Clare Reilly

Clare Reilly's life lessons Follow your passions ` "Listen to the inner voice that sparks excitement. There might be sacrifices in following a passion; I had minimal financial reward and needed to be frugal. It took discipline to get up at 5am to paint before work, then again late into the evenings and weekends while holding down day jobs. Never let a lack of time be an excuse for not painting". Life is not a rehearsal "Don't put off your passions for another day. That day is now, and it is not to be frittered away. Keep being playful and dreaming". Resilience and renewal "Nature provides us with a way to restore ourselves and renew. Note the seasons and work alongside nature, grow caring communities and find calm in a turbulent world".

Celebrating artist Clare Reilly’s life and work, this beautiful collection explores her passions for coastal New Zealand and the country’s wildlife. Beautiful writing and serene paintings combine in a meditative depiction of a life’s work.

Clare Reilly: Eye of the Calm is an exploration of New Zealand painter Clare Reilly’s life and work. The mixture of autobiographical writing and gorgeous paintings subtly shows how Reilly’s art and experiences are entwined. Her themes cover the issues of habitat destruction and renewal, depicting native New Zealand birds in the landscape as metaphors for joy. In an increasingly troubled and fast paced world, Reilly’s work offers the viewer a place to reflect on the healing qualities of nature and gather a sense of revitalisation.

‘Eye of the Calm’ was an exhibition title used by Reilly as an expression of her life’s work. This expression is continued here with an insight into her beginnings as an artist and her subsequent career. Reilly has a strong connection to coastal New Zealand and a great love of the country’s wildlife. From first encounters with Tui in her grandmother’s garden to memories of rolling hills overlooking the ever-changing sea, these passions have inspired her work and are brought to life here in a beautiful collection.

Experience a sense of calm and hope with this story of a fascinating life told through both words and imagery. Themes including death, grief, finding new paths, and even dance and the joyful movement of birds in flight are explored in a manner that is personal, yet universal. A beautiful, meditative exploration of a life and a life’s work.