Little Cures - Caitlin Hoole
Meet the artist Caitlin Hoole whose work forms part of our Little Cures exhibition
Caitlin Hoole is a collage artist specialising in hand-cut photomontage. She lives and works in Bristol.
Caitlin has always been fascinated by photographs and images from previous generations. She explores contemporary themes through vintage imagery. Her art is a reflection of her mood; when it changes, so does the series. She aims to create surreal realities, some she would like to live in and others she would run from.
Collage is a way for Caitlin to ‘zone out’ of the world and let her imagination take over. She finds this therapeutic. The small scale of the collages draws the viewer in. Taking one step closer to see the work allows an intimate moment with each piece.
Q: What drives you to make your work?
A: “Escapism and tuning into my imagination drives me to produce art. I get great pleasure from spending hours flicking through vintage National Geographic magazines and slicing out images that catch my eye. My mind instantly starts trying to form new images with the pictures I have cut
out; I could have six different ideas whizzing round my brain at once and this excites me. If other’s connect with my artwork that’s just an added bonus.”
Q: Has the lockdown and pandemic changed the way you work?
A: “Lockdown and the pandemic have obviously affected working by putting a halt to this exhibition, which would have been a fantastic opportunity for new viewers to see my work in the flesh. Over the past year all of my interaction has come from sharing my art on my Instagram page… or any
of my collectors walking past the same framed collage in their homes over
and over! Other than this, lockdown and the pandemic haven’t impacted the way I work or how I produce work. I have a large collection of vintage and contemporary magazines and my tools of trade (glue, cutting board, craft knife) are all items I can fortunately use from the comfort of my own
home. It’s lovely to still be able to produce at work at this incredibly challenging time and I really feel for those artists who rely so heavily on a studio and/or travel to produce their works.”
Q: Do you think making artwork helps your Mental Health?
A: “ Mental health awareness is so important and a topic very close to my heart. The lockdown and the pandemic continues to have so many devastating effects and the damage and pressure inflicted on people’s mental health is just one of those.
Producing artwork and getting creative can really have a positive effect on your mental health. I produce collages for more than just the final outcome; it’s an escapism, taking time for me, looking through magazines and finding images is really therapeutic. Sometimes I can spend day’s just sourcing images and not actually creating a finished piece, or I could think I’ve found the perfect pairing of pictures to find they just don’t work. This is one of the main challenges I face working with hand-cut photomontage, and at first it can be annoying and disappointing but that
feeling instantly dissolves when I find an ever better match… and I always do! It's good to challenge yourself because the sense of achievement afterwards is so rewarding and helps support positive mental health. I create collages to zone out from the world around me and let my
imagination run free. Collage is suitable for all ages and requires little resources which don’t cost much either! Give it a go and take some time and see how you feel after.”
You can see more of Caitlin’s work on her website or follow her on Instagram.
If you are interested in purchasing a work from the exhibition, please contact the artist directly, or view the curator’s price list.