Meet the local artist putting alcohol to good use

Meet Laoise Nugent-Burke from Clonsilla, one of Irelands first Alcohol Ink artists.

She has been using this medium for the last 15 years to create unique, stylish pieces of original art.

“During lockdown I decided to be brave and show it instead of my usual oil paintings and it’s gotten a huge reaction,” Laoise told Northside People.

An experienced graphic designer and oil painter, who studied Fine Art in N.C.A.D., Laoise originally turned to alcohol inks when her children were young and space was limited.

“At that time, it was unheard of in Ireland,” she says.

“I would bring rubbing alcohol home from holidays to make ink to use.

“I always did it as a form of relaxation.

“Working part-time in the aviation industry meant my hours were reduced when we went into lockdown.

“Rather than worry about things I couldn’t control I decided to focus on my art and use the time I had to create a collection of Limited-Edition Prints and small original ink artworks on ceramic tiles.

“My only worry was getting the alcohol as the shortage of hand sanitizer was prompting people to make it at home using isopropanol.

“Luckily a little goes a long way.

“I can’t explain the feeling when those first prints arrived, I was just bursting with excitement, pride and nerves.

“Since then she has refined her skills and now produces stunning, layered and textured pieces of art inspired by Ireland’s coast.

Married to a scuba diver she spends plenty of time along the Irish coast and on the smaller islands around Ireland.

It was one of her husband Martin’s photographs that inspired her most popular piece “Atlantic Jellies.””The inks give a unique finish as they are very fluid,” Laoise explains.

“The alcohol evaporates quickly as you paint and the inks don’t mix, they push each other around the surface, this creates a batik like finish with layers of translucent colours and textures.”

For this artist 2020 will be the year her studio had more alcohol than her local pub.

“It was difficult to get seen online as the web is a big place,” Laoise says.

“It’s still early days but everyone has been very supportive and there is a real sense of local support and supporting small business in Ireland which has been fantastic.”

Laoise’s work can be seen on her website www.laoise.com or on her Instagram @laoise_art for her most up to date pieces and news.