Happy New Year! ✨ It’s never too late to welcome a New Year.
The Blue Jay is often associated with many things; my favourites are optimism, good fortune and encouragement to pursue dreams and goals. It also represents creation, honesty, communication and abundance. 💙
May 2024 be magical and wonderful for us all.
The 2023 Gaelscoil Áine cards are here!
I illustrated a brand-new collection with 10 festive Christmas cards for Gaelscoil Áine this year, promoting the Irish language while fundraising for books and educational materials.
These very special Cártaí Nollag feature greetings in Irish and can bring cúpla focal to people's homes. I am a big advocate of the Irish language because it conveys and holds so much history and stories within it, and I believe that Christmas greetings in Irish are magical.
But the magic in these cards goes beyond the language. They are specially made to raise funds for the school's much-needed educational resources and books.
Gaelscoil Áine is a co-educational and multi-denominational gaelscoil that opened in 2019. It is temporarily located in the third-level Whitehall College while it awaits a permanent building from the Department of Education. Every contribution is essential for the school to keep providing top-notch education.
For only €10, you get 10 heartwarming cards and help support Gaelscoil Áine.
It's a win-win!
The Gaelscoil Áine Christmas cards can be bought through the Shop in Ireland website and and at An Siopa Leabhar on Harcourt Street in Dublin
Working with the Irish language is always a privilege, and it is even more rewarding when your work exceeds expectations and reaches a broader audience. This was the case when I was contacted by the lovely Antoinette Robinson when she wanted to make the Children’s Section at Roscommon Library more joyful, cosy and inviting for young readers.
Brian Fitzgerald and Tarsila Krüse at the launch of Bliain na nAmhrán. Photography by © Seán Ó Mainnín
Antoinette proposed to feature artworks from different children’s book illustrators throughout the children’s section in posters to entice the imagination and enchant visitors. I knew this was a project I wanted to be involved with because that is precisely what I aim to do with my work.
Framed poster of An Fómhar by Tarsila Krüse. Photograph by Antoinette Robinson.
The images chosen come from our award-winning book Bliain na nAmhrán (with songs by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin and published by Futa Fata). This is an extraordinary book because it genuinely represents creative collaboration. The songs are produced by John Ryan and illustrated by four illustrators, one for each season, featuring artworks by Brian Fitzgerald, Jennifer Farley, Christina O’Donovan and myself.
Roscommon Library Children’s Section with framed images from Bliain na nAmhrán. Photograph by Antoinette Robinson.
The Library selected the double spread that opens the Autumn section, which is my favourite season and also the one I illustrated. I love the way it reflects the joyful and playful feeling of the season with warm colours, falling leaves and a magical atmosphere.
I hope children and grownups will revel in the art pieces and take a small tour through the seasons, enjoying the framed artwork while visiting the Roscommon Library.
Thank you, Antoinette and Roscommon Library, for such an honour!
Watch a short video about My Art Residency experience HERE!
Earlier this year, I was awarded a whole week’s residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annamakerrig through the mid-career bursary offered by Children’s Books Ireland.
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a residential facility in Co. Monaghan for artists from all over the world. This peaceful, tranquil and inspiring place was once the family home of theatre director Tyrone Guthrie, who then bequeathed it to the State as long as it benefited and catered for artists, and in 1981 the Centre opened its doors.
Honestly, I did not know what to expect or the possibilities of this experience because I had never been to an artist’s residency before or spent a whole week exclusively immersed in my creativity and art practice.
I also debated a lot about attending it because I had caught a debilitating sinus infection just the week before the residency started, and symptoms lingered during my stay.
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre provides artists the perfect combo: accommodation and time to create. Whatever form or shape it takes. The centre receives many creatives, including writers, playwrights, poets, illustrators, fine artists, ceramicists, dancers, choreographers, and printmakers. The more information I found out about it, the luckier I felt to be there.
I stayed at the Big House in the Attic room and had everything I needed, including delicious meals and support from incredibly kind and welcoming staff. I had my bathroom, a comfy bed, an excellent and large desk expertly placed under a skylight and a charming armchair next to a filled-to-the-brim bookcase.
Artists can also stay in self-catering cottages too. Still, I must say that the food in the Big House was delicious and having a set time for meals (with snacks in between) allowed for the opportunity to interact and share experiences with the other residents.
The residency is unique and special because it removes all distractions and creates a protected pocket with dedicated spaces and time to nourish creativity.
The chance to sit with my thoughts and be surrounded by nature brought me stillness and somehow, it also created a very compelling energy to work.
And I may have made a non-human friend too.
Everything there buzzes with creative energy—the atmosphere around the grounds, the dedicated studios, the house itself, and so much more.
This experience connected me with others, but especially with myself. It helped me heal quite literally, and supported my creativity, allowing me to grow as a person and an artist.
I know it was only a week, but spending that time there, even through sickness, gave me the precise support I needed to further my work. While there, I developed an idea for a picturebook that had been sitting in my head for a while. The few words I had written on my Apple notes nested on that desk while soaking in the winter light. They cocooned in the tranquillity and received all nourishment needed to become a fully developed dummy picturebook.
It has been a few months since I was there, and I know I will always carry that experience with me. A publisher has picked up the dummy I created, and it will become an actual picture book. One that will always remind me that nurturing is essential for creativity.
So thank you, Children’s Books Ireland and the Tyrone Guthrie Center.
Here, both adults and children are welcome to learn and do fun things to thrive as a creative person.
YOU will get (all for free, just come back for more)!
Constantly updated free resources (aka FREEBIES)
Inspiration through the Drawing With Tarsila YouTube tutorials with easy and simple instructions on how to draw a myriad of things!
Knowledge about The Business of Illustration and how to become a better visual communicator
The latest scoop about what goes on Inside Tarsila’s Studio regarding my own creative endeavours, projects, illustration work and overall shenanigans.
