Naoise’s brush strokes blow the judges away
THIS year’s overall Texaco Children’s Art competition winner, was Naoise Hennessy from Craanford, a 16 year old transition year student at Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, who took home first prize in the senior 16-18 years of age category.
‘We had a great day, she’s thrilled and we’re still walking on air. She is a celebrity here locally now,’ said Marie Hennessy, Naoise’ mother.
Naoise Hennessy, who is from Craanford, has had a lot of support from friends and neighbours wishing her well, and that support is coming from all directions.
Youngest of four children, Naoise is the daughter of Marie and Christy Hennessy.
Marie is a librarian at Carnew Library and her father is a water services operative with Wexford County Council.
Hundreds entered this year’s Texaco Children’s Art competition, in the sixty-fifth year of the event, and the awards ceremony took place at the Morrison Hotel in Dublin last week.
Naoise said that what she loves about art is that ‘you can express yourself without words’ and she really sees it playing a big part of her future.
Naoise said that her teachers will all be delighted about her win, especially her art teacher Mr Eugene Lynch.
Although Naoise got an A grade in her Junior Certificate Art exam, Marie knew that Naoise had artistic talent from a young age.
‘Over the last few years she has worked very hard on it and every time she completes a piece, she steps it up a notch,’ said Marie.
‘It’s a god given talent, but she is very good at portraits,’ said Marie.
Naoise’s masterpiece, which she completed over five days, saw her starting off with line drawing through pencil, and she used white watercolour paint for the highlights along with other watercolour pencils.
Entitled ‘Lifelines’, the portrait captures the character of an elderly woman, highlighting her facial features and curious look in detail.
The judges described her piece as a ‘Finely detailed study that so perfectly captures the features and character of the subject’.
Naoise first discovered a love her at from her national school, under her teacher Ms Catriona Flynn of Ballyellis National School, where Naoise still helps out every Wednesday afternoon.
Naoise took home a cash prize of €1,500 and in August she will jet off the Tokyo to see an international art festival in Japan’s national arts centre.
Naoise said that the trip to Toyko is what she is looking forward to the most, and she was delighted to receive congratulations from fellow Wexford Artist, Eoin O’Connor.
Naoise is competitive in her nature and plays on the Kilrush camogie team, and also does boxing at Craanford Boxing Club.
She loves setting targets for herself and she is an under 14 All Ireland medal winner for Wexford, she is now completing the President’s Award Gaisce.
Naoise said that art is a hobby for her, and she finds it relaxing and mostly does her art on weekends and this is the first time that she has entered the competition.
Before the end of last year, Naoise sold a picture of hers at an art exhibition in Askamore, and having been asked to go on Ireland AM, the future looks bright for the young artist.
Elsewhere in Wexford, there were four other winners who will receive a Special Merit Award next month.
These are Sadhbh Quinn, also aged 16, from Loreto Secondary School, Ballynagee, Benjamin Blair aged nine, from Gorey Central School, Maya Rubin-Rahn aged 11, from Gorey Educate Together National School, Gorey, and Áine Gunning aged six, from Kilmore National School.
YOU CAN EXPRESS YOURSELF WITHOUT WORDS, THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ART.