Sandra on ‘familiar ground’ with latest Laois exhibition

A STRIKING collection of 30 fabulously vibrant paintings by talented award-winning artist Sandra Blanchfield from Lisdowney, Co Kilkenny is currently on display in Abbeyleix library for the month of April.

The opening of Sandra’s Familiar Ground exhibition took place in the library on Thursday 2 April, where the wonderful collection of oil paintings will remain on display until the end of the month.

Sandra brings memories to life with her fine art oil paintings. Working from photo to canvas, she captures light, emotion and atmosphere, creating both original artworks and limited-edition prints of her work. The artist is available for commissions and loves to paint pet portraits from photographs that people send her.

For the past four years, Sandra has proudly exhibited her art in Kilkenny city during arts week, sharing her work with a wide audience. She also exhibited in a joint exhibition in Abbeyleix library three years ago with local artist and art tutor from Durrow Marie Moylan.

Speaking to the Laois Nationalist before the launch Sandra, a retired nurse of 30 years in a GP setting, said that she learned a lot about painting with oils during her classes with well-known realist artist Mike Cantwell. She said: “I’m delighted to have Mike opening the exhibition for me this evening. I started painting with oils around 2018 and did classes with Mike. He taught me a lot of techniques on working with oils.

“Familiar Ground is inspired by my home county of Kilkenny and has cityscapes and landscapes that have an emotional connection to me. I would have gone to Jenkinstown woods and Kilkenny castle with the kids when they were younger and those places inspire my artwork. I also love being out in nature and I am inspired by the serenity and the quietness that nature provides. This exhibition also features some historical scenes from the Medieval Mile Trails and its walkways.” On the night, a crowd of over 30 people attended the launch.

Making the introductions and welcoming everyone to Abbeyleix library, art gallery manager Martina O’Connor said: “I am a big fan of Sandra myself and I have one of her paintings in my collection from her last art exhibition here. Her work speaks for itself and it is absolutely stunning. It is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to invest in art to take a good look at what’s on display here this evening and the variety is amazing. We are privileged to have Sandra back with her solo exhibition and she is certainly putting a layer of light into the art space here and cheering up a very dull day.” Martina then introduced Mike Cantwell. Addressing the gathering, Mike said: “It’s great to be in the beautiful heritage town of Abbeyleix again. I have known Sandra a little bit over the last number of years and anybody who is involved in any activity, whether it's baking bread, working in the garden, creating or painting, if you want to get better, you work hard and that’s what Sandra has done.

‘‘It was never difficult to help Sandra and you can see the great talent that she has around the walls here. She always asked questions about how she can improve on different things and how to get better and all I can see here is evidence of that through her works. The theme here is beauty and variety of the natural world and Sandra has done a brilliant job. Her paintings would enhance any house and would also enhance people’s lives. I was delighted when Sandra asked me to say a few words and I wish her the best.” Sandra then spoke and said that she was “flabbergasted by the kind words from Martina and Mike.” She thanked everyone for attending, her daughter Aoife for helping her to hang the exhibition, the Daily Dose Café in Abbeyleix for the sweet treats, Molly from The Molly Method, who looks after Sandra’s social media sites, the library staff for providing the wonderful opportunity and the Laois Nationalist for covering the launch.

Sandra provided refreshments and nibbles for the gathering, which went down a treat with the sweet treats freshly baked by the Daily Dose Café. One of the original paintings was sold on the night, along with several limited-edition prints of exhibition pieces.

Sandra Blanchfield’s art can be viewed on her website www.sandrablanchfieldart.com. She can be contacted through her Instagram page, by emailing info@sandrablanchfieldart.com or by phoning 086 3961939.