Amélie Gagné
Amélie Gagné
Our featured artist this month is chosen for her colorful works that are so evocative of Spring. Not only is she a gifted artist but she turns her own beautiful works of art into stunning pieces of modern jewelry.
Born in Canada - Irish to the core
“I love living in Killarney, we have a beautiful town surrounded by mountains and a National Park.. I also have a soft spot for Inch Beach, Dingle and the Slea Head Drive.”
Who she is
Amélie is originally from Québec, Canada and has been living in the beautiful County Kerry for almost 20 years. She came to Ireland with her backpack as part of a little solo European trip, intending to stay in Ireland for a few weeks but when the Irish find gold-dust they tend to hang on to it. Now the mother of two young boys aged five and eight, she’s been juggling her work with caring for family, home-schooling and a husband working from home during the pandemic. However, she has relished the amount of time spent with her family and has even developed an interest in gardening and a bit of DIY about the house. As Ireland gets back to normal this year Amélie is most looking forward to meeting her customers face-to-face again.
What she does
Amélie says that for as long as she can remember she always had a clear penchant for drawing, painting and all things creative. In college she studied Presentation Design, which led her to work in different jobs from window-dressing, to prop and set building for TV and theater. She even created floats for the parade of a big winter festival in Québec. Throughout it all she was creating or painting in her free time. When she settled in Ireland, she developed her art further and her work was represented in a few galleries. Then, she had the wonderful idea of using her own images on a different handmade product, and hence her distinctive line of jewelry was born. Each piece is like looking at a miniature work of art.
“I love getting lost in the creative part of my work. Whether I am painting or making jewelry, I like to sit in a sunny spot and listen to music or have a gardening show playing in the background. I very much enjoy working on a special order when I know it is meant as a present for someone.”
Imaginary World of Color
“Playing with colors is a huge part of my work as an artist, and I love that it translates so well onto a piece of jewelry. The fact that the jewelry pieces are featuring my own images is unique in itself, and the glass on top of the image makes it look like a miniature window looking into some imaginary world.”
Finally, Amélie admits that she used to be a fussy eater as a kid, but now adores all types of food. If she hadn’t been an artist she might even have had a career as a food taster! Her favorite tipple is a glass of red but with blue cheese on savory crackers. Enjoy!
As we approach St Patrick’s Day, we’re proud to present her shamrock pendants. And if you’re ready to welcome Spring with beautiful flowers, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Check out her range on Baileo. She even manages to capture the beautiful image of Valentia island just off the West Coast of Ireland. We love her work and spirit.
