DAS Member Interview - Sandi Brennan

Sandi, how did you become interested in painting?

I can't remember a time when I wasn't interested. Certainly by the time I was in secondary school art was my favourite subject. I had an art teacher in secondary school, called sister Maureen who took an interest in my work.

Do you have any art training?

Not if it means going to the school of art full time, but yes if it means learning from different classes i.e. night time at the school of art/ classes with the artist Palm Skerrett in her studio in Dawson street. in latter years I found the Schoolhouse for Art in Enniskerry and have taken wonderful classes/masterclasses there

What other artists do you enjoy?

One of my favourite artists is Mary Cassatt. I also love Degas for his superb pastels. I feel drawn to the Impressionists as I prefer their looseness rather than realism. there are so many to choose from it makes it difficult to decide. Klimt is another favourite.

Does creativity run in the family?

It does indeed. my grandfather and my father were both actors. My dad was also an architect, as was my mum. I remember a childhood where our artistic creativeness was encouraged and I consider myself to have been blessed by my family. I have 6 sisters and 1 brother so it was a full house ....

Can you describe your artistic process?

I just love drawing everything else comes from that. I do find it hard to decide what I want to draw/ paint but once I decide I'm in my element and can completely lose sense of time.

Tell us about your medium and why you chose it?

I work with pastels a lot as they give free reign to my love of drawing. To be honest, over the years, I have worked in many mediums but my favourites would be pastels and oils. With oils I like the freedom to move the paint around.

Was it always painting or did you have another pursuit/job/career?

Initially on leaving school I wanted to go to the school of art but as I mentioned earlier having 7 siblings that wasn't to be.It was my mum who found an ad for a display artist in Arnotts and to cut a long story short, I found my career

What inspires you to paint?

Actually I find inspiration doesn't come easy to me. Love portraiture and my 4 grand children have been a great inspiration that respect. I suppose most of my inspiration would come from things I have seen or felt.

What does a perfect day painting look like for you?

Me in my little studio. The Eagles playing quite loud and something I'm proud of on my easel at the end of the day.

Any DAS memories?

The first exhibition with my fellow members and a day painting in the Dun Laoghaire Golf Club

Any daily rituals before painting?

Setting up my palette and deciding what colours to use for this one. I love trying different mixes of colours and seeing what they look like. Playing my favourite music and getting totally submerged in the process.