Mixed media artist Hollie Chastain explores narrative potential in her vibrant collages. These textured works are made from layers of old photographs, books and scraps of paper, which the artist combines into his own innovative stories. Chastain considers herself an “illustrator at heart,” which is what inspires her creativity in these deft pieces.
Chastain lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee and has a background in graphic design and classical art. In fact, the painter didn't start making collages until 2008. "I was looking for a fresh start in the studio and I had never tried collage". Chastain uses her previously saved papier-m?ché collection and vintage books as the base material for her creations. While continuing to create collages, the artist fell in love with the visual history of old books (for example, stamps as library and school logos), which is reflected in her work.
Chastain found the "characters" for his collage through images widely available in National Geographic magazines from the 1960s and 1970s. Chastain said: “I have a bunch of cut-out characters on my desk, waiting for the perfect fit for them to appear.Beautiful scene. ”
She is also always looking for new ways to create her collages. Some of her standout works include utilizing library ID bags as balconies for figures and using the edges of torn paper as abstract mountains or waves.
For those interested in learning the art of collage, Chastain recently published an instructional book on collage making called If You Can Cut, You Can Collage.
