Paul McCloskey — ARTIST

Paul McCloskey

Interview with artist Paul McCloskey —

1. Who are you and what do you do?
I am Paul McCloskey, a painter from Ireland and a graduate from the National College of Art in Dublin; I also attended De Montfort University in the UK and was awarded Masters in Fine art in 2010. I’m also a qualified teacher in art/design and work with students of all age groups.

THE OMEGA “My eyes hurt as if never used”


2. Why art?
It’s always been art for me! Art has sustained me materially, emotionally and spiritually all my life. However in recent years I’m really getting it more, what it’s all about, the allowing of my higher self to grow through the process of creating, being open to divinity, thus being a intermediary for creativity.

THE OMEGA “In my heart I have hidden your word”

3. What is your earliest memory of wanting to be an artist?
As young as eight years old, I would get lost in a wonderful world when drawing, with no awareness of time or pain. I now know it was a place of spirit, no ego, no mind, just a place of being.

 


4. What are your favorite subject(s) and media(s)?
In recent years I have mainly focussed on landscapes, but all subjects’ interest me, as they are a means in which to grow, to tap into the abundance and essence of who I am. For the past number of years my work has become increasingly abstract, less about figurative representation but more about expressing the emotion or essence of my subjects.

“The Alpha Awakening Autumn”



5. How do you work and approach your subject?
I will use the world around me as a starting point, attempting not to label what I see, but instead to sense its quintessence, its heart and then enter that place of allowing in order to express that spirit in my works.

6. What are your favorite art work(s), artist(s)?
I have a varied and broad taste in art; I love the work of Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh the Irish painter Jack Yeats, however I also love the emotion in the purely abstract works of Mark Rothko.

THE OMEGA “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth”

7. What are the best responses you have had to your work?

I have had some wonderful comments from people on my Facebook (Paintings) page, people who have really ‘got it.’

THE OMEGA “No beginning no end”

Most recently Jonathan Raddatz wrote a beautiful review of my work for the visual arts magazine EXHIBEO called “Let there be light” – The Transcendent Art of Paul McCloskey. Of all the reviews of my work to date he truly understood what I’ve been working to achieve and the creative process behind it.

“The Alpha Awakening Spring”

8. What do you like about your work?
Interesting question! I like when it works, I like that it evolves through me rather than from me, I like that it is continuously evolving and growing. I like the challenges it gives me to further explore who I am.

“Awakening Reloaded”

9. What advice would you give to other artists?
Try not to follow trends, be yourself, produce art from the heart, your art, honestly and with integrity and finally know what you want to say before trying to say it.

“Awakening Reloaded Blue and Gold”

10. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
I expect to continue to paint as honestly as I can and hopefully reach that point where any reminisce of ego is dissolved, hopefully reaching a wider audience that truly understands its essence.

Paul McCloskey

LINKS—

Website:  https://www.paulmccloskeyart.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/paul.mccloskeyartist