Senior art major Grace Cool has gained 11 thousand Instagram followers in the past year for her religious artwork.
What types of art do you do?
I like oil painting, drawing, and digital art. I probably do the most digital art, but I would like to do more oil painting.
What are you studying?
I’m an art major and a biochemistry minor— mistakes were made there, my friend. Mistakes were made. I came in thinking I wanted to do pediatric oncology because I really like kids. Then on my first day in a biochem class, I realized I hated biochemistry. Because I was already minoring in art, I just switched the two.
What are your plans after graduation looking like?
Well, I’m going to get married and then we’ll be in Hillsdale for another year, which makes it a little tough because there aren’t many artistic opportunities in Hillsdale. But the dream is to do illustrations for Catholic children’s books. Potentially, I’d like to write and illustrate books.
Your work has gained some acclaim through your Instagram, The Cradle Catholic. How is that going?
I have 12,000 followers. A year ago this week I had reached 1,000 followers, so I’ve gone up by 11,000 in a year, which is very cool. I’d like to know if I could make a career out of it, but it’s so hard to balance that and school. Over breaks I’m able to spend a lot of time on it, but then just back at school.
Have you gotten any help running your Instagram?
I started it on my own and I’ve been running it on my own. Honestly, I don’t think many of my professors know. I think all my classes help indirectly because they help me become a better artist and try new things.
What Hillsdale professor has helped you the most?
Barbara Bushey, first of all, because she is just so amazing. But in terms of my own art, probably Dr. Suarez. I’ve just learned so much in his classes and because I hadn’t taken art classes since the 8th grade, it’s been really cool to have his instruction.
How do you see the relationship between art and religion?
If you look at Europe and the Renaissance, it really shows how much the Church has been a patron or kickstarter for art. For me personally, though, Catholicism is why I want to create art because there’s so much beauty in it and it’s hard to express that traditionalism in the modern world. I want to continue that and make art that’s beautiful that people can have. That’s what The Cradle Catholic is, it’s wearable art.