Interview #8: Kerry Eugenie Prendiville
I am delighted this month to be interviewing artist, designer and illustrator Kerry Eugenie Prendiville.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into art, design and illustration?
I’m Kerry, a practitioner of art, design and illustration depending on what day it is! I’m based just outside Kilrush along the Shannon Estuary in County Clare. I’m 26, and only took the plunge into launching my career in early 2021 after completing my BA (Hons) in Graphic Design & Illustration in 2018.
After university ended, I moved to Edinburgh as I’d fallen in love with it on every visit & began working in a little Illustration, Design & Craft Gallery called Red Door Gallery which really gave me an in-depth knowledge of the field. Once the pandemic hit, I came home and began to put much more time into my artwork and design projects and eventually began taking commissions and designed my first product - a Lunar Calendar in January 2021! My work has thankfully rocketed since then, and I’m thrilled to say I’m a full time creative, working part time as a designer for an Irish Seaweed Protein Blends business called Kelpman Ocean Blends. With the second half of the week I focus on self-directed or freelance commissioned work, which I’m delighted is keeping me extremely busy!
Like most creatives, I really always loved art and creating as a little one! I was lucky enough to receive so much encouragement from my family, my teachers and my friends over those early years and while I didn’t believe I was good enough to do it as a career, I somehow stumbled into it right after school when I realised that's where my heart and soul really thrived! The community here are so supportive and kind towards my work and so that was such a catalyst to getting to where I’m at now, a full time creative
How has this last year impacted your creativity/outlook? Have you gained any insights or created any new work?
I feel a little guilty to say it but I feel very grateful that I was one of the lucky few that this pandemic really helped to navigate my way into my chosen field. The world suddenly stopped, I moved home from Scotland and the time I had went straight into looking after myself and nurturing the creative side that I really felt I wasn’t good enough at. It was in a way a gift, as I was completely burned out otherwise I might never have had that little cocoon to build my confidence in both design and illustration and when I was ready to share, the world couldn’t have given me a warmer embrace.
Interview #8: Kerry Eugenie Prendiville
I am delighted this month to be interviewing artist, designer and illustrator Kerry Eugenie Prendiville.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into art, design and illustration?
I’m Kerry, a practitioner of art, design and illustration depending on what day it is! I’m based just outside Kilrush along the Shannon Estuary in County Clare. I’m 26, and only took the plunge into launching my career in early 2021 after completing my BA (Hons) in Graphic Design & Illustration in 2018.
After university ended, I moved to Edinburgh as I’d fallen in love with it on every visit & began working in a little Illustration, Design & Craft Gallery called Red Door Gallery which really gave me an in-depth knowledge of the field. Once the pandemic hit, I came home and began to put much more time into my artwork and design projects and eventually began taking commissions and designed my first product - a Lunar Calendar in January 2021! My work has thankfully rocketed since then, and I’m thrilled to say I’m a full time creative, working part time as a designer for an Irish Seaweed Protein Blends business called Kelpman Ocean Blends. With the second half of the week I focus on self-directed or freelance commissioned work, which I’m delighted is keeping me extremely busy!
Like most creatives, I really always loved art and creating as a little one! I was lucky enough to receive so much encouragement from my family, my teachers and my friends over those early years and while I didn’t believe I was good enough to do it as a career, I somehow stumbled into it right after school when I realised that's where my heart and soul really thrived! The community here are so supportive and kind towards my work and so that was such a catalyst to getting to where I’m at now, a full time creative
How has this last year impacted your creativity/outlook? Have you gained any insights or created any new work?
I feel a little guilty to say it but I feel very grateful that I was one of the lucky few that this pandemic really helped to navigate my way into my chosen field. The world suddenly stopped, I moved home from Scotland and the time I had went straight into looking after myself and nurturing the creative side that I really felt I wasn’t good enough at. It was in a way a gift, as I was completely burned out otherwise I might never have had that little cocoon to build my confidence in both design and illustration and when I was ready to share, the world couldn’t have given me a warmer embrace.
What awakens life in you and where do you draw inspiration from?
Staying curious. The natural world always brings me back to life & leaves me thriving once again after a period of stagnant energy! I’ve always loved nature, wildlife and exploring as we were all encouraged and nurtured in doing so from a very young age! Mindful walks & rambles combined with curiosity always leave me much more inspired than when I set off! Connecting with like-minded souls & other creatives also really helps to get those creative juices flowing once more! Seeing as I work completely from home, I think it helps to be social too!
Admiring and delving into art forms from other artists of all disciplines definitely help me to reignite that fire too - it's lovely to be part of the creative community both in person and online!
Lastly, travel is an absolute remedy for my soul and for my creative practice! Voyages to new spaces, landscapes and souls of all kinds really ignites & nurtures the creative mind. Escaping the everyday motions and keeping that child-like curiosity alive and well is always so natural in foreign lands!
What does making art (illustrating/designing) teach you about yourself? And the world?
I saw a really poignant collection of art lately by a local artist that had recently passed away and it got me thinking about the stories, and music and artwork that creatives leave behind. It really is such a gorgeous mark to leave on the world. I create a lot of my own artwork with the natural world at the core of all I create, and so I hope that in time I can help to echo the important messages of the environmental crisis and the welfare of indigenous people around the world through my pieces. There is so much peaceful power in art!
Creating artwork challenged me on my own once-crippling perfectionism, but it's actually been a fantastic way to fall in love with the imperfections of art as I’ve realised I love the character of pieces much more than hyper-realism. It gives them more movement, more tenderness, more love. Mostly pieces take on a life of their own, it's quite rare to have something come out exactly as envisioned but for the vast majority I prefer it that way as they come to life better than imagined!
Lastly, the world is so much more receptive to the creative industries than it was when I was leaving school in 2013. We were highly advised against it, I’m glad it didn’t stop me in the end. I’ve noticed how willing communities are to lift up, share and support local creatives and it really feels as though I can be free-spirited in what I create, seeing as there is such a warm reception.
Do you have any daily rituals or routines to get your creativity flowing?
Each day is different really depending on what it involves but the key to starting the day right for me is to try to do yoga and have a good breakfast. It's like having a leg up on the day once I’ve got those two down! An early morning walk would top it off altogether!
How do you take care of yourself when you are feeling a bit blah, blocked or uninspired?
Hmmm, it’s a tricky one, I’ve come to accept that part of being an artist is sometimes having those dips in confidence, inspiration and imaginative thought processes. Sometimes we can push immediately through it and other times we need to have the awareness to take a step back and choose a different task to do, until I’m back in flying form.
A friend of mine Giulia Canevari, a botanical illustrator and flower grower and florist has begun hosting little sketch afternoons in her gorgeous flower garden here in Co. Clare. After the last one, I felt so creatively energised and free as I had tossed aside expectations and was completely present, with friends, in a beautiful, inspiring space! I need to start keeping a sketchbook and doing it in any spare moments I have! It helps to have great company nearby too and leads to lots more experimentation!
I find getting out in nature and even working from a different place really helps with feeling stagnancy. If I’m struggling with the feelings that sometimes accompany a blank page, I’ll put on a series or film or listen to a podcast to distract those thoughts for that first critical half hour. The overwhelm and hesitation diminishes with a few early sketches and by the time I’ve mapped things out, I’m away!
What do you enjoy most about food? Do you have any favourite ingredients or recipes?
I’ve been vegetarian since I was 16, and am mostly vegan at home but when I’m out with friends or travelling I don’t put that pressure on myself, as I do find it hard being the “awkward” person at the table. Food is something that definitely brings me a lot of happiness throughout each day, especially if it's chocolate hehe! There’s nothing better than using fresh vegetables and fruits to make vibrant meals, its something I need to give more time to!
Can’t really go wrong with a Vegan Red Lentil Curry made with nut butter for added richness, it’s a Rainbow Plant Life recipe - I love all of Nisha’s gorgeous recipes! I love to serve mine alongside colourful salads, dips and naan bread for dipping!
I’d love to incorporate more foraged ingredients into my diet with a love for wild garlic and samphire, it’d be nice to spend time learning more about it all!
Can you share with us any books, podcasts or music that are currently inspiring you?
A podcast I’ll forever return to time and time again is “The Cute Life”. It's recorded by an artist friend of mine, Finnley Elliott and her husband Ollie Place in their seaside home in Hastings, UK. The topics and stories include everything from art practice, ridiculously funny stories, tales about cute animals, ghost stories and so much more! It's so endearing, and it gave me great company during early cocoon days of painting early on in the first lockdown for me!
After admiring Manchán Magan’s work for so many years, I recently purchased his most recent book “Tree Dogs”. It's an illustrated masterpiece and so inspiring and enjoyable for folks of all ages!
When it comes to music, I’m an absolute mix bag. I’m loving a lot of Indie & Folk like Kevin Morby, Khruangbin, Leon Bridges, Tame Impala, Alt+J, Talking Heads, Shakey Graves and Rayland Baxter lately! I always love golden oldies like George Harrison, Nina Simone, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Jim Croce, Leonard Cohen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Vedder, Josh Ritter, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen & of course Queen. I’m also really enjoying so many amazing Irish artists like Glen Hansard, The Frames, Colm Mac Ionomaire, Eva Coyle, Susan O’Neill & Mick Flannery.
Do you have any future creative project plans/dreams?
Writing and illustrating my own children’s book has always been a dream of mine since I was little, alongside hopefully having a whole range of illustrated goods for sale both in my own online shop & in stockists nationwide! I’d love to create a lot of artwork inspired by travelling around the world too, and the landscapes, creatures and people I come across! I’m also bursting with ideas for exhibitions and larger scale mixed media pieces! All in good time, my dears!
See more about Kerry on her website: www.kerryeugenie.com and follow her on instagram here: @kerryeugenie
July 2022