Cork’s the Gearagh is an artist’s dream

Siobhán Duggan a self-taught painter is based in Macroom, Co Cork.

Support

Growing up I was always encouraged to follow my passion.

When I announced that I was applying for art college there were no raised eyebrows. My parents knew I loved art, it made me happy and they were happy that I wasn’t going to waste a talent. There’s so much to be said for this type of parenting and it was a major factor in my lack of fear to pursue the path I wanted.

Before

I ran my own graphic design business for almost 10 years, something I really loved. However, after having my daughter it just wasn’t fulfilling me. I felt a real desire to get back to the easel and although it wasn’t an easy decision to make, I left my business to pursue a path that I was nervous but very excited about.

Is location important?

Absolutely. Cork and specifically the Gearagh, a place I feel is one of the most overlooked beauty spots in Ireland. It also has a really interesting history and every time I go there I discover something new so it is an artist’s dream.

Your work

I like to draw attention to moments that may otherwise be overlooked. When painting an animal it’s all about the character. For example I like to start with the eyes, as soon as I’m happy with the eyes, I can relax into the painting more and know it will just come together.

Medium

I use pastel, watercolour or oils depending on what I’m working on. I create tiny miniature oil paintings of landscapes on old Irish Pingins (pennies). I paint landscapes with pastel and my animal studies are always watercolour.

Unique selling point

I have been told time and time again that I capture light in landscapes in a unique way and the personality and character of animals in a special way. Art is such a personal choice - some people will love it and others won’t and I’m okay with that too.

What’s next?

I’m close to completing a yearlong project documenting the same location at Gearagh month by month which may lead to a calendar for 2022. It has given me a lovely thing to focus on in a year that some may sooner forget. Luckily it is just down the road so I was able to go there throughout lockdown so no restrictions were breached!

Highlight

There are two. Being part of an exhibition in 2017 at Ballymaloe where all 15 works sold out and when President Higgins and his wife Sabina were presented with one of my pieces of art, I often wonder where it sits in the Áras!

Support for the arts

I would like to see students, particularly secondary school students, exposed to more of the arts. Last year was a tremendously difficult year for the arts so I hope the Government does more to support artists and musicians. If 2020 taught us anything it was how incredibly important art and culture are to our lives – life is duller without it.

Accessibility

I offer greeting cards and limited edition prints. I like to make my works as accessible as possible. Everyone should be able to own a piece of art that they love.

Siobhán can be contacted on Facebook (Siobhán Duggan Irish Artist) and Instagram (@siobhandugganart). Prices for her work from €50 to €1,200. She also has a website www.siobhanduggan.ie which has an application where you can view her artwork in a room to give you a sense of what it would look like on your own wall at home. You can even change the wall colour.