Laois artist's 'unique upbringing' paved her way to success

Portlaoise artist Nadia Rice has credited her success to her homeschooling in the Slieve Bloom Mountains

Laois artist Nadia Rice will return to her roots for a stunning solo-exhibition.

The Portlaoise born artist is known for her detail and gorgeous drawings of Laois landscapes.

Ms Rice had an extraordinary upbringing at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, where she and her four siblings were homeschooled. The artist credits this approach as what encouraged her into a career in art.

"I was born outside of Portlaoise and moved to the Slieve Blooms at 12, that's where we call home," Ms Rice told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"I moved to Cork at 18, and I try to get back home as much as I can. Life tends to get in the way, particularly since the Pandemic, but I am excited to come home to Laois with my artwork," Ms Rice explained.

Pictured: Artist Nadia Rice. Photo by Save The Journey

Ms Rice studied art, craft and design in Abbeyleix Further Education Training Centre at 17, before progressing to study Fine Art at Crawford College in Cork.

"The primary medium of my art is ink pen, and print making has been something I am expanding in to," she explained.

"I also do lino cutting, screen printing and etching; details of very small pieces would be my main style," she said.

"When drawing I use a lot of photographs, micro photos and general landscapes, but I do a lot of sketches from life."

Ms Rice credits the fulfilling careers she and her siblings have pursued to the homeschooling methods employed by their parents.

Pictured: Artwork by Nadia Rice.

"My parents are alternative, and we were schooled at home, and 'unschooled' in a way. We did it through the Home Education Network, and I'm very grateful for it," Ms Rice said.

"We were always kept up to date on the general necessities such as reading, writing and maths, and we had a certain amount of freedom in what direction we were choosing to go with it.

"For me it was so valuable, and I have had my whole life to focus on this passion. I am very grateful for it," she said.

"It gave me the chance to focus on art since I could hold a pencil," Ms Rice said.

"My Mum is an artist, and my Dad is an architect, he is a fantastic drawer. It has always been in our house, and a big part of our lives the whole way through. My siblings are all incredible, I am so proud of them," she said.

Ms Rice and her siblings all departed on different career paths, and were given the time and opportunities to focus on what they wished to pursue.

"I am the eldest, and after me is my sister who is a filmmaker, and is retraining as a counsellor," she said.

"Then there is my brother who is an animator, he has just worked on a Netflix show and we are all very proud of him. The fourth is the practical one, she is a nurse, who we are all very impressed by," she said.

"The baby of the family has just gone into Abbeyleix, along with my Mum at the same time. He is a musician and can turn his hand to anything," she said.

Ms Rice and her mother recently shared a joined exhibition on the wildflowers of the Slieve Blooms.

"Nature, plants and Irish landscapes have always been very prevalent in my work," Ms Rice said.

"I think my style is a culmination of my own studio practices. I have a day job in administration, but nature has always been something I have been drawn to. I work to commission and have done digital works, which aren't on display in this exhibition. This work has definitely reformed my own studio work down the line too," she said.

Ms Rice highlighted the worrying trend of the use of AI in art.

"It is definitely something to watch for, I think about it quite a bit in my job," she said.

"It has become so prevalent in different areas, and I'm cautious when it takes away work from creators," she said.

"It can be a very positive tool in some ways, but I find myself quite nervous in how they just sweep all of the pictures off the internet, and just combine features into a composite where no credit can be given.

"My own work is very traditional, but for the likes of animation, it is cheapening the process in different ways."

"I am very lucky to have a separate studio space from the house, where I can come and go from pieces. It gives me a unique headspace, I find it hard to do that at home," she said.

"It's much easier to focus when trying to start off something new, it takes more concentration than just falling into finishing something."

Ms Rice thanked Bloom HQ for the opportunity to return to Laois with her work, and discussed her excitement in doing so.

"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to display my work in my hometown. It is a special thing to have the chance to go home with my art and let all the neighbours see it," she said.

"So much of my work is inspired by the landscape around there, so it's a very special and full circle moment. It's amazing to be able to collate so many different pieces over time, rather than pieces here and there in exhibitions," she said.

"Curating my own solo exhibition has been incredibly gratifying," the artist finished.

Nadia Rice's exhibition will be launched on Friday, February 28 from 7pm to 9pm at Bloom HQ in Mountrath.

You can see more of her works on her Instagram, Facebook or Etsy shop.