The Little Interview with Amy Casey

 I connected with Amy Casey's work immediately. I wish I lived in her world.

What is your background in art?

As a shy kid I was kind of arm twisted into joining a school of performing and visual arts by a couple of great art teachers, Ken Kopin (now deceased) and Mary Pat Haven in Erie, PA.  I attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School of the Arts for a summer (this program is cancelled this year due to budget cuts!) which encouraged me to go on to college at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Are their any artists you would die to own their work?

Not really, I'm content to visit art in other places, and not take it home with me. Sort of like dogs or babies. If I had to choose, I guess I'd like to spend more time with Bill Traylor's work.


What is your favorite art period and why?

I don't know that I have a favorite art period, but in museums I am always very drawn to and fascinated by Persian miniatures and Mughal paintings. I just think they are so beautiful and intimate.

 


Who is the number one person you would like to collaborate with?

Tom Waits. I have no idea what we would collaborate on but I'm sure it would be fascinating for me.



Currently Reading/ Watching anything?

I'm a big audio books fan-  I just finished Sarah Vowell's the Wordy Shipmates. I love her work.  

I've also been listening to Kurt Vonnegut and have been on a Pre Victorian/Victorian kick for awhile now..  Actual books- mostly language primers. I've been trying to learn how to read Thai and Italian for ages. I kind of stink at it though, but I feel like it gets my brain working in a different way, which I like.  Watching-lately Joss Whedon shows and MASH.

 

 

What is your artistic process?

Also, while I am making paintings, I try to gather up all my thoughts of "but what if it was like.." and note them down for later, so often one painting leads to another. In terms of actual painting, I usually sketch in the initial composition very quickly, then block in colors lightly so I can see how the forms work together. Then I usually start taping paper bits onto the paper to see what changes I might want to make without committing anything. With so many white backgrounds in my work, it's very hard to go backwards or change something once it's on the paper.  Then, when it seems right, I pencil in and paint. I usually work right on the piece from the get go, I don't generally do any studies other than extremely rudimentary composition notes which are more of a reminder than anything else. I find that any painting session requires a great many cups of tea.

Do you dream often and if so do you have recurring themes?

I dream pretty much every night. Usually a mishmash of daily events. Since the advent of facebook, I find myself dreaming about people I haven't seen in years or who I have never actually met. I also have the apocalyptic world ending dreams which recur although not as regularly since working on these paintings. I guess I work out my anxiety through the paintings instead now.

 

What Inspires your work? 

 I usually get ideas while out and about, quite often in response to something I am seeing. I get a lot of ideas while staring out the window looking for whistle pigs

by the train tracks on public transport- When I'm in a kind of spaced out but looking at the world kind of mode.  I try to write the ideas down and then I end up with all these grubby pieces of paper with mostly incoherent jottings on them, which I  gather together after a bit. The ones I can read or recall what my point was, I add to my list of ideas for paintings or little composition ideas. I am a huge fan of list making.

 

 

 

Comments

[stephanie]

YAY!

I love Amy Casey. Woot, woot, Cleveland! Some of her work is on display at the contemporary art museum here, and it is even more amazing in person.

Great one, Jessica!

[rrwehr]

I was drawn to Amy Casey's paintings from the first time I saw them. It's the best work I have seen in years. Thanks Amy!

[Alessandro Echevarria]

wow! I really love her work, I've never heard of her, and I'm truly glad I have now! Her world is definitely soemthing amazing I'd love to live in! Awesome find Jessica!

[Michael]

I love Amy and her work, this is so typically her =) Hey the whistle pigs are making a mess out of my yard! great interview.