Casey Roberts

Gallery Affiliations: Walker Contemporary

Region: Midwest

Website: http://www.wildernessoverload.com

City / State: Indianapolis, IN

My work illustrates a fantastic landscape. It represents nature’s subtle way of dealing with peculiar aspects in its relationship with mankind. A giant glow-in-the-dark heart, or a pile of precious gems, tells us that we are loved, just as blood squirting from an oak tree trunk says, “all is not well.” I am inspired by my conversation with the landscape; I imagine long monologues when pine forests make me laugh and mountains test my patience.

My paintings are created with a photochemical process known as cyanotype, a civil war era process that when exposed to sunlight and developed gives a vibrant blue image. I paint with a light sensitive medium directly on paper or canvas. With everyday items such as baking soda, bleach, and peroxide I am able to achieve a range of colors and textures through controlled chemical reactions. I repeat this process adding many layers until the image is fully realized, often finishing with watercolor painting or a collage element.