looking at a piece of art can be calming and meditative, it also increases blood flow to the brain which supports critical thinking, decision making, problem solving and creativity.
It’s the little things! – Take a Shower
It may seem obvious, but who hasn't had a day when they were feeling so down that even hopping in the shower was a bridge too far? I've had some very low days, and now, when I'm in the midst of that darkness I set 'Taking a Shower' as one of just three tasks I need to...
It’s the little things – Take a short walk
To follow on with our chat, one of the things that I find lifts my mood is to go for a little walk. It can even be as short as 5 minutes, just a ramble around the garden if you are not up to a long one. Take the time to pay attention to what surrounds you. Feel the...
It’s the little things – Make your bed
We are moving into January, a time of year many find difficult. I know that all I want to do at this time of year is hibernate! But that desire to isolate and sleep can hide an underlying depression. This is something I have come to understand over the years, and...