At a time when fear and fat jokes are abundant, Mollie Cronin is drawing relatable cartoons

In our self-shot video series COVID Residencies, we're checking out how artists are adapting their practices in isolation, whether it's diving into different processes or getting lost in their sketchbooks.

Mollie Cronin is a cartoonist and illustrator usually based in Halifax. During social distancing, she's staying with her family in Elmsdale. It's a well-populated house, and Cronin has made her work area in the available space that also functions as her parents' respective offices, a TV room and her bedroom.

But it's in this space that she's been sorting out her thoughts through making cartoons. You may have seen memes circulating during distancing that suggest we'll all emerge plumper in the end — sentiments that can be hurtful, and Cronin pushes back against them in her work with her own sense of humour. Of her process, she says, "I've actually been turning to cartoons a lot to process what I'm feeling around COVID-19."

In this video, you'll see Cronin in her current home, where she's making work every day. It continues to be an important practice: "It helps me hone my focus and figure out exactly what it is that's upsetting me or worrying me or something I want to critique."

Follow Mollie Cronin here and keep a lookout for the stories we're bringing you from other artists in isolation as part of COVID Residencies. Stay safe, friends!

CBC Arts understands that this is an incredibly difficult time for artists and arts organizations across this country. We will do our best to provide valuable information, share inspiring stories of communities rising up and make us all feel as (virtually) connected as possible as we get through this together. If there's something you think we should be talking about, let us know by emailing us at [email protected]. See more of our COVID-related coverage here.