BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
A new weekly feature highlighting the artists and craftmakers who are working during the coronavirus crisis. If you would like to be featured, email margaretroddy@argus.ie
Going to college is always an exciting experience and for artist James McLoughlin it’s the fulfilment of a long-held ambition. James, who is a member of Creative Spark Print Studio and the Art as Exchange (AAEX) has commenced a course in fine art at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, specialising in print-making.
As a self-taught artist who has completed a number of courses, James was able to apply for advanced entry into the second year of the degree course which he is enjoying so far.
Naturally, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the experience somewhat different from other years, with students just spending two days a week on campus in the studios and having lectures on-line for the other three days.
This means that James hasn’t had the chance to meet up with his fellow students, but he says there’s a mixture of school leavers and older students, and he is enjoying the opportunity of sharing ideas and experiences, even if it’s online instead of on campus.
As a mature student, he is less concerned about missing out on those essential college of experiences of learning how to cook, use a washing machine and socializing.
‘I’ve done all that and have the time to focus on my work and study, so as a mature student, I have a different perspective,’ he remarks.
While it’s early days yet, he says the tutors are ‘quite relaxed and easy to work with’ and they are no doubt delighted to have such a diligent student.
James is determined to make the best possible use of his time at NCAD, learning new techniques and ways of seeing. Being a professional artist is not an easy career, he notes. ‘Ireland is a small country and the pool of people who send money on the arts is smaller than in the UK so you have to make the most of the opportunities here.’
James has been living in Omeath for the past few years since moving back from London with his wife five years ago, although they are planning on moving to Castlebellingham in the near future.
‘I’ve got a studio at home that I’ve been working in and that has kept me going during lockdown,’ he says. Needless to say, he will be making space for a studio in their new home.
Since returning to Ireland, James has thrown himself into the local arts scene, and is an active member of the Creative Spark Print Studio and AAEX. He has shown work with both, mostly recently in the annual Creative Spark exhibition in The Basement Gallery. He has had a solo exhibition in Newry City Library in 2018.
He also has a large paper cut piece on display in the Royal Ulster Academy’s Annual Exhibition in Belfast. This is the third year that he has had a piece accepted into this prestigious exhibition.
While he is specialising in print at NCAD, he works in various media including paint, pencil, charcoal and ink, papercut and various print techniques such as dry point, screen print and lithoplate. You can see James’ work on his website, www.duckandjamart.com .