Clíodhna Doherty has had a passion for creative art since she was a young child, but it was the passing of her grandfather that made her realise life was too short.
The Newry woman used art to help her cope with difficulties throughout the pandemic. She then decided that it was time she branched out and created her own business with an intention of empowering women through art.
Clíodhna by Clíodhna was launched, with hope that it can " promote and celebrate the female form" through the 27-year-old's art work. Through the new journey, Clíodhna has been providing women with a creative and empowering outlet, encouraging them to share their stories.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, she said: "Growing up I was always a creative person, getting involved in cross border and cross community programs that allowed me to be creative. When I was around 7/8 I fell in love with dancing. I competed for many years for both my club and school, before I became studio head in a dance school.
"This lead me to get my qualifications to be able to teach acrobatic arts and various dance styles, working part time in the studio while studying. Throughout all of this, art was always my passion and a major part of me, but like many artist I didn’t think I’d be able to make a living out of it and moved into the more design aspect of the industry.
"Once Covid hit, I was left with my art and it helped me through a difficult time. The passing of my granda gave me the kick I needed to realise life is too short to be doing something that doesn’t align with your purpose.
"I was practising art for a year without any real direction in 2020. The year came and went and I was like 'what am I actually doing here’. Covid I restrictions started to lift and I had to make the decision that I knew deep down I had to make. That’s when I decided to launch my own creative brand - Clíodhna by Clíodhna .
" Art is typically a male dominated industry, and female nudes are mainly painted from a males gaze, resulting in sexualisation. My business is about empowering women to live their fullest, true authentic selves without worrying about their bodies and help them heal from past trauma or negative body image.
"If you share the naked body enough people will desensitise it and reduce the likely of it being sexualised. I find my pieces are giving a new outlook on Irish art."
Looking to the future, Clíodhna says she has aspirations to open her own gallery or store front and to continue to build on her community and brand.
"I hope to get into more interior stores and retailers across the country while continuing to build a community that’s focused on female empowerment, showing young female artists that it can be done and that an artist life can be a lucrative one.
"My family and my boyfriend are definitely the ones that kept pushing me when I felt like giving up. My granda, who I lost during covid very suddenly, was the one to push me to keep going and do it with everything I had.
"When I left my job it was during Covid, I had barely any savings with only being in my job for a couple of months, but he told me things will always work out.
"I’m also inspired by women every day. The countless women that send me their stories and pictures, they are relentless and I am so grateful I get to paint them."
For more information on Clíodhna by Clíodhna please follow this link.
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