Monstrous Art - Interview with artist Ryan Case
I recently conducted an interview with artist Ryan Case for Fangoria. Case's striking paintings of the enduring icons of fright cinema have gained him comparisons with the likes of Basil Gogos, an artist renowned for capturing the underlying melancholy of the classic Universal Monsters. Head over to Fangoria.com to check it out.
INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST RYAN CASE
Posted by James Gracey
30 year old self-taught artist Ryan Case was born and raised in Maysville, Kentucky. An avid fan of horror since childhood, Case is rapidly gaining recognition for his fervent paintings of the enduring icons of horror cinema. Drawing favorable comparisons to the likes of Basil Gogos, his work – usually exhibiting an experimental mixture of mediums including acrylic, watercolors, and spray paints - incorporates livid colors, striking compositions and a punkish, graffiti-like aesthetic. FANGO recently caught up with Case to discuss the up and coming artist’s work, the recent popping of his Horror Convention hymen and the abiding appeal of Universal’s classic monsters.
FANGO:
When did you
realise
that you wanted to pursue painting as a career?
CASE: I have
always loved creating artwork. But I never really took it very
seriously. I wanted to go into special
FX
makeup in high school, but never pursued it after high school. I
started painting in my downtime at work - I am a body piercer and
tattoo shop manager at Doll Star Tattoo in Maysville, KY.
FANGO:
You’re obviously a fan of horror films! Are there any particular
horror movies that have inspired you on a visual level?
CASE: The
Karloff Frankenstein Monster is my favorite subject to paint. I don’t
know how many paintings I have done of him. And many other paintings
I have done have a Karloff underneath that I painted over because I
needed the canvas! (laughs). His face in that film is so awesome. The
expressions of such love and hate without the knowledge of what these
emotions are is priceless. The classic Universal monsters are my
favorite, but I think I get my love of colors from the Hammer Horror
movie posters.
FANGO:
Yes, you have a very distinct style indeed – how has it developed
throughout your career?
CASE: I started out with just
watercolors and spray paint. My early paintings are very Banksy/
Shepard
Fairey-influenced using mostly hand cut and drawn stencils over
backgrounds on canvas. Over time I started to add acrylics to the
stencils and began to build more layers. For many of my paintings I
still start out with a stencil, and just build layer after layer of
colors with acrylics.
FANGO:
What’s integral to your work as an artist?
CASE: My wife is my
muse. She is the one who has pushed me to create further. When I feel
like I am finished with something, she urges me to go further. My
kids give me the energy to attack the canvas. They also give some of
the greatest and most honest feedback ever. Music is a big part too.
I cannot paint without music or audio books. That really puts me in
the right mindset. Tom Waits is one of my all time favorite
musicians, and I can paint to him for hours.
FANGO:
What other artists inspire you and inform your work?
CASE: So
many. I am a huge fan of Basil Gogos, Boris Vallejo,
Dali, the classic masters, and not just painters; Rick Baker is a big
influence on me as well. The writings of HP Lovecraft; I love to
paint and listen to Lovecraft audio books.
FANGO:
What types of artwork do you most indentify with?
CASE: I love art
that makes you think, but not just some splatter on a wall. Anything
can be called ‘art’, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I
love art that makes you ask questions and makes you want to know more
and see more. To be able to see what’s going on outside the realms
of the canvas. Just around the corner you know something is going on,
but you can’t bend that far to see it.
FANGO: You’ve been
doing the festival/convention circuit recently – how have people
reacted to your work?
CASE: This past July was my first
convention. It was the Days of the Dead in Indy and it was amazing!
We hardly made any money, but to be able to meet the crowd and get
such positive feedback from them was so cool. Not to mention I got
Bill Moseley to sign my Otis painting, and Ace Frehley to sign my
portrait of him. So cool. I am totally addicted to conventions now.
The crowd was awesome. Like I said; very positive reactions to my
work. I think I have a very distinct style that stands out a bit from
the norm and I think that attracts people to my work. Even with the
animal portraits, I never would have thought that my style would go
over well with clients. But it has and it works well.
FANGO:
Yes, you are also involved in various animal welfare projects and
paint pet portraits. Do you find it odd finding some sort of balance
or reconciliation between this type of work and your horror stuff?
CASE: My wife and I started an animal rescue a couple years ago,
to help save the animals from the high kill shelter in our county. I
love doing the portraits. The first one I attempted was for a friend
of ours. Her dog of many years had recently passed away and I wanted
to show her how much she meant to us. After I posted photos I had
tons of requests for them. Monsters are my favorite subject, but the
animals have a life to themselves. It is a great honor to be able to
create a work of art with your own hands and being able to
emotionally touch another person that you have no connection to at
all. It has also helped me give back to other animal rescues that
have helped us. I donate many free portraits for different fund
raisers around the country. It is such an amazing feeling to
help out those that are voiceless.
FANGO:
From conception to completion, what is the painting process for you?
And what kind of mediums do you experiment with?
CASE: It varies
with each painting. I have some paintings I have been working on for
years that I don’t feel are finished, and others I can complete
start to finish in a few days. I have tried many mediums but mostly I
stick with acrylic, watercolors, and spray paints. For a few reasons,
if done right, they can blend easily, they dry quickly, and if flame
is added, it gives a texture you can’t get from any other. I
encourage people to touch my paintings at shows. I love texture, but
unfortunately you can’t copy texture in a print.
FANGO:
How long does it take you – right from having the initial idea –
to complete one of your pieces? And how do you know when each one is
finished?
CASE: For a commissioned work, depending on size, from
a week to a couple of months. Some pieces I have been working on will
never be finished (laughs). I’ll know when it’s done when I put
my signature in the bottom right corner.
FANGO:
Given the current economic climate – do you feel it is more
difficult for artists to make a living from their work?
CASE: If
I could paint and only paint and support my family, I would never
work another job in my life. But as of right now, for me at least, I
don’t feel that is possible. The economy is in bad shape, but it’s
not broken yet. And the fan boy spirit is even harder to break. We
are not called ‘die-hards’ for nothing.
Ryan is currently working in the laboratory with Igor to create a brand-spanking-new website. Meanwhile, you can check out his work by visiting his Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casetronaut-Artwork/
