Artist Interviews

Alan Tarpey

Alan Tarpey is an artist from Roscommon who uses pen, ink, and water-soluble pastel to create detailed artwork depicting people, places, flora, and fauna.

[Jenny] So, I heard that you use pen ink, watercolour, and pastel, and every piece is truly vibrant with detail. 

(Alan holds up a piece of art)

[Jenny] Like this one! This is a beautiful piece. So beautiful, so well detailed. 

We have a few questions about your art journey, about you as an artist, about the Collective and Connections. It’ll be like we're chatting with a group of friends hanging out and having a cup of tea. Like Mrs Doyle and Father Ted.

[Alan] Exactly. I’ll just have some green tea. 

[Aoife]When did you join the Collections Arts Centre community? And/or the Collections Arts Collective? 

[Alan] It was a 10-week programme in 2022. Yeah, that's 4 years. There was no World Cup that summer. It was a unique year. 

[Aoife] Has anything changed for you as an artist since joining the community, since joining Connection Arts?

[Jenny]  Did you find it easier talking in public and showcasing your artwork

[Alan] A lot more. I bring my cards every time.

[Jenny] What mediums do you use to create your artwork, and what kind of materials?

[Alan] I have some of them right here. 

(Alan holds up a fineliner)

It's a Promarker. I use other ones too; they're artist pens. And these, they're water-soluble pastels

[Aoife] Is that what you use for the vibrant colouring in your artwork? 

[Alan] Yeah, they do exactly what they say on the tin. But the fine liner is the bread and butter of all paintings

[Aoife] What is your work all about?

[Alan] People, places, a bit of everything

[Jenny] I've been a fan of your work since I joined CAC. Like Aoife says, there's always something in between the lines. It's like the, it's like the Blue's Clues. 

[Aoife] Yeah, or “Where's Wally”

[Jenny]  I see you go to every exhibition we have with CAC. For 5 years, I mean, you've seen so much. And you've seen how they become transformed. Do you ever look back on your journey from before and after? 

[Alan] Before was a bit rocky. It was a bit rocky, especially in rural Ireland; not much going on.

[Jenny] And after? 

[Alan] I would go to Dublin and Galway, and see all the exhibitions. Especially during art festival seasons. August, we are busy with the Kilkenny Art Festival. Birr, in County Offaly, has an art festival, and Athlone has a festival at the weekend. 

[Jenny] Did you have any struggles going up as an artist with disabilities? Did you have any struggles fitting in or with acceptance as an artist?

[Alan] I had major struggles in Roscommon, mostly that I didn't fit in. Yeah, I didn't fit in in Roscommon or Athlone. 

[Jenny] What words would you use to describe your art journey in connection arts? 

[Alan] Exhilaration. This art group has legs. Unlike the other ones, the ones we had locally, they all collapsed.

[Jenny] Your journey has been outstanding. Watching you go as a friend, you have come a long way, and you kept on, and you kept on smiling along the way.  

So, to wrap things up, what are your final words? What would you like to share with the viewers and the readers? 

[Alan] It's the forever climb, onwards and upwards.