Why and when did you set up your business?
I am a multidisciplinary artist and designer – primarily an abstract painter.
I wanted to create a business that would utilise all the skills and experience I gained over the years, give me a creative avenue to reach more customers with my art and a permanent reliable way to sustain myself fully from my art practice.
For my first degree, I studied design/communications and interactive media.
I worked as a graphic designer for a number of years before returning to college in my late 20s to follow my real passion, which was art.
When I graduated, I moved to Germany and I had an opportunity to work as an artist assistant, which gave me a great insight into the working studio of two very successful artists
I studied visual arts practice and specialised in painting, printmaking and photography.
When I graduated, I moved to Germany and I had an opportunity to work as an artist assistant, which gave me a great insight into the working studio of two very successful artists. I then had an opportunity to move to Venice.
I fell in love with the city and I created a huge body of work while I was living there. It was while living in Venice that I decided to create a brand of wearable art.
Clare O’Connor aims to design accessories that bring joy to her customers. \ Veronika Faustmann
My work is so vibrant and colourful and a lot of friends commented regularly that my work would be stunning as dresses, so it was at this time that I decided to explore this idea further.
I visited Como and I started sampling different fabrics and testing different manufacturers.
In 2017 I decided to return to Ireland and launch my business. I launched at Showcase in January 2018.
What process do you use to create your products?
I use my abstract paintings as the basis of my designs for all my accessories and homewares.
My paintings are about vibrant colour, movement and energy. I juxtapose, layer and play with pattern, form and collage, creating vibrant visual labyrinths to explore. I mainly work with acrylics, spray paint, fabric, tissue papers, egg tempera, pigments and resin.
The resulting paintings are tactile, multidimensional, energetic and dynamic. I then photograph my work and I use sections of the paintings and sometimes layer and combine paintings together to create the designs I use.
I then send my designs to Italy and they are created by expert artisans in Como. I use only the best luxurious natural fabrics. My collections include silk, modal, linen, wool and bamboo.
What is your best seller?
My most popular piece is my most vibrant scarf, a large 100% silk crepe de Chine wrap in striking cerise pink tones, purples, blues with dashes of green, turquoise and yellow. Everybody is drawn to this design. It’s so vibrant and colourful and instantly lifts your mood.
Clare O’Connor has created a range of luxury accessories inspired by her art. \ Veronika Faustmann
What is it about your business that brings you joy?
I adore working for myself and having a business that enables me to continue to develop myself as an artist and designer. I love the way my art creates the designs for my brand and then the brand enables me to continue to work as an artist, so they both feed into each other.
Designer Clare O’Connor uses only the best luxury and natural fabrics in her accessories range. \ Veronika Faustmann
Like most entrepreneurs/small business owners, I also love that I have been able to develop my brand using all my previous experience.
I have done most of my own shoots, I run my own social media and at the end of it all I get the pleasure of knowing that I have created a product that aims to bring joy and uplift people
I’ve created my own website, designed my own packaging and marketing material.
I have done most of my own shoots, I run my own social media and at the end of it all I get the pleasure of knowing that I have created a product that aims to bring joy and uplift people.
My customers have told me they feel really uplifted when they wear my work or look at my paintings, so for me that is the greatest satisfaction of all.
What are your hopes for your business for 2022?
I am hoping to expand my stockists here and abroad and I intend to participate in tradeshows abroad.
I am also hoping to really build on my brand awareness and connect with more customers directly from my website.
During lockdown I expanded my offering into homewares and I am developing a new range of cushions, tote bags and linen and silk shift dresses. 2021 was an exciting year for my brand with many opportunities and I am hoping to build on that momentum as we go into 2022.
What is the best piece of advice you would give a start-up business?
Have a clear idea of what you want to do, do lots of testing first and when you are ready, just go for it. Always keep positive, keep an eye out for opportunities and aim big.
Depending on your business you need to be thinking internationally very early on as Ireland is so small and I would really recommend taking part in a start-up business mentoring course.
Peer-to-peer mentoring really helped to keep me focused. I participated on Back for Business organised by Paula Fitzsimons and a Build your Craft Business course with the Design Council. There are lots of courses and programmes on offer here in Ireland and I found my Local Enterprise Office in Omeath very helpful.
For further information, visit www.clareoconnor.net
Read more
Meet The Maker: artist Sorrell Reilly
Meet the Maker: Fiona Foley of Pear Shaped Studio
Why and when did you set up your business?
I am a multidisciplinary artist and designer – primarily an abstract painter.
I wanted to create a business that would utilise all the skills and experience I gained over the years, give me a creative avenue to reach more customers with my art and a permanent reliable way to sustain myself fully from my art practice.
For my first degree, I studied design/communications and interactive media.
I worked as a graphic designer for a number of years before returning to college in my late 20s to follow my real passion, which was art.
When I graduated, I moved to Germany and I had an opportunity to work as an artist assistant, which gave me a great insight into the working studio of two very successful artists
I studied visual arts practice and specialised in painting, printmaking and photography.
When I graduated, I moved to Germany and I had an opportunity to work as an artist assistant, which gave me a great insight into the working studio of two very successful artists. I then had an opportunity to move to Venice.
I fell in love with the city and I created a huge body of work while I was living there. It was while living in Venice that I decided to create a brand of wearable art.
Clare O’Connor aims to design accessories that bring joy to her customers. \ Veronika Faustmann
My work is so vibrant and colourful and a lot of friends commented regularly that my work would be stunning as dresses, so it was at this time that I decided to explore this idea further.
I visited Como and I started sampling different fabrics and testing different manufacturers.
In 2017 I decided to return to Ireland and launch my business. I launched at Showcase in January 2018.
What process do you use to create your products?
I use my abstract paintings as the basis of my designs for all my accessories and homewares.
My paintings are about vibrant colour, movement and energy. I juxtapose, layer and play with pattern, form and collage, creating vibrant visual labyrinths to explore. I mainly work with acrylics, spray paint, fabric, tissue papers, egg tempera, pigments and resin.
The resulting paintings are tactile, multidimensional, energetic and dynamic. I then photograph my work and I use sections of the paintings and sometimes layer and combine paintings together to create the designs I use.
I then send my designs to Italy and they are created by expert artisans in Como. I use only the best luxurious natural fabrics. My collections include silk, modal, linen, wool and bamboo.
What is your best seller?
My most popular piece is my most vibrant scarf, a large 100% silk crepe de Chine wrap in striking cerise pink tones, purples, blues with dashes of green, turquoise and yellow. Everybody is drawn to this design. It’s so vibrant and colourful and instantly lifts your mood.
Clare O’Connor has created a range of luxury accessories inspired by her art. \ Veronika Faustmann
What is it about your business that brings you joy?
I adore working for myself and having a business that enables me to continue to develop myself as an artist and designer. I love the way my art creates the designs for my brand and then the brand enables me to continue to work as an artist, so they both feed into each other.
Designer Clare O’Connor uses only the best luxury and natural fabrics in her accessories range. \ Veronika Faustmann
Like most entrepreneurs/small business owners, I also love that I have been able to develop my brand using all my previous experience.
I have done most of my own shoots, I run my own social media and at the end of it all I get the pleasure of knowing that I have created a product that aims to bring joy and uplift people
I’ve created my own website, designed my own packaging and marketing material.
I have done most of my own shoots, I run my own social media and at the end of it all I get the pleasure of knowing that I have created a product that aims to bring joy and uplift people.
My customers have told me they feel really uplifted when they wear my work or look at my paintings, so for me that is the greatest satisfaction of all.
What are your hopes for your business for 2022?
I am hoping to expand my stockists here and abroad and I intend to participate in tradeshows abroad.
I am also hoping to really build on my brand awareness and connect with more customers directly from my website.
During lockdown I expanded my offering into homewares and I am developing a new range of cushions, tote bags and linen and silk shift dresses. 2021 was an exciting year for my brand with many opportunities and I am hoping to build on that momentum as we go into 2022.
What is the best piece of advice you would give a start-up business?
Have a clear idea of what you want to do, do lots of testing first and when you are ready, just go for it. Always keep positive, keep an eye out for opportunities and aim big.
Depending on your business you need to be thinking internationally very early on as Ireland is so small and I would really recommend taking part in a start-up business mentoring course.
Peer-to-peer mentoring really helped to keep me focused. I participated on Back for Business organised by Paula Fitzsimons and a Build your Craft Business course with the Design Council. There are lots of courses and programmes on offer here in Ireland and I found my Local Enterprise Office in Omeath very helpful.
For further information, visit www.clareoconnor.net
Read more
Meet The Maker: artist Sorrell Reilly
Meet the Maker: Fiona Foley of Pear Shaped Studio
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