CAITLIN O’LEARY

Chloe Briggs (CB): Since the beginning of this course you now have an Instagram handle for your textile work, which is @caitthread. Could you tell me a little bit about this textile discovery? I think it was already there, wasn’t it? But it seems to have really blossomed.

Caitlin O’Leary (CO): I always found it hard to share my work until this course. I remember in the first week, I said my goal was to be more confident presenting my work and sharing it. And now I feel I can do that really easily. So the Instagram is just like an extension of that. I think it’s about wanting to share it with people who aren’t just on this course. I am trying to challenge myself to put my work out there as confidently as I can.

CB: Because nothing bad happens, does it?

CO: No, but it can be scary!

CB: That is true. B I can see that across the board, you are more confident with materials, with drawing, with color, with everything!

CO: Definitely! Especially with color. I was looking through my old work, and in the first semester, all my work was black and white. But now I think I have let go and I have fun with it. It’s just the whole thing of realizing that nothing bad is going to happen, like you said, like letting go of that fear. And just knowing that you’re in a safe place to do whatever and try new ideas.

CB: Does it feel safer because you’re online do you think?

CO: Yes, definitely, the fact that I can do this at home and not have anyone looking over my shoulder watching me, or not have anyone that I can compare my work to as I’m making it. I think it’s really good to be able to create your work in solitude, and then you can only compare your work to anyone else when it’s done.

CB: And you have more authority over sharing it don’t you? I am impressed that you all seem okay with showing everything - even the directions that you pursue and the bits that you are embarrassed by.

CO: Yeah, it all shows the progress and the story of what you went through that week. I feel like each week is a different contained journey for a project which I really enjoyed. I think you have to show what didn’t work, because it is truthful about what you are doing, and it just adds more authenticity to your work.

CB: Exactly and actually often, the things that people don’t like I say, “Wow! Look at that!”, so that provokes a conversation. So with this amazing world of textiles and art, what excites you the most about the future?

CO: I can’t wait to create collections that I can actually wear, because I feel like at the moment, I’m making very impractical stuff. I am obviously just trying everything that I want quite freely. But I can’t wait to make clothes that can actually be worn by people.Everything I’m doing this year is very much small experiments which I’ve enjoyed, but I can’t wait to see how that progresses into a larger project.

CB: So it seems to me the pefect time to step into an in-person course.

CO: Exactly!

CB: Your confidence and skills have built up and now you can benefit from the training for making all the amazing knitting projects you dream up!.

CO: Exactly, it’s great.

CB: If you could give a piece of advice yourself one year ago, what would you say?

CO: I think I would say to stop being so scared, you’ll find your style or you’ll find out where you’re meant to be in the whole art thing eventually. So it’s not like you have to decide on one thing that you’re going do for rest of your life.

It is something that is always changing and you should just let go and let it happen.

CB: Creativity is something that grows with you, doesn’t it? That is the amazing thing.

CO: Yeah, definitely.

CB: People always talk about finding a style, but style I don’t like as a word, because it feels a bit restricted. But you have really found your voice. I would say the feeling of your work is very distinct. I think it’s very exciting.

CO: I would agree. I went into this course feeling nervous, but I’m so glad that I did this year online because it’s been the most I’ve learned. It has been really amazing!!

CB: Oh, that is brilliant!