Mother Tongues Connections
Meet Tarsila Krüse
Tarsila Krüse is an award-winning illustrator born in Brazil and Irish at heart who creates artwork that makes people smile. She’s a member of Illustrators Ireland, Children’s Books Ireland & The Association of Illustrators.
Her cute, warm and welcoming illustrations have been exhibited in Ireland, UK, Slovakia, England, and USA.
She has several children’s books published to date, mostly in Irish and English, including Ná Gabh ar Scoil!, Bliain na nAmhrán and My Little Album of Dublin.
How would you describe your last year in a nutshell?
Intensely fun.
What is the role of art in your life right now?
Art has always played a big role in my life. Now during the period of lockdown I find it has become even more important as it is, in its many forms, a means to express and understand ourselves better.
What projects are you working on right now?
Art has always played a big role in my life. Now during the period of lockdown I find it has become even more important as it is, in its many forms, a means to express and understand ourselves better.
How did Covid-19 affect your work and your lifestyle?
I make Art for work but also for pleasure. At the moment I have been working on a few work-related projects including a couple of books, a brochure cover, a poster and another top-secret project, but personally I have been painting, drawing, playing the Ukulele, dancing, journaling and daydreaming.
Do you think the current pandemic has changed you? If so, in what way?
It has brought the rest of my household in. I work from home and usually find a quiet place to work, which has been very busy, but in a nice way. I have been working more mindfully since we, as a family, have found a nice dynamic in which everyone’s needs is met with kindness, patience and gratitude. It has been an incredible experience that is bringing us even closer.
what is the biggest challenge for the creative sector right now?
It has been changing me a lot. Unfortunately I have lost an important family member back in Brazil during this time and I cannot even be there. It’s an experience that is making me take stock of what is truly valuable for me. It’s making me go though both a concrete and emotional “spring clean”.
What do you look forward to the most right now?
The biggest challenge for our sector is definitely connection. Not the kind that the technology provide, but in person contact, a shared experience that is lived together, but again, technology is helping us in ways we couldn’t do it not too long ago.
Share your story or events with us!
If you’ve got some good news, a fun event or workshop people can enjoy or support artists or ways people can help their community, let us know by emailing us the details and an image