Change of aspect for artist with new gallery

TULLA artist and school teacher Tim Moloney will be opening his new studio to the public next Saturday, where art enthusiasts, locals and Christmas shoppers can view his large body of originals and prints in the idyllic setting of Glendree, Feakle.
Tim and his wife, Ann, run the studio in a renovated building next to their home at Glendree. Tim provides a wealth of artistic material, while sales-savvy Ann reproduces his talents in print format and packages the finished products for the market.
It is a nice system, which has been running smoothly for a long number of years and, following extensive refurbishment work to an outbuilding on their property, the couple have a tranquil studio setting in which to admire Tim’s work.
They are equally proud of this recent development and have decided to host an open day so that others might enjoy the work. The open day will run from 11am to 8pm and all are welcome.  
Tim and Ann previously operated from the Tulla Stables Studios but after moving on from there they set the plans in motion to develop their own studio/gallery.  
“This is Tim’s family home and I always loved the sound of the river, so I said why don’t we do something here – it’s an ideal place for the studio. It’s a pleasure to work with Tim’s work,” Ann said.  
“He constantly surprises me and when he lets loose to do what he wants, you’re really surprised. His style and boldness in using colour has also changed since he started out,” Ann added.  
Tim is proud to have a space that showcases his work and to have somewhere that is specifically designed to enhance and bring out the elements of his paintings.
“There was an old shed here, we started renovating it around Christmas two years ago and it is special to be able to have this here. There’s a sense of tranquillity and peace here. It’s a beautiful setting. It’s calm, comfortable and easy going,” he said.
Having started painting in 1985, Tim is a self-taught artist and though teaching is his main living, he explains that he gets lots of enjoyment out of painting.
“People say it’s a relaxing hobby but at the same time, if I’ve been painting for three or four hours, I know it. But it’s well worth the end result, which justifies everything. It gives a great sense of achievement when you see a finished painting,” Tim revealed.
Asked to describe his works and what inspires him, Tim says he has a fascination with rural Ireland, nature and water, in particular.  
“Rural Ireland plays a large part of what I do. Nature inspires me more than anything. Having grown up in the countryside, I have a great sense of belonging and nostalgia about the countryside and I would have an affinity for the land. I farm as well, which also plays a part. I would get most of my inspiration from nature. I’m observant, every artist has to be, really.
“Sunsets, though, are probably my favourite thing to paint. You can have some very vibrant sunsets and the light changes so fast that you have to capture it in a moment and you’ve got to keep it in your mind’s eye. I love painting water and there’s water in practically all of my paintings. I think it’s the movement of water and the ever-changing visuals of that which attracts me.
While the contents of his paintings have had constant threads throughout his body of work, their focus is ever changing and animals and people also come into his paintings regularly.
“It’s always nice to break new ground. Some of the scenes from nature that I paint can be nice to tackle in a fresh light. A scene can be so different from one end of the day to the other and from one season to another so it can be an equal challenge to do something in a different light.”
Ann and Tim are hopeful that people will drop by and experience the paintings for themselves.
“People can come to view and admire, have a cup of tea or coffee and a chat and if people can’t make it, they can contact us and arrange to drop by or visit the website www.glendaraart.com for more information,” Ann added.
For directions or more information, contact Ann on 087 2204635.