Wyndham Vale artist Claire Hanrahan also works full-time, studies and volunteers with the charity SHINE for Kids. 72838 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Alesha Capone
IN ADDITION to creating wonderful artworks, Wyndham Vale resident Claire Hanrahan draws on her creative skills to help the children of prisoners.
The talented artist and designer also volunteers for the charity SHINE for Kids, which supports children who have a parent in the criminal justice system.
Ms Hanrahan said this involved going to prisons and organising artistic activities there for children visiting their parents.
“The kids are so happy and proud of what they’ve achieved and they get to chat to each other while they create their art and it puts them at ease,” she said.
Just like her young charges, Ms Hanrahan said she has loved art since childhood.
“I’ve always drawn, ever since I was a kid,” she said.
“I like to see the end product and I like that it makes people happy. For me to create something, I don’t notice the time, it just goes.”
Her subjects range from animals, her family, blossoming flowers and famous musicians to tropical fish.
She also comes from a creative family, as her son is a tattooist and her eldest brother has been an art teacher.
“I’ve sold a few paintings, mostly of flowers and portraits of people,” Ms Hanrahan said.
“I’d like some more time for my personal paintings, but flowers and people make me money.”
“I’ve done a painting of my young niece who is a twin, her brother is upset I haven’t done one of him yet, so I have to do that.”
In addition to her artwork and volunteering, Ms Hanrahan is a graphic designer at the ‘Yellow Pages’ and is studying education and training.
With a busy lifestyle, she said the biggest challenge of being an artist was finding the time to draw and paint.
“I would like to have an exhibition in the future and I have all these ideas in my head, I just need time to get them down on paper,” she said,
See www.redbubble.com/people/clairehanna for more information or www.shineforkids.org.au to find out about volunteering with SHINE for Kids.
