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Spraygraphic Interview with John Casey
By Spraygraphic | December 21, 2007
Spraygraphic with John Casey
VM: Please tell us about yourself?
JC: I’m a sculptor and drawer of weirdness.
VM: Where do you currently live and work?
JC: Oakland, CA the most ethnically diverse city in the USA.
VM: What mediums do you work with?
JC: Nowadays it’s pen and ink on paper and polymer clay sculptures. I’ve started doing plywood cutouts and applying pen and paint.
VM: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
JC: I always begin with a figure/being in mind. I don’t conceive of a specific figure but more of an action or pose or physical distortion that channels my subconscious. When drawing I sketch out my idea in pencil sometimes using a photo reference. When I feel I have a pretty good direction down I start with the pens and pretty much loose myself in the process. Sculpture and cutouts require more planning and are a little less intuitive but it’s good for me to go from intuitive to methodical and back.
VM: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
JC: I don’t get blocked as much as I can occasionally suffer from low creative flow. In those cases you might find me cleaning my studio, taking a nap, going to a museum or art openings, reading, or blogging about art.
VM: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
JC: All kinds of stuff. I dig aboriginal art, folk or outsider art and medieval art. I like miniatures, model-building, old-time monster movies. I like sci-fi movies and books. I like natural history museums. I like art that is expressive where one can see the hand work but I also appreciate interesting and clever conceptual work as well. I like nature, especially ducks and pelicans.
VM: Can you tell us about your sculpture, Golden Nose. Materials? Inspiration?
JC: Golden Nose is one of a number of characters that consist of a head and legs but no torso and arms. I imagine these big-headed guys are rudimentary intellectuals who rely on their instinct to make their way in the world. Half the time they are wading through muck so they need high boots. The nose is his lie detector for both himself and others.
VM: How long did it take you to complete your piece, Big Walnut Eyes?
JC: That was a big sucker. I’m just guessing but maybe 18-20 hours?
VM: Do you get more inspired as project time increases or do you get impatient?
JC: Depends on the project I guess. My work is getting more detailed and time-consuming. I guess I’m developing patience with age.
VM: Many of your figures/pictures are cut off at the waist. Why is that?
JC: I’m probably trying to create compositional tension.
VM: Where has your work been seen?
JC: All kinds of venues. Some bigger venues include the de Young Museum in SF, the di Rosa Preserve in Napa, and the De Cordova in Mass. Galleries include 111 Minna, Swarm, Receiver, the Lab 101, The Conference Room, OKOK, the late great Boontling Gallery, and TAG in Nashville to name a few.
VM: Where will it be seen next?
JC: TAG Art Gallery in Nashville in February in a show with my buddy Josh Keyes.
VM: What is your dream art assignment?
JC: I have a number of dream galleries I’d love to show in. I’d name some of them but I’d hate to jinx it. Seriously, I’m superstitious.
VM: What is your favorite color?
JC: Khaki.
VM: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
JC: Who can name only one? I like art that is clever and well crafted. I especially love art that expresses a unique visual vocabulary. I like art that is brave and honest.
VM: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
JC: Michael Chabon’s “The Yiddish Policeman’s Union”. I read mostly fiction.
VM: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
JC: Pretty much everything I make is a self portrait.
VM: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
JC: At home with my lovely wife or in my studio making stuff.
VM: Any final words of advice?
JC: For artists? Work hard at the art. The art is paramount. No matter what crap rains down on you in your life, making the work is your salvation.
Additional Links: http://bunnywax.wordpress.com/
ART: 1) Ancestor, 2) Big Walnut Eyes, 3) Crossing Swords, 4) Father, 5) Hands Off, 6) Harvest, 7) Musclehead, 
Root Down, 9) Their, 10) Two Faced.
Topics: Artist Interviews, San Francisco Art Scene |
December 21st, 2007 at 6:37 pm
[...] December 21, 2007 I did an interview with Spraygraphic on their bloggy here. [...]
December 21st, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Great interview John!!
Josh
December 28th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I really enjoyed the interview although of course I already knew a lot of it. That bit at the end is certainly the truth even as it is sometimes painful.
January 29th, 2008 at 5:01 am
[...] An upcoming show at TAG Art Gallery in Nashville featuring new work from Josh Keyes and John Casey. [...]