Interview with Casey Roberts
Neoteric Art: Give us some background information on yourself.
Casey Roberts: I was born in 71. I live and work in gorgeous Indianapolis. I went to the Herron School of Art and Design as a printmaking major. I’m pretty sure I always wanted to be an artist. I did flirt with the idea of racing cars. I remember when I went from just wanting to be an artist to knowing that is exactly what I was going to do forever, in late 1981 when I saw the Talking Heads video for “Once in a Lifetime”. It made an impression on me.
NA: The process you use is called cyanotype. Briefly describe the process and why/how you started using it.
CR: Well, cyanotype is an “alternative photographic process” going way back to around 1850. I paint with the light sensitive liquid solution, and after being exposed to sunlight and washed out with water it leaves a rich blue color. I can then use a baking soda or a mild bleach solution that lightens the original blue color to a yellow or green tone allowing me to draw back into it.
NA: Your pieces seem “folksy”. Tell us about your subject matter.
CR: The words “folksy” and “naïve” keep coming up so there must be something to it, I can see it. It isn’t something I work toward, it just happens like that.
NA: Who/what have been some of your influences…and why?
CR: I look at artists like Milton Avery, Philip Guston, and Jockum Nordstrum. T.L. Solien is really awesome, and a newer artist Paul Wackers is great. I love Bruce Naumans’ films, really inspiring. I like to walk around town. I also like to hike around the woods. I listen to a lot of music while I work and that inspires me.
NA: Where do you see your work taking you in the future?
CR: I will keep working hard, and getting better (smarter). I hope to show more often. To sell more work.
I think I would like representation. I’m sure I’ll keep using cyanotype in the future. I keep learning new ways to use the process. I’ll use it till I get bored with it. I have done different types of work, whatever is called for. I am headed into the foundry this spring to continue casting bronze and I still make the occasional print and drawings.
It would be great to stay in Indianapolis. I might have to move someday to have a career.
Category: Interviews 6 comments »
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I think Casey is one of the better artists working today. My wife and I own two of his pieces.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Wonderful artwork -I like how the subject matter of nature coincides with his water washed backgrounds and shadow like images.
January 12th, 2009 at 4:33 am
[...] Casey Roberts at Neoteric Art. [...]
January 20th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I love your work. I could just go on and on but I think the qualities that make it soar are very clear. Thank you for it! Someday I will own one. Oh by the way I completely missed the “folksy” and “naive” aspects that others saw….that kind of work bores me and yours just doesn’t come across that way….at least to me. t
May 24th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
The simplicity and boldness of graphic means is atounding, especially as it is matched with glowing baths of color. Casey has invented a new kind of painting, by using photo chemicals for “paint”, and he has developed (no pun intended) his own means of controlling his meduim so that it looks easy.
His work, as I see it, is very far from naive or folksy. The simplicity and ease will trap you in dark ironies.
Indy is lucky to have him.
May 26th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I’d like to add that I’m not sure if Casey’s work is ironic : the irony I thought I saw was probably just me getting stuck in my head.
More importantly, what I am sure of is that I see a lyricism matched with absurdity in Casey’s work; it is a special quality I find in Milton Avery, and Philip Guston too.
Casey has taught me a lot, and he doesn’t even know it.