Guest Interview With Artist Casey Promise

C. Anne: Hi Casey, thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed! Casey is an amazing artist who provided the drawing for the previous blog post “Grave Secrets.” Casey, at what age did you become interested in art?

Casey: Honestly, my interest in art has existed for as long as I can remember. I remember sculpting clay in the farm house at the kitchen table at age 3 or 4 with my father. My parent’s friends were all artists and musicians. In fact, my very first memory ever consisted of a giant field at night, lots of eccentric hippies, a giant art sculpture being set on fire and me laying in my father’s arms at around 20 months old. I was surrounded by abstract paintings and music in the cabin I grew up in. I don’t have a specific starting point because art was always just there. When I was in elementary school, I was considered ‘gifted’ and I started taking beginning community drawing courses with adults. As I went into high school, my art became more surrealistic and then was awarded a spot at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts as a Sophomore. I never really questioned doing anything else until far later in life.

C. Anne: That is incredible! What an amazing memory and experience you had growing up as a child and being surrounded by art like that. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I am a little bit jealous! Can you tell me more about where you’re from and how that influences your work?

Casey: I come from a unique and enriching creative environment. I was raised in the conservative and religious state of Tennessee, but my parents and those in their chosen families (their friends) were made up of brilliant, talented and beautiful minds. It was like its own little world.  I got to experience so many wondrous things as a child and I attribute my eclectic art to those experiences, especially those involving nature. However, I experienced a lot of pain, grief and trauma as well. Those moments are also seen in my work. I believe that sometimes people need a visual image to relate to and express their feelings. Some of my art gives people a chance to say everything they couldn’t say with words. I know that my more emotional work is not for everyone, but for some people…I can help them to feel less alone in this world. I think that’s part of my life’s purpose. Why create art if it’s not somehow healing or helping others?

C. Anne: That is so true and I completely agree. It’s those pieces of art that stir up emotions inside of us, negative or positive, that really have the most meaning and influence. Aside from the talented people you grew up around, who are your biggest artistic influences?

Casey: As a child, I was most certainly drawn to Escher and Dali. There was always something very alluring about creating your own distorted parallel universe. As a teenager, I was really drawn to Frida Kahlo and how honestly she painted her personal stories and painful memories. As an adult, Laurie Lipton is the one living artist I have the greatest affinity for.

C. Anne: I am not familiar with Laurie Lipton, I’ll have to look her up. What motivates you to create?

Casey: A sense of purpose and a healthy mind. I can’t create when I’m depressed or sad, but I can create when I’m angry. I use that anger to make my more political statements. I use my sense of peace to create my more ethereal works. 

C. Anne: I love how you harness your emotions to power your creativity. Anger is definitely a motivating force! Tell me about your favorite medium.

Casey: I know that most people love color, especially paintings. And while I do enjoy painting – there’s nothing like creating works via a pencil and piece of paper. There’s a beauty to its simplicity. I feel I am creating from my most raw sense of self when using graphite. I do also enjoy using colored pencils, but the black and white drawings are very much my go-to. 

C. Anne: Color in art can be captivating, but I feel like you do an exceptional job with just graphite in really capturing emotions in your art. I love your work and find it inspiring on many levels. What inspires you?

Casey: Certain ethereal music, the sound of the wind through the trees, laughter between loved ones, hints of poetry, nature, storms, a sense of spiritual well-being. All of those things sort of make up the bits of my inner-spirit and heart…and it’s my spirit that creates what I make. That’s why I don’t do commissions, or rather, I can’t do them. I physically lose the full ability to focus and make artwork when constrained to a certain image. So, that must mean my talent comes from something other than the pile of wrinkled mush in my skull. 

C. Anne: I love the images of sounds and feeling you just brought to mind! What is your favorite piece you have created so far?

Casey: It’s a surrealistic piece that sort of encompasses why I love drawing. It’s untitled. 

C. Anne: This piece has so much depth. I love symbology and there is so much of it in here. I could spend hours analyzing it. I won’t do that now though! When you begin creating, say an image like this one, do you start with an idea in mind and see where it takes you? Or do you plan it all out ahead of time?

Casey: In pieces such as this one – I start with a single small image and build upon it. It could be just an eye, a small pattern of wood, lips or a single drip of water. Once I start moving my pencil, I sort of have a sixth sense of where my pencil should go next. I suppose you could say I sort of see it in my mind’s eye, but only step by step. It’s not at all planned out. I honestly sometimes have no idea what I’m drawing next until the pencil has started making its mark. It’s often as if I don’t have full control. Where does it come from? Well that’s the existential question of creativity, isn’t it?

C. Anne: That is amazing that you start with something so simple and from there create such a multi-faceted piece of art. And very true about the question of where creativity comes from. How is your personality reflected in your work?

Casey: I’m honest, fractured, hopeful and socially anxious. I am constantly learning, evoking, pushing and evolving. I’m deeply spiritual and emotional. I’m angered by the hatred in the world and moved by the smallest moments of bravery in others. I love and am loved. I am constantly questioning my existence and its relationship to the world. The twisting and pulling of my mind and my spirit echoes loudly in what I create. 

C. Anne: That resonates so much. I love your honesty and openness, the world needs more of that. You must be a writer as well, your words are so deep and moving. What are you currently working on?

Casey: There’s a fun event in East Nashville every year called the Tomato Art Festival. It’s centered around art and music. I’ll be starting on some tomato-related art in the coming days. 

C. Anne: That sounds fun! I need to go to a festival like that. How is art important to society?

Casey: We wouldn’t still be here on this planet if it wasn’t for artists, musicians, composers, writers, dancers, etc. Humanity would have collapsed upon itself a long time ago.

C. Anne: I couldn’t agree more! I think as a society we need to really acknowledge that more. Art of all kinds is integral to our wellbeing and very existence and we need to put more emphasis on it. And have more festivals and art related events that celebrate how wonderful it is. Ok, last question, what advice would you give to an aspiring artist?

Casey: Take your time. Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Don’t feel pressured to create what everyone else wants you to. If you are upset because what you draw doesn’t look realistic enough, don’t give up on it. Add something to it. Drawing a lamp? Maybe add a door and some windows onto the base and see if you can’t create your own little world. Mesh, bend, contort and break your idea of art and make it into something else. Make it something that is completely from you and you alone. Stop worrying what others might think. Your relationship with your art is about you and no one else. You’ll find your medium and your style in time. Also, definitely go to art school for a bit if you can or try community classes. There’s something magical about art college and you gain lasting friendships. I personally didn’t stick with it, but I wish I had.

C. Anne: I love everything you just said. It’s so important for aspiring artists of any kind to be true to themselves and their work. Don’t compromise yourself in order to fit into someone else’s idea of what your work should be. Thank you so much, Casey, I have really enjoyed interviewing you and I’m excited to keep following you and see all your amazing work. Readers, please make sure to follow Casey on social media and check out her art!

Follow Casey on Instagram @ CaseyPromise.art

Website: www.CaseyPromise.com