June 2019: Residency complete- what an experience!

If anyone reading is thinking about doing an artist residency, I would recommend it!

Last year, I applied for the Cill Rialaig Artist Residency in Co. Kerry, Ireland. I’d heard great things about it, and it’s a part of Ireland I didn’t know well. At the time, I was feeling a bit stuck in my work and thought a change of pace and scene might be just what I needed for a creative reset.

I submitted my application in June 2018. The process was straightforward: CV, artist statement, and a brief proposal. By June 2019, I was driving down a winding road toward my studio cottage, feeling a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation about my upcoming artist residency experience.

Embracing Solitude and Letting Go of Distractions

Before arriving, I had some concerns about the solitude. It had been a while since I’d spent that much uninterrupted time with my own thoughts. But I decided to make a conscious effort to fully embrace the experience. I wrote a list of things I wasn’t allowed to think about—including my wedding plans (which was hard to set aside, especially as I was getting married that August!).

I reminded myself: you’ve been given this precious time and space—be selfish with it. My focus was purely on painting, and I didn’t want to waste any of it.

The Remote Beauty and Creative Environment

Cill Rialaig is both stunningly beautiful and incredibly remote. For the first two days, I didn’t see or speak to anyone, and while it was strange at first, it gave me time to settle into my own rhythm. Slowly, I began to meet other artists, writers, and composers who were also enjoying their own artist residency experience at Cill Rialaig. It’s a little creative community that revealed itself as a melting pot of inspiring minds.

I was there for just one week, and it took me a few days to adjust to the slower pace. But once I did, my routine began to take shape: morning beach walks, painting sessions, lunch, more painting, evening drives, and some reading before bed. This simple but focused structure helped me get fully immersed in my work.

What I Took Home from My Artist Residency Experience

Now that I’m back in my London studio, I can see how impactful that week was. My artist residency experience gave me time to recharge and refocus. The work I created there shows real growth, and the studies and notes I made in my visual diary are guiding new directions for a series of landscape spaintings.

Most importantly, the time I spent at Cill Rialaig has become a constant reminder. Whenever I feel distracted or unmotivated, I think of the remote landscape, the quiet atmosphere, and the creative space that allowed me to focus. It’s a reminder to unplug from distractions, get off my phone, and dive back into painting.

— Aisling