Charlotte Leahy

Girl with a Yellow Hat, 2025

Age 14

Acrylic on paper

‘This portrait is of me when I was two, nearly three, inspired by a photograph taken by my mother. I chose the photograph because I liked the way the light falls across my face and the contrast between the light and dark areas. I also have very fond memories of my yellow hat.

I am thinking about bubbles in the painting – I have just blown bubbles from a bottle and I am staring at them and admiring the way they float away.

I’m 14 now and I enjoy being a teenager and everything that comes with it, but I still love the simple, carefree things I enjoyed when I was little, like blowing bubbles.’

Cailín a bhfuil Hata Buí uirthi, 2025

Aois 14

Aicrileach ar pháipéar

‘Seo portráid díom féin a cruthaíodh nuair a bhí mé dhá bhliain d’aois, beagnach trí bliana d’aois. Tá an phortráid bunaithe ar ghrianghraf a ghlac mo mháthair. Roghnaigh mé an grianghraf seo de bhrí gur thaitin an tslí a dtiteann an solas ar m’aghaidh liom, mar aon leis an gcodarsnacht idir an solas agus an dorchadas. Tá cuimhní deasa agam ar mo hata buí.

Is ag smaoineamh ar bhoilgeoga atá mé sa phictiúr – tá mé tar éis boilgeoga a shéideadh ó bhuidéal agus tá mé ag faire orthu agus ag déanamh iontais dóibh fad is atá siad ag imeacht leo.

Tá mé 14 bhliain d’aois anois agus is breá liom saol an déagóra agus gach a bhaineann leis, ach fós féin, is breá liom na rudaí simplí, taitneamhacha, a thaitin liom nuair a bhí mé óg, cosúil le boilgeoga a shéideadh.’

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