1. Transcript of email Interview with Eily O'connell
1) Are you a Goth?
No, I am not at all a Goth but I can see why you would think that with the
gothic feel of my work.
2) Our 5th year class went down to the Highlanes gallery in Drogheda,
we went to see the Irish surrealism exhibition. There was work there by
Dorothy Cross and Alice Maher. Would you have any connection with
their work ?
I don't have any connection with their work but they are very cool artists. I can
see some similar design features between Dorothy Cross and myself. Maybe
because she also uses crabs!
3) When you collect found objects to inspire your work what kind of
things would you be looking for?
Anything with interesting textures or else something that would disgust
people!
4) What age were you when you started doing your artwork?
Well, I have been interested in art my whole life. I spent all my spare time
during my childhood doing various things from candle making, painting, wood
carving, to tearing up mums old dresses and sewing them to basically doing
anything I could do via manipulation of a material through my hands to create
art.
5) Where did you start doing it?
Well, in relation to actually studying art/jewellery I went straight from school in
2003 to do a portfolio course (which I recommend doing instead of doing it in
your leaving cert). Then I applied to study in NCAD with the portfolio I made
from that year and got in! I then did a foundation year were I tried out
everything to see what I liked. I discovered what tools and fire could do to
metal and that's how I feel in love with metalwork and so specialised for three
years in jewellery.
6) Is it expensive to get all your equipment?
Well regarding all the things I have accumulated so far, yes. But you CAN do
it for very little when starting off, very, very little. Materials are the expense
nowadays with rising gold and silver prices.
7) What is your favourite piece you made?
I will attach a picture of it. It is called ‘Acoustic Emperor’ and it was cast from
an ugly cicada beetle I found in Greece on holidays. I then soldered a crab’s
claw onto it.
8) Who’s your favourite artist?
I can't pick one...
9) Who inspired you?
I find inspiration all the time through daily life and everything around me.

2. 10) What type of music do you like?
I have a very eclectic taste and will listen to any genre at all from blues to
electronic to punk to classical, you name it!
11) Do any celebrities buy your stuff?
Not YET!
12) Did you always want to be a jeweller?
No, I wanted to be a fashion designer as a kid, then a textile artist and then a
jeweller after I discovered all the tools.
13) Where do you get your material?
Well, I find the things I cast from all over the world whilst on holidays but
mainly I find it all in Ireland at home on the beach in Westport, Co. Mayo or
Phoenix Park or wherever!!
14) Why did you pick nature as a source for your work?
Because I grew up in the countryside so I guess it is embedded in me. But
then again, I think it is embedded in everyone as we all come from it!
15) Are you a conservationist?
No, but I do wish to convey an appreciation and respect of nature through my
work. I also use only recycled silver that has not been freshly mined and
recycled packaging so that I am not another designer creating goods that
have a negative impact on the earth to feed our consumerist world.
16) Do you ever do hard edge work?
Not quite sure what you mean? Do you mean geometric? No never! I revolted
against precision sheet metal in college as it drove me mad!
17) How did you get interested in art?
My mum and a lot of my family are artists, so I guessed they passed down the
arty gene.
18) Is there any art history in your family?
Answered in question before! Mainly painters including my mother but my
granny was an amazing seamstress. She worked for a French lingerie
company who had a factory in Donegal. She also tailor made clothes for many
people including myself. My brother is a bit of a filmmaker too. So yes, art
history there is!
19) Would you say you use your work to make people aware of how
beautiful nature is?
I think nature’s beauty speaks for itself. By way of me casting nature is just a
way of it manifesting it's way through me for the end result being adornment.
20) Any freebies? :D
Nice try!