Our Festive Star cover story with Waterford artist Lisa Keane!

I am thrilled and honoured to be back working with the Festive Star again this year, Waterford News & Star's Christmas Annual, and I am very excited to introduce this year’s cover art! The Festive Star has been something very special to be involved in for the past seven years and I am very proud to have my painting on the cover again this year.

Inspiration

This year’s cover was inspired by a photograph I took on the Quay last year at Winterval. The big wheel or the ‘Waterford Eye’ is an instantly recognisable structure on the Quay in Waterford every Christmas and it felt right that it would be on the cover this year.

From the top of the big wheel is a magical view of the city in all of its Christmassy glory. Next to the big wheel, you will see The Clock Tower illuminated in glowing light and the welcoming warmth from the Granville Hotel across the road. The sky is a colourful mix of blues and pinks, depicting the transition from winter sunset into a night sky.

What I’ve been up to

This year has been a busy one. I have been creating lots of new paintings, and I’ve been busy with commissions too! I have introduced a few new fine art prints to my collection also. This year I had the pleasure of facilitating art classes with a wonderful group of ladies at St Bridget’s Community Centre on the Yellow Road. I really enjoyed the experience and the company of these fantastic ladies. I also paid visits to some schools and did workshops with the students, as well as painting backdrops for St Mary’s NS production of Mary Poppins. It was my first time painting on such a large scale! It was a challenge, but it was so much fun and I really enjoyed it. The show was fantastic, all of the kids were amazing and everyone at the school put in so much work for the show.

This year myself and my friends at CC Creatives are celebrating four years in our beautiful shop on The Quay and we are all set and looking forward to the festive season. We recently won Best Customer Service at the WLR FM Best of Waterford Awards and we are so happy and proud to have won this award. We have a wonderful selection of gifts that are unique, and locally made and designed. We are always happy to help you find the perfect gift. If you are looking for something special this Christmas come visit us at 87 Meagher’s Quay in the city.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas! 

Lisa Keane