Today we’d like to introduce you to Cora Harrington.
Cora, artists often have unique stories that brought them to where they are today. Can you please walk us through your journey so far.
As a child, I loved drawing and painting. My mother encouraged me to draw every day, so I drew the things I was crazy about – horses and dogs. Later in my teens, I went to art collage and graduated with First Class Honours in Art and Design from the Belfast College of Art. While a student, I won several awards including Student of the Year and a large London commission. That same year, I married and moved to Zambia with my husband where I lived and continued to paint for several years.
Returning home with a young family, I got involved in my father’s veterinary and racehorse business and worked as a stable jockey for the next 15 years. Horses are a great passion for me so I really enjoyed that time in my life. Art took a back seat while I raised my family. Then, in 1988, I became a founder member of the Pastel Society of Ireland and took up my painting career again part-time.
During this time, I painted mostly to commission landscapes, animals, and portraits, while continuing to experiment with collages, pastels, oils, and mixed media pieces. Receiving public commissions at home and abroad, plus winning several prestigious awards encouraged me to become a full time professional and I was represented by six galleries. My paintings have been shown in The Mall Galleries in London on several occasions. Since the financial crash, many of those galleries have closed and the art market has changed. However, I am still represented by a new, good and thriving gallery in Bushmills N.I. www.gallery1608.co.uk/harrington-cora4593969754.
I am always keen to learn new techniques and challenges and this year, I took part in Art2Life an intensive 12-week online course led by Californian artist Nicholas Wilton. This encouraged me to paint for myself and enjoy the freedom to fully express myself through my paintings. It was a wonderful experience as I am now connected to a very supportive group of artists, instead of working alone.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My past work for galleries and commissions was mainly figurative paintings inspired by the landscape, townscapes, etc. I also painted people and animal portraits, working mostly in oils and soft pastel. Presently, I work in a wide range of media and subject matter, moving easily between realism and abstraction. My more intuitive semi-abstract paintings usually begin with pure joy and fun using acrylics, mixed media and sometimes collage, tempered by an intellectual approach. I hope that when people view my work they can feel the love and curiosity I feel for the world around me. My abstract pieces may suggest a different story or idea to each viewer and it always amazes and delights me to hear their interpretations. Sometimes, the title will gently lead them into my thought process for a particular piece and transport them into a different and interesting world for a few moments. My work shows an unusual diversity, expressing my experiences, energy, and excitement in paintings full of color, pattern, and texture.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Today, with all the social media platforms, we can see an abundance of art both to view and for inspiration. Our reach is worldwide but a downside is an overwhelming number of images which may dull our artistic senses. The advantages are the ease in showing our artwork to the world, making friends and business contacts in the artists’ community where an artist can share work in progress and get help and support.
Artists are an important part of the community and art in all its forms enriches our lives and should be supported and encouraged by our government and city councils. Art festivals and art studio tours would help to engage the public with the artists and make people aware of the wonderful creativity going on in their city. My selection of images shows my traditional oils, acrylics, and pastels, progressing to my semi-abstract work.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work shows an unusual diversity, expressing my experiences, energy, and excitement in paintings full of color, pattern, and texture. People can see my work by following my Instagram page @coraharringtonartist or visiting my website www.coraharrington.com where they can contact me to buy original paintings or prints. A visit to my studio gallery may be arranged by appointment. I love to talk about my paintings. A selection of my work is on view at Gallery 1608 Bushmills N.I.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coraharrington.com
- Email: mail@coraharrington.com
- Instagram: @coraharringtonartist
Image Credit:
All images copyright Cora Harrington 2018.
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