2023/ 2024
Share This Post 2023/2024 Le Chéile Arts The wonderful inovative Le Cheile Arts shop was born out of the determination and hard work and strong
Gill Smyth
2023/ 2024
Share This Post
2023/2024
Le Chéile Arts
The wonderful inovative Le Cheile Arts shop was born out of the determination and hard work and strong vision of Cecilia Scholte Lubberink. Situated in the West Cork town of Dunmanway, taking in tourist traffic and the wider West Cork customer, it serves very well in the local community. Cecila has given a wonderful platform to sell original and beautifully handcrafted gifts and fine art made by local artists and craftmakers. It has been an honour to be part of this group of talented local artists, and to have this unique shop to showcase our work. It has also a learning curve for me as I discovered the type of work the different customer groups liked. Tourists were very keen on my seascapes, whilst local customers were drawn to my animal paintings.
Cecilia has a vision and keeps growing her buisness by offering many different classes for both adults and children. I was delighted to have the opportunity to hold oil painting classes giving me the opportunity to work with amazing budding talent. It was really great to get to know the different students and encourage them on their artistic journies. Many have continued painting and have developed their own styles which is so encouraging to see.
Gardens and Galleries, held each July in my home village of Innishannon, Co. Cork, (a village which my Dad was a hardworking part of the tidy villages committee) is another highlight of the year. I am so happy to be part of all the local people involved in this weekend where fokes from near and far come to the village to see the wonderful gardens on display and scattered throughout the village many works of art by local artists. The Found Out Cafe have very generously given me wall space each year, shout out to Deirdre! and its so encouraging to hear all the remarks about my work. Of course getting sales and seeing my work head off to a new home is the cherry on top!
This has been a busy year with many solo exhibitions to prepare for. The fun part is the painting by a long mile, my happy place! And of course, you have to have an idea of your audience. Each place I exhibit has a different audience, this actually keeps my work fresh and keeps me looking in different directions and pushing my creativity further, so that’s all good!
On the Pigs Back Cafe, Douglas, Cork
It was great to be back in this quirky cafe in Douglas, Cork. They serve the most delicious food and their deli is a mouth watering display of yummy food offerings. Isabelle is most accommodating and helpful with all the logistics of hanging an exhibition of which there is a lot of hard work. I was exhibiting for the month of April this year and delighted to have several pieces go to lovely new homes. There were also so many lovely encouraging comments about my work which I really appreciate.
Moving swiftly from one venue to another, May saw me having the opportunity to be back once again in the Grey Heron, Bandon, Co. Cork, a hub of activing, aroma of the “best cofffee in the area” I am told! and the pretty craft shop of so many local crafts. The most important corner of this shop is the amazing gallery, backdrop of deep blue walls which for most of my work, sets them off beautifully. This venue, I would say, I received the most comments on my work at any one exhibition, a busy busy place where people meet for coffee and can soak up whatever exhibition is on at that time. Philip is as always, so helpful and cannot do enough to get you set up, thank you Philip. I look forward to returning!
Cork School of Music
September/October, the Autumn season brought me back once again, (I think my 4th exhibition) to the Cork School of Music. I love exhibiting here, the space is amazing, the wonderful grand piano in the centre of the room surrounded with big wall spaces, and a great buzz around the place to boot! A very large tall ladder is requied and lots of balance to hang the paintings here, helped always by my sister to whom I could not do this without. Lots of measuring and placing, standing back to check and we are good! Of course, a big thank you to Tom who is the organiser of the exhibitions in CSM, lots of work to be done I am sure.
I would also like to say a big thank you to all my collectors, customers and admirers, you keep me trucking!
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