Young Irish Artist makes his Hero’s Journey

From the working-class streets of Northern Ireland to the prestigious National Arts Club in New York, young Irish artist Tommy Long has come a long way. This is the same club where world renowned mythologist, Joseph Campbell, famous for his work on the Hero myth was awarded in 1983 by Star Wars director George Lucas.

Tommy now finds himself here being interviewed by the New York-based arts newspaper speaking of of his own hero’s journey.

The walls are adorned with paintings from some of the greats of American art, and the historic building has members ranging from US presidents, to world class contributors to the arts such as Mark Twain and Martin Scorsese.

“It’s very Surreal to be here,” Tommy jokes. But don’t let Tommy’s modesty fool you. His series of large-scale paintings are of the highest quality.

These large-scale dreamscapes convey many of Campbell’s mythological motifs in particular the Hero’s Journey or as Tommy has titled it, ‘The Fool’s Journey.’

How exactly did you get here, that must be an interesting story.

“The story is so strange,” laughs Tommy.

“It all started with a Christmas party at a local Artists studio. A very famous local artist and an old teacher of mine very generously invited me to put a painting into his group show in an Arts club in Dublin in the summer.

“I took the phone number of the curator and was instructed to contact her some time in July. I was very excited at the opportunity to exhibit with some great established artists and set to work creating the best piece of art I could!”

Could you tell us a little about the art work you created?

“Yes I sure could! The piece was a painting of a little girl in a red jacket. She is standing in a very rough urban street setting, really a mixture between Belfast and Derry where I grew up.

“The piece was conveying the power of innocence, the internal hope and optimism contained in the eyes of a child, something more powerful than all external environment. I called it ‘Girl in Red’.'”

So how did the show go?

“Well there was a bit of a mix up actually and the week before the show, the curator was abroad and passed me the number of another curator. I could not get them on the phone! I was so disappointed.

“My painting complete, I had lost contact with the organiser of the show in Dublin. I was bitterly disappointed at a big opportunity missed. I then regrettably had to arrange for me and my uncle to collect the painting from my house in Belfast where it was stored to take back home.”

“The story doesn’t end there though,” quipped Tommy.

“On a dark Thursday night, my uncle and I arrived at my house to lift the painting after a long 2-hour drive from Derry. As I lifted the painting of ‘Girl in Red’ to head out my door, disappointed at the missed opportunity, I heard someone shouting. ‘Tommy Boy, Tommy Boy’. I looked round and to my surprise it was the famous local artist walking up the street with his friend, just at the exact moment I’m coming out my door with the painting! How he was there (it wasn’t near his home) and why I’ll never know!”

That is such a coincidence! Fate some would say.

“Indeed, it was!” laughed Tommy. “He then offered to drive my painting personally to the art club in Dublin. ‘Girl in Red’ was so well received that I was invited out to New York to the National Arts Club for Dinner by one of its members and the rest is history!”

You where saying that this week is a very special time for you to exhibit, could you elaborate?

“Well yes, This week is my dad’s anniversary, the 12th of July 2026, and I have finally made my dream to exhibit here happen! I’m guessing he’ll be pretty proud. Many times, I refused the call and froze with doubts and fears that I was not good enough.

“I have now discovered this is all part of the process! I’m glad I pushed through these doubts and finally answered the call.”

So, all artists have these doubts?

“Absolutely! Luckily, I’ve had some help and encouragement along the way, from kind heart people who believed in me and also I’d like to mention some of the many strange sign posts or what some would call synchronicity pointing me here in the last few years.

“I’ve three examples of this. Firstly, I gave a copy of my favourite book to the famous artist who had so kindly invited me to exhibit at his show in Dublin, The Art Spirit by Robert Henri. I’ve since found out Robert Henri was one of the founding members of the Club in New York!

“Also studying mythology and the hero’s journey the last few years I was then blown away to see that Joseph Campbell himself was at the club being awarded in 1983 by George Lucas.

“Then to make things even more surreal, as I was driving one day out of my art studio past the local shop (I was born behind it), there was a 14ft sign with various superhero’s on it. ‘You can be a hero’ it read.

“A sure sign I had to accept my call. I’m so glad I did. I believe we all have our calls in life and if we pay attention sometimes well get clues from our environment and interactions with others.”

I’m glad you accepted the call too! Could you tell us about your new work? It looks very impressive, there’s a lot going on.

“My new work is not unlike my old piece ‘Girl in Red’ in that it is about maintaining your essence and staying true to yourself in a world obsessed with making you create and feed a false personality.

“Children still have this Essence. They are creative geniuses as a teacher of mine, Mark, used to say. But somewhere down the line our society chips away at our essence. Curiosity and creativity give way to conformity and drudgery.

“My work encourages those who still feel that spark to fan the flame and reclaim the Essence and follow their bliss as Joseph Campbell once said.”

That’s very interesting, what are your hopes now for the future?

“I run many courses now at the minute and a painting academy online called ‘The Painters Eye’. I plan to develop this more; it is aimed at curious beginners who want to learn how to start oil painting and begin their own creative journey.

“There are thousands of students now enrolled which is exciting! I plan to grow this even more in the coming years and am very excited about where it is going. I still continue my in person community classes and give more talks and free resources to inspire any artist interested in pursuing his/her own hero’s journey to set out fearlessly on it!.

“Retiring my mum last year has been the highlight of my journey so far to be honest. She’s worked so hard her whole life and helped me so much, its great to finally be able return the favour and make her life as easy as possible.

“My hopes for the future are to continue creating and educating others to move into their own power and enjoy life. I’ve recently purchased my dream home by the beach In Donegal and am in the process of renovating it. My uncle is helping me build my new arts studio as I have been invited by some friends to exhibit in Singapore soon. I’m very excited, I have a busy year ahead!!