Program Reviews

Going to Cow House studios was such an amazing experience. You are able to live in an environment where you can truly grow both as a person and as an artist.

The studio offers you all of the time and resources you could ever need to make art. From the amazing dark room and all of the camera equipment, to the countless tubes of paint and rolls of loose canvas, you can really execute any creative project. Rosie and Frank, the couple who run the program, are also incredibly supportive and really try to push you creatively. They are both incredibly experienced artists who can offer invaluable technical advice, all the while encouraging you to question and further develop your creative process.

I also got to meet some of the most amazing people there. It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with people my age who are just as passionate about art. I was able to discuss my work with all of my peers and receive feed back on it that helped me develop my ideas so much further. Through these conversations we were all able to connect and from truly meaningful relationships. I will always be grateful for the people that cow house brought into my life.

The food, excursions and staff were also a major highlight. Caitriona, the chef, and Tony, a member of the staff, were both so kind to me during my time there. They are both truly wonderful people. All of the food Caitriona and Frank would make was so amazing. they would put so much thought into each meal, and I would be genuinely exited whenever it was time to eat. Because of Covid we didn't get to go all around Ireland, like some of the previous gappers, but the places we did get to see were so beautiful. We were able to go on some truly amazing hikes, and we got to visit some of the wonderful town in and around Wexford county.
I can wholeheartedly recommend Cow House for anyone looking to do a gap year, I cannot say enough good things about it.

Going into this program I really wasn't sure what to expect. I definitely thought it would be neat to be able to visit a country I had never been to before, and I was really looking forward to being able to work around other artists and develop my artistic practice further.
After spending three months there and being able to look back on everything I was able to do, and the wonderful people I was able to meet and get to know. The experience that Cow House Studios provides is an extremely unique and beautiful one at that. What it gave to me, more than anything else was the chance to grow hugely as an individual, and in such a way that I'm not sure would've happened if I hadn't gone. I certainly grew as an artist as well. The amount of art that someone can make there is almost limitless, as long as you've got the drive. They certainly provide the tools and the time for excessive art making, it was often encouraged.
Their family style approach to welcoming the people that take part in this program is amazing, and I've never felt so at home while being so far away...Haha not that I didn't miss home, I definitely did. But there's really something special about this place. Whether its the people that run it, the landscape around it or the art that gets made in it, it's all amazing and incredibly beneficial to the soul.

Everyone should come to Cow House. This is an experience like no other. My skills were furthered by excellent instruction and my heart was filled with joy every step of the way. Rosie and Frank are two of the most kindhearted people I have ever met, and have such a passion for art, that it’s contagious. Caitriona kept me laughing, and her food was absolutely incredible. Everyday brought a new challenge and new experience. If you’re an artist, this is the place to completely surround yourself in inspiration, and have the time to further your art practice. If you have the chance to go to Cow House, take it!

I can't stress enough how great the three months I spent at Cow House last fall were! I was mind blown by the location and facilities, we had access to every means of making I could've asked for and endless support from Frank, Rosie, and the visiting artists. It didn't take long to feel completely at home; the housing is so comfortable and beautiful, the food is great, and everyone on the farm is incredibly welcoming (they're also just cool people in general). The opportunity to work so closely with other students and instructors allowed me to grow in ways I didn't expect, not just as an artist but as a person, too. It was really special to get to know everyone and what they make as well as we did.
I never ran out of things to do there; when we weren't in the studio we were exploring the area, hanging out in the library (which has tons of interesting novels and artist books), or going on trips around Ireland. Frank and Rosie are great at balancing how much time we spent on the farm and how much we travelled; our day/overnight trips were frequent enough that I felt like I was always seeing new things but spaced out in such a way that we could really dig into our studio time before heading out again. Fieldworks is such a well-rounded program, and the time I spent there feels so rich with experience and growth. Frank and Rosie are amazing people + artists and I am so thankful to know them. I hope to return one day and highly recommend the program to anybody who makes any kind of art!

I loved my time here. The faculty - Frank and Rosie and Caitriona (the chef) - were all so kind, helpful, and caring. The farm is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the excursions that we took all over Ireland as part of the program were so fun. We worked in multiple mediums of art; I got to try out film photography, video art, bookmaking, and pen-and-ink-drawing for the first time. We were constantly challenged but I never felt an exceeding amount of pressure. The opportunity to visit galleries and museums, and talk to working artists broadened what I fundamentally thought about art. I think I have really matured as an artist after my time here, and I now understand so much more about the professional world of contemporary art. It's clear that Frank and Rosie, and the rest of the Cow House crew, really put their hearts into designing the curriculum and schedule. I'd definitely recommend this to any high school graduates who like art.

I loved my time here. The faculty - Frank and Rosie and Caitriona (the chef) - were all so kind, helpful, and caring. The farm is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the excursions that we took all over Ireland as part of the program were really eyeopening and exciting. We worked in multiple mediums of art; I got to try out film photography, video art, bookmaking, and pen-and-ink-drawing for the first time. We were constantly challenged but I never felt an exceeding amount of pressure. The opportunity to visit galleries and museums and talk to working artists really broadened what I fundamentally thought about art. I think that I have really matured as an artist after my time here, and I now understand so much more about the professional world of contemporary art. It's clear that Frank and Rosie, and the rest of the Cow House crew, really put their hearts into designing the curriculum and schedule. I'd definitely recommend this to any high school graduates who like art.

It was the perfect gap semester- I made lifelong friends, got to see the best areas of Ireland, and grew so much as an artist! Frank and Rosie were amazing mentors, and I feel like I really improved my skills in photography and learned how to push my creative ideas further. The farm was a beautiful place to live for a few months and I would love to go back again.
The excursions we took to the different areas of the island were well planned, and great fun! We spent time looking at art galleries but also had free time to explore on our own. We traveled to the famous cities like Dublin, Cork and Galway, to the most beautiful rural landscapes like the Aran Islands, and the Dingle area- on bike, bus, and on foot.
Time spent on the farm during the week was relaxing but also focused, All the food was delicious, and in our down time we watched movies and played games.
I would recommend this to any artist looking for a beautiful place to be able to focus on their art and for a super unique Irish travel experience.

After I came home from Cow House Studios I immediately wanted to get back on the plane and return. I learned so much and grew so much as an artist and a person during this program. I cannot recommend it enough!!! Frank and Rosie are super enthusiastic and it’s obvious they care a lot about their students and want to help them get the most out of their time at the studio. I was able to illustrate and assemble a book which has been something I’ve wanted to do for years. Also the food was phenomenal!! I looked forward to lunch and dinner everyday and was never disappointed. The building the students lived in was cozy and inviting. The surrounding landscape was stunning! I loved being able to see and walk to the Blackstairs Mountain so easily! Overall I’m incredibly grateful to have had this experience, and I cannot wait to return to Ireland when I get the chance.

When I was a senior in high school, I felt that I wasn't ready for college. I explored other alternative options, including gap years, this is how I discovered Cow House Studios. I knew that I love art and the idea of traveling to another country to learn and make art pushed me towards applying to this particular program. During my stay at Cow House, in only 3 months I learned a variety of different mediums, techniques and skills that I will use as I continue to make art. Rosie and Frank are amiable, considerate, supportive and amazing artists that I truly admire. They teach art in a way that makes you confident in what you are making and also embrace every creative thought and idea.
I also met some of the most talented, inventive, sincere young artists I've ever met, who I was lucky enough to share such an experience with. Each of us were completely different with styles/mediums of art which made this experience even more unique by learning from one another.
I am extremely lucky to have experienced Irish culture, scenic and historic parts of Ireland, to have visited galleries/exhibits raging from professional to college artists. To have lived on a farm with a studio accessible everyday, any time of day, filled with endless art supplies and teachers who creatively challenge you. I highly recommend this program to artists who want to learn and grow in a unique way.

This summer I had the opportunity to attend Cow House Studios’ Art on the Farm program. This was my first time attending a long summer program and being away from home for so long. The change in scenery was inspiring and I had the chance to work on ideas for projects that I never had the chance to get to. The opportunity to create art in Ireland and connect with my ethnic background was extremely enlightening. I was able to begin communicating ideas through my work and crank out some portfolio pieces using different mediums as well. I was in a smaller group of about 12 students. We had delicious meals every day and traveled to different parts of the country for a few days. After a while, I began to feel at home. I met many amazing people and made many great memories!