Pebbles of Wisdom: Charity auction for friends of the Coombe
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A painting by a skilled Tallaght artist is being auctioned off to raise funds for the Friends of the Coombe – a charity which supports the care that is given to women and infants in the Coombe Women’s Hospital.
Fran Halpin, who grew up in Seskin View and attended Old Bawn Community School, has been passionate about working as an artist from a young age, and earned a degree in Fine Arts from DIT in 1997.
Pebbles of wisdom
“While everyone else got office jobs or pursued careers in other areas, I only had eyes for the creative life, setting my heart on spending my working hours tucked away in a studio brushing endless images onto canvas,” Fran told The Echo.
She has developed a specialism for creating arresting murals and vibrant, detailed paintings, which is apparent in ‘Pebbles of Wisdom’, the piece that Fran donated for the auction.
Fran explained: “The painting was inspired by a trip to Bray with my two kids. They love helping to pick stones for my paintings, and there is something very heart-warming about doing something so simple – getting the kids out and enjoying nature.
“There is something very special about that. I love the idea of them knowing they played a part in my paintings. I hope they will appreciate that in years to come, and that it’s creating some special memories too.”
‘Pebbles of Wisdom’ is currently up for auction on the Inside Out Home Show website, alongside pieces by 31 other artists, with all proceeds being donated to the Friends of the Coombe.
Tallaght artist Fran Halpin
“If selling one of my paintings helps to save a baby’s life, then I feel huge gratitude to be in a position to do that,” Fran added.
“It’s an honour to be included in the line-up for this project, and to be in the company of so many talented artists who have so generously donated their original artwork.
“I trust that this project will return a precious baby to their home, and if I have had a tiny grain of input into that, then I feel proud of creativity and its beautiful impact in the world.”
The silent art action is already in full swing at www.insideouthomeshow.ie, and winning bidders will be announced on August 12.
To find out more about Fran’s work, follow Fran the Artist on Facebook or visit www.franhalpinart.com
By subscribing to The Echo you are supporting your local newspaper Click Here: Echo Online.
