My name is Roisin Duffy, and I am a painter, writer and photographer. I have been a full-time artist for the last 8 years. I began by painting children’s murals and playschools by day, and painting what I myself wanted to paint at night. However in recent years, I have been able to concentrate on my own art, as I have built up a loyal clientele for my paintings.
I have not formally trained in art, however I see this as an advantage – it has enabled me to remain more original, and to develop my unique style in my own way. My work is bright, simple and cheerful- maybe the mural influence!- but there is also a deeper story behind each one. I write a poem/story to accompany each painting, which adds an extra dimension. I have published these poems, stories, and paintings in a collection, entitled “Everything Under The Sun”.
INFLUENCES
My influences are many and varied, and moreover change constantly! Everything I see and everyone I meet influences me. I love empty landscapes— the wild coast of Donegal and the varied and volcanic landscape of Tenerife are my current favorites. I enjoy travelling and have a very long list of places I want to visit, to photograph and to paint. However I have no desire to live anywhere else but my home in Co. Monaghan.
Myself, my husband, our two children, two dogs and two cats, live overlooking Sreenty Lake, which is between Curduff and Ballytrain, 6 miles from Carrickmacross and 10 from Castleblayney. Our house is on a very small road, with very few neighbours, lots of cows and it’s a great peace. We live in an old farmhouse which we are lovingly converting room by room. The kitchen of course was the first job, and second was my studio. We have turned old cow sheds into studio and gallery space, where I am lucky enough to paint looking out at the lake. This place is where my home, family, friends, community – andmy heart – are, and I love it dearly.
For my figurative work, I am influenced and endlessly fascinated by, just about everybody! I love people-watching, I love hearing what makes people tick, and seeing the direct relationship between their lives, and how they think and act based upon their experiences, both good and bad. I do not paint these people as very definite people, or as anyone in particular, but rather in very simple, flowing shapes, with their faces left completely blank – my characters are everyman, they could be you, or me, or someone you know. The fact that the faces are blank allows everyone who views the painting to impose their own face depending on their imagination and own personal experiences. The accompanying poem gives the viewer a extra glimpse into the background and experiences of the person in the painting – just as every person has one face they present to the world but many complex layers, secrets and experiences behind they visible face.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography, for me has long been an interest, ever since my older sister gave me a camera in my early teens. Everywhere I have gone the camera has come too. I tend not to paint from these photographs. I much prefer to paint either the mental images of my own imagination, or a scene as I remember it. I feel that working from photographs confines me too much. However, I have spent years meaning to take this pot off the back burner and develop this interest, and finally the time has come. Recently I have been printing and framing my photographs, and it’s early days but exciting to branch out into a new field where I am learning everything from scratch.
COLLECTIONS
My work is in the collections of Cavan County Council, The Airfield Trust, Pike Insurance Services and Bonfire Advertising, and also in many private collections in places as varied as Iceland, Japan, America and Chile. I have exhibited both locally and nationally, as part of group exhibitions and in four solo shows. I exhibit bi-annually at Art Ireland, Irelands biggest art fair, and at many other fairs throughout the country. My personal passions are for reading, traveling, meeting friends and having a bit of crack.
I believe in concentrating on the positives in life and enjoying life as much as possible, and if my work brightens somebody else’s day, well, that’s me happy.
art & craft collective at sulis blog 
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