The second smallest county in Ireland enjoys a colourful landscape that is stunning to behold from any view point.
I used to think people took these things for granted, too busy to pass remark about the scenery, or choosing to keep these feelings to themselves.
It was not until I started to paint these scenes and exhibit my work that I truly began to hear those sentiments being verbalised in my community. This is why art is so important, it's why I create.
"Art provides an opportunity for people to give expression to their thoughts and feelings. This is why I create."
Caroline Cunningham, Artist
Into The Heart Land
The view from Mount Leinster's Nine Stones is simply invigorating with its colourful tapestry changing according to the seasons. Walkers, hang-gliders and paragliders and sight-seers all gather in this popular spot for the good of their wellbeing and soul.
I created 'Into the Heartland' collection of paintings in honour of the views across Carlow from Mount Leinster as seen in the painting below. All original paintings are sold, however, you may be able to acquire a limited edition of one of the pieces 'Mount Leinster Mandala'.
Mount Leinster and surrounding hills are just as captivating as seen from the environs of the village where I'm from, I had no shortage of beauty to inspire my artwork.
Rathvilly after the Rain was created further back, in my first workings with oil paints, that was 1999, the beginning of a long journey of self discovery, healing and development of skills through study in the arts, holistic health and the experience that comes from travel.
My art-customised tote bags are manufactured by Fine Art America and ship from the U.S.A. within 2 to 3 days of your order being placed. They have a reliable delivery service worldwide and excellent customer service too.
Exact details of shipping times and delivery rates are available during their check-out process and may vary depending on the country you require delivery to.
Previous clients who have purchased have let me know that they were very pleased with their shopping experience and product.
"Each art piece has a variety of products to choose from (greetings cards, prints, fashion bags, cushion covers and more). See my handy video guide below to help you shop the full range of stylish gifts"
Art of Caroline Cunningham
Guide to my online shop for stylish creatvie affordable gifts
People often comment on my bag that I bought with your artwork on it. Creative gifts help the artist & will provide unique presents for Xmas 😊 https://t.co/bh4VR2ngbe
Each for equal, confident, empowered & authentic humans
Here I am striking the 'each for equal' pose to highlight the message of International Women's Day 2020 , The #eachforequal campaign asks us to keep this message alive throughout the year to make a strong collective statement to accelerate change for gender equality.
First celebrated in 1911, International Women's Day is now celebrated globally bringing focus to the achievements of women throughout history and in modern times, acknowledging their struggle to bring about greater gender equality.
As individuals we can influence change through our collective actions, conversations, behaviors and mindsets. A gender equal world can be healthier, wealthier and more harmonious.
"What can you do to make a positive difference for women everywhere?"
For my part, I am being the change I want to see in the world. I am committed to being a better version of myself, being healthier, more empowered, authentic and fabulous and I can help you to achieve this for yourself too.
My journey towards greater wellbeing and empowerment began after burn-out from stress of every kind in 1999. By burn-out I mean, the moment when I fell apart, the pressure valve blowing, unrestrained sadness taking over, no longer being able to make it look like 'everything-is-grand' on the outside. I look back at that moment with humility and gratitude that I was forced to face my brokenness, my fears, my negative-thinking self. In the years that followed, I learned better self-care strategies, developed a positive mindset and a passion for living. I have faced my fears and achieved things I could never imagined back in 1999.
I am grateful to the men and women who provided guidance and support along my path to authenticity. I believe each person has potential to be a better version of themselves and my purpose is to help people who are serious about making that happen. It starts by looking within. Are you ready to take the test?
Are you happy with being you?
Take a moment to check-in. Close your eyes or look into a mirror. Are you happy with being you? What parts need healing and love? Do you sense a more powerful side of you that needs encouragement to come to the surface? Does that scare you? Are you curious to know your true self? Would you like some inspiration to set your true self free?
When I undertook this exercise after burn-out in 1999, I already knew I needed to change. At first I found this exercise difficult, nothing came but once I got past my impatience and allowed calm to prevail I started to get inklings of a part of myself that was seeking to be acknowledged. I stayed with those thoughts and eventually I sensed the power of being a woman, one who is strong and not afraid of what others think of her, one who is daring, confident and free.
"I quickly got my paints and brushes and created my impression of that powerful woman before she could become a distant memory. I called her Break True."
Caroline Cunningham Authentic Path Inspiration
Today, Break True is instantly recognised by people who have triumphed over adversity, people who have dared to step into their power. I have seen people stop in their tracks as they approached this art piece during my art exhibitions and one person even cried. Break True has become a symbol for transformation and empowerment and encourages you keep going on your authentic path. The journey never stops because our potential for improvement is limitless.
'Break True' is a limited editon giclee art print, presented on archival hannemulhe paper, complete with certificate of authenticity, signed by the artist and ready for worldwide delivery.
Make your lover feel extra special this Valentine's Day by gifting them an art piece on the theme of love. And if you don't currently have a luscious lover stashed in the wings, let's celebrate that which permeates us all.
Love is all around us, when we open our hearts to its revitalising energy amazing things can happen in our lives.
I've curated art work for gifting this Valentine's.
ART PICKS FOR VALENTINES
1. Kiss on the Liffey (Painting)
The hal’penny bridge over Dublin’s river Liffey has captured the hearts of many lovers, whose kisses over the liffey have inspired this painting from my imagination.
Click image for full details.
Kiss on the Liffey | Acrylic on Canvas
2. Loves Light Upon Us
Love’s Light Upon Us represents a moment of beauty and grace. Add this gentle reminder to your home or gift it to the special person in your life.
Click image for full details.
Loves Light Upon Us | Limited Edition Print (Giclee)
3. Tango Tree
A touch of tango romance nature style perfect for your lover or your fabulous self. With this art piece you have so much choice in terms of its format.
Order a print in the size you prefer or a customised lifestyle gift and keep within your specific budget too.
Click image for full details.
Tango Tree | Open Edition Print
4. The Gift of Poetry
The Whisperings of Nature has many lines referring to the love that's found all around us.
"Love follows love when it's not hard to find' from my poem" | A Lover.
The Whisperings of Nature | Caroline Cunningham
Woo your lover this Valentine with the gift of poetry.
Click image for full details.
Discover a wider selection of arty gift options by visiting my online gallery. Allow me to assist you with your art choice and any queries you may have.
Do you recall a piece of artwork that resonated with you the moment you set eyes on it? Some pieces have a call that touch us in a deep place while others quietly beckon us to contemplate their meaning.
With my own artwork, there are three pieces that prompt decisive action from my buyers.
To bring you one step closer to your purchase decision I present my top three most popular limited edition prints.
Ganga Dreaming
The original oil painting was part of my 'Indian Heartway' collection. Ganga Dreaming was the most popular and first to sell. It's the same with the limited edition print version. Admirers comment on the timelessness and tranquility of the piece. One of my collectors purchased the piece after having a Feng Shui consultation for her home; the sail boat representing good fortune and prosperity.
Love's Light Upon Us
The much admired original acrylic painting (now sold) is from the collection 'The Sacred Lives of Trees', designed to honour the benefits of trees for our well-being. Many find the title appealing and there's something special about those two little leaves with the light shining in on them. Created after a visit to the Bamboo Garden in Glengarrif, West Cork.
Break True
This is piece is instantly recognised by those who are following their 'Authentic Path'. The original marked the start of my own path of transformation in healing and following my heart. It brought a tear to the eye of its new owner when presented as a gift from their friend. Similary, the limited edition print version has been purchased as gift to friends who need inspiration in life and it's also cherished by those starting out on a new career.
Print Details
My limited edition prints are produced using finest archival quality inks and paper. They come with a certificate of authenticity and are limited to 150 in an edition. The art prints are a fixed size and are shipped unframed.
They can be delivered worldwide by postal system, wrapped in acid-free tissue and rolled loosely in a sturdy cardboard tube.
I got the call on a Tuesday. In fact I got a number of calls that day, but since I was busy show-casing reflexology at a network event I missed all of them!
It was much later that I listened back to the messages from at least three different numbers all saying one thing 'Caroline, Nationwide are looking for an author who has written about anxiety, ring this number urgently!!!'
I had no pen and in a tizzy, I picked one of the missed numbers randomly and thankfully it was the right one. I was speaking to RTE journalist Helen McInerney. Straight away I detected her warm personality and her enthusiasm for my work.
Helen had already paid a visit to my website, thanks to a tip off from Carlow Mental Health Association. Seeing that, along with being an author of a book about anxiety, I also had accomplished work as a painting artist, travel writer and reflexology therapist, Helen was keen to get my story on national screens. We filmed three days later on a Friday!
How did an anxious village girl leave a secure teaching job to follow her creative dream and end up travelling to faraway lands in the process?
You can watch replay of that Nationwide episode by clicking the image.
Filming with Helen and her crew was fun, especially as it was not just me who got the opportunity to shine, but my friends at Carlow Library (who have been very supportive of my creative development) and the Visual Gallery in Carlow who display my books in their bookshop. My parents were proud to be seen in their beautiful garden and my mother especially thrilled to have her feet on show for the reflexology piece.
'Seven C's to Calm - reclaiming your anxiety-free self' - that's the book that attracted the attention of this Irish National TV Channel. Thanks to the editor and team at RTE for choosing my story and especially to Helen McInerney for making sure all of my acheivements were on show.
I thought you might like take a peek behind the scenes of how it was all made:
There's no imaginable excuse for missing out on my last tour of The Sacred Lives of Tree's that's because I made THIS VIDEO especially for you to enjoy (:
2025 Update
The Sacred Lives of Tree's exhibition tours were warmly received all over. While many of original paintings are now in good homes around Ireland and Europe, there's still some opportunity to obtain a piece in the form of print or painting. If you liked the virtual tour, pop over to my online gallery and discover your own perfect tree art work.
Imagine for a moment that you're holding the delicate stem of a flowering plant between your thumb and index finger. What will happen as you apply pressure to the stem, squeezing it slowly between your fingers?
As you apply more pressure (tension), you will notice the crushing of the parts and the wilting of the flower itself as the entire stem loses its structure and strength.
Tension is a symptom I associate with anxiety and have experienced it in parts of my body at times when anxiety was at large. There were times when I just accepted this unease and carried on with my everyday business but deep down I knew this was not something I should be accommodating.
We all experience anxiety from time to time, there are a wide range of symptoms which I will address in additional articles but just for now I am touching on the symptom of tension.
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Tension is a Symptom of Anxiety
Like the flowering plant, the human body is made up of delicate cells. Each of these cells have their individual and collective roles of carrying out functions in our body, such as generating energy, eliminating waste, protecting us from infection, transporting nutrients and so much more.
Each part is vital to our well-being. When we feel anxious we sometimes tense or feel un-edge, as we consciously or unconsciously perceive a threat or a situation that we are not entirely comfortable with.
The energy that goes into applying this tension can leave us feeling tired or restless, unable to let go, relax and unwind. In the long-term, like the wilting flower, we render our body to a less efficient state of carrying out its functions. Some may experience what is termed as ‘irritable bowel syndrome’, digestive issues, difficulty breathing or perhaps endure headaches and migraine.
Relieving anxiety has a lot to do with knowledge, understanding what’s really going on and the ways in which you can gain control.
It is largely the business of getting to know yourself completely and addressing the issues that have caused you to succumb to such unease.
The practice of allowing calm to reign is highly recommended and it is certainly advised to seek support if you find it difficult to make a start or get stuck along the way.
Seven C's to Calm - Reclaiming your Anxiety-Free Self offers encouragement and support for people who no longer want to live their lives in a limited way. I've written the book from my own perspective of what it took to free myself. It's a great starting point and the strategies shared in the book can be applied to other areas of your personal development too.
‘Who are in the men in tree?’ A busy exhibition opening night had come to a close and a few of my friends were awaiting an answer to this question. Seeing my puzzled expression, they beckoned me to stand before my ‘Treedom Series 3' painting.
Inspired by a very old and majestic beech tree anchored at my home-place, Treedom had pride of place as part of my collection ‘The Sacred Lives of Trees’.
This particular Treedom had been cast in a very spontaneous moment of splashing and merging of paint. I had studied the tree many times throughout the seasons, watching the sun-light traversing its branches as autumn spun into winter. Treedom 1 and 2 had been more meticulous in my measurement of colours. ‘Treedom 3’ came like an avalanche to the canvas.
"Treedom 3’ came like an avalanche to the canvas."
My friends had been quietly observing the piece from across the room during my opening event. They pointed our the many faces and bodies of men peering from the branches of the tree. As I took a closer look they began to emerge. In truth, I hadn't noticed them before.
I've experienced things in my lifetime that point towards the unseen world which none can successfully identify or explain. Is there another realm that we cannot see except in dreams and trances and in creative passage?
I leave you to ponder it all. How many faces do you see in Treedom?
My art is an expression of stories that awaken dreams and keep them alive. I love vibrant colours and the freedom of allowing imagination to seep through reality.
Explore my artwork in the interest of feeding your own dreams and keeping them alive. Discover landscapes, trees, scenes from lands such as India and Portugal. Choose from original paintings in a variety of sizes or a range of prints including some limited editions.
See something you like, get in touch and make it yours.
Sometimes when I tell people about my experience of burn or I relate someone else's story, I notice some listeners' discomfort and desire to distance themselves from the topic. Their comments suggest 'how could someone let that happen' or 'this couldn't happen to me'. And yet, people continue to fall into this trap of burn out, a state of complete physical and emotional exhaustion from too much stress or over-working, not minding 'self' or not addressing some trauma or need.
The fact is, many people do not recognise the signs that they are heading for burn out. Even if they do know the signs, they fail to register that the worst case scenario might happen to them.
From my own experience, burn out was a very distressing and humbling experience. I thought I was getting ahead by over-working myself but instead my depleted health forced me to stop and put me at the bottom of the ladder metaphorically.
My Terrifying Moment of Burn-Out
The year was 1999, I didn’t heed the signs that all was not well. I knew nothing about self-care or mindfulness back then. Mental health was a taboo topic. I worked day and night to keep up with my work as a teacher.
That particular year, I happened to have been time-tabled in a way that that meant every class I was given was doing end of year exams. The 'mock' exams were coming and all papers were elected to be corrected by teachers in the school, in our own time.
We all experience the demands and pressures of work from time to time but when aspects of our health and wellbeing are not being addressed, stress takes its toll. Truth is, I had been experiencing cycles of mild depression and anxiety for years. I had accepted these states as if they were part of my personality, that’s how misguided I was.
Finally, a wave of despair took hold. I was catapulted into a chaos of unrestrained emotions, it was both tremendous and frightening. I wept continuously for a week. Prior to that moment I had been supressing a deep sadness, afraid that if I cried, I might not be able to stop. I did eventually stop and that was when things started to change for the better.
For the first time in my life, I dared to consider what I really wanted for myself. I left my teaching career (of Science and Maths) behind and moved to the city. Taking temporary office work meant I could use my evenings to explore other options such as finding ways to improve my health and wellbeing, while exploring the creative practices that intrigued me.
One morning, when I had the house to myself. I did something I hadn’t done since my teens. I got some art material ready and asked myself this question: 'Who is the person inside, who wants to be seen and heard? A blank canvas starred back at me. After some loose sketches and determination, I started to paint. I was amazed at what emerged.
Break True boldly stated her intentions through the blue and menacing swirls. She appeared fearless and strong. I felt her power as I painted her. It was just a glimpse. I was reminded of a quote by Mahatma Gandhi:
"All that appear and happens about and around us is uncertain, transient. But there is a supreme being hidden therein as a certainty and one would be blessed if one could catch a glimpse of that certainty and hitch one’s wagon to it. The quest for that Truth is the summum bonum of life."
Mahatma Gandhi Gandhi, An Autobiography Page 250
The Importance of Seeking Authenticity
Break True had given me a glimpse of what I was to become. My transformation took time, as it does for anything lasting and worthwhile. Years later my refined version of Break True painting found its perfect owner, an inspiring woman who had also transformed herself and who continues to inspire others.
Break True is a reminder of the importance of seeking authenticity. By being more true to ourselves we make it easier for others to be themselves, eventuality we see the transformation in society.
Break True is currently available as a limited edition print. It is presented with a certificate of authenticity and can be shipped worldwide. It’s a popular art print with clients who have initiated the process of transformation in their own lives and it has been purchased as a gift to provide inspiration to people starting out on that journey.
I work with people who want to realise their goals and dreams. I provide books, e-learning programmes, personalised coaching and mentoring services to help you get started or back on track. Check out the options below or join Authentic Path Explorers.
