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...
A blast from the past
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTVSh0om7V0 Can't believe this was July 2019 - time does fly when you are having fun. Suffering withdrawals from dynamic flow painting at the minute, so you can expect some new work and some new videos soon! Enjoy!
Creative Cornucopia Cavan
What is Creative Cornucopia Cavan? Creative Cornucopia Cavan is a project that has been long in my thoughts and just recently become a reality. It’s really just a directory of artists and artisans in Cavan. I thought, particularly in the current situation,...
You cannot withstand the Storm
It's been a flurry of activity here, some of it very productive and therefore pleasant, but some very frustrating and yet valuable as I learned a lot! The valuable, yet frustrating nature of a steep learning curve is that you really do engage deeply with the problem...
It’s Cold Outside
‘Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable’. Cesar A.Cruz Some art is designed to reflect our taste, enhance our living spaces, and draw attention to the beauty that surrounds us. But then there is art that impacts us to the core, it may be...