ARTIST Q&A: THE DOMESTIC LANDSCAPE OF CASEY MCGLYNN
'DOMESTIC ANIMALS' ON DISPLAY AT BAU-XI GALLERY VANCOUVER, JAN 21 - FEB 2, 2017
Human Animal Earth, 48 x 54 in. mixed media on canvas, 2016
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Casey McGlynn to discuss his latest exhibition, 'Domestic Animals'
What do you want to achieve with autobiographical drawings?
With the autobiographical drawings, I'm continuing my 20 year pursuit of documenting the narrative of my inner life through imagery. Currently, family life has been my foremost preoccupation and the imagery of my new found domesticity - a father of 3 young children - flows naturally.
The structured family life and its weight aren't used often as the subject matter in paintings. With 'Domestic Animals', what are you hoping to say about domestic life?
Family life is simple: supper time; craft time; nap time. I, my wife, and our children participate in all these routine activities together. There is a great deal of beauty and adventure within these small moments.
What is the significance of the animals?
Animals were the beginning of my career as a working artist. I have always been an artist - an obsessed drawer as child, graduating from painting T-shirts to cars. In 1995, I created my first animal based painting which helped to launch my career and introduce me to the world of fine art.
How do you decide your color palettes?
Though I only realized the relationship halfway through completing 'Domestic Animals', the colours I used are drawn from the work of a Dutch outsider artist that I own. It is a painting of cheese that hangs in my peripheral vision in my studio. I wasn't consciously referencing the colours in this painting, but clearly, my fondness for it invaded my pratice.
The sectioning within a painting -- does it carry any meaning, and if so, how do you determine that?
It is a reference to comic book panels, which i love.
Has any of your family members commented on this series of work?
My wife actually said she wanted to keep the paintings in the series that are very personal. But, I felt it was important to exhibit them ... the best joy is that I get to be with the subjects in my paintings everyday.
