Laois artist on Landscape Artist of the Year and Operation Transformation

A Laois artist is set to be featured twice on television this month.

Portlaoise mother of three Aileen Donovan's paintings will be on screens in two popular shows, the Sky Landscape Artist of the Year, and RTÉ One's Operation Transformation.

Aileen who paints colourful 3D landscapes using a glue gun, was a 'wildcard finalist' on the art show, meaning she was one of 50 chosen to paint the same scene as the eight core contestants, with a chance of being selected for the final.

Meanwhile a painting of Carrigmeal woodland near Stradbally that she was commissioned to do last Christmas, is featured on Operation Transformation. 

More below photo of Carrigmeal painting. 

The man who planted the public woodlands, retired councillor James Deegan, is an Ad Break Challenge Hero. Full story below.

Self taught artist Aileen, told the Leinster Express / Laois Live about being on the art show which was filmed last June in Castle Ward, Northern Ireland.

"I was one of thousands of entries which was whittled down to 348 wildcards over the series. I met the judges and television presenters on the day when I was one of 50 wildcards competing for a spot. There were eight proper contestants filmed on the day with four hours to compete, while being interviewed by the Judges and presenters while us 50 wildcards compete nearby with some of us interviewed also. 

"I've never been on TV before. I spent 15 minutes with the tv crew being interviewed about my technique and its a long, funny story about the Child of Prague. I'm chuffed with myself because I've never done anything like this before and it's a great achievement to get that far," Aileen said.

A daughter of Larry and Gertie from Craydon Court, Aileen lives in Togher Wood with her husband Eamon and is a stay at home mother to Tiernan, Eabha and Ruairi.

A rejection by an art college set her back in confidence, but not forever.

"I put a portfolio together with a view to attending art college age in 2017/18 and I was told I wasn't good enough so I put down my brushes and forgot about art. 

"Years later I fell in love with upcycling which eventually led me back to art again.  I signed up for art lessons a few years ago with Caroline Keane in the Dunamaise Art Centre with a view to painting a face which I learned in Caroline's class.   

"In the meantime an online friend Jen Page sent me a video of someone drawing with a glue gun. I thought this was fascinating, tried it, loved it and started to incorporate glue in most of my paintings.  This gives it a 3d type effect. I am technically self taught.

"This was a hobby until the Covid lockdown.

"I am inspired by my surroundings namely Togher Wood. I love paintings trees, Poppies and wild flower meadows, I adore colourful butterflies and all they represent. My youngest son Ruairi adores the night sky so I paint a lot of moons with brambles peeping through.  I love busy, ornate, fussy type paintings which I do just for the heck of it. I regularly try to minic stained glass which I love," Aileen said.

She has exhibited widely in Laois since, partly with the local Arthouse Collective based in Stradbally.

"We exhibited together for Culture Night 2020 and Collective Thoughts in Dunamaise Theatre in 2021. I was part of an exhibition In Trust, In Hope, In Gratitude which was in relation to the 10th anniversary of the Arthouse in Stradbally.  All the paintings exhibited are featured in an accompanying book and my painting Rewind The Film has since been purchased by Laois County Council.  I loved this because I'd never been featured in a book before. 

More below photo.

Below: Rock of Dunamaise. 

"I have also exhibited twice in Abbeyleix Library and up until December I had a pop up gallery shop in The Gallic Kitchen, Abbeyleix.

"I originally intended to open in November and December 2021 but I stayed put as I used the premises as a studio also and painted much to the bemusement of the diners.  My time is up because the cafe is closing and a restaurant is opening there in May under new management. I hope to exhibit this year again," she explained.

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"Since I got the opportunity to do Landscape Artist I have dabbled in some landscapes namely Rock of Dunamaise, Timahoe Round Tower, Falls at Glenbarrow, Heywood in Autumn, and Carrigmeal. I have recently started some newer pieces from Togher Wood which I should have done before now considering it's right next door to me.  

More below photo.

Autumn in Heywood by Aileen Donovan

"I hope this year brings new opportunities, a proper work space for me, new exhibitions and maybe something I hadn't thought of yet. Again no matter what comes my way I'll give it a go, see where it takes me and hopefully this time next year I'll have more stories to tell," Aileen Donovan said.

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Look out for her on the Landscape Artist of the year espisode on February 15 at 8pm on the Sky Arts Channel, while her painting was featured on episode 5 of Operation Transformation on Wednesday night, February 1 at 9.30pm.

Aileen's work can be viewed on her own website www.aileen.ie, on Facebook aileen.ie and Instagram at aileen.donovan.