I draw on paper with a variety of media including charcoal, wax, soap and ink. I am in the process of making my own inks and pigments from natural materials found in/near our garden or kitchen. I plan not to buy any more commercial inks or paints when my current supplies run out – let’s see how I get on! I am also experimenting with using basic homemade charcoal. I try and use found paper when I can and recycle it for drawing.
I grew up on the outskirts of Cork city and my parents were empathetic to the beautiful natural world that surrounded us and this influenced my world view and eventual choice of art as my passion and work.
My work is based in nature and is political in the sense that it concerns the environmental crisis we face.
My art practice is drawing using the process of blind drawing.
I have a studio which my husband built for me but I prefer to work outside in most weathers in our rewilded garden and the surrounding countryside of rural Cork.
In my work, I try and capture aspects of life around me such as insects, animals and plants. I like to draw portraits of people, especially those whom I know well such as my friend Ana below. This quick charcoal drawing of Ana is a preparation for the more detailed painting that can be seen in the Commissions section.
Gillian Cussen 