Recently thirty-six year old Tacoma graphic designer Joshua Casey opened a showing of six Warhol inspired oil paintings at the Rosewood Café in the Proctor District. Trained at the Northwest College of Art in Poulsbo, Casey went to work for Burke Gibson Inc in Auburn following graduation. In 2006 he struck out on his own with his own graphic design company, Josh Casey Designs based in the North Tacoma home he shares with wife Jamie and their two daughters. Just as he was beginning to develop a clientele the economy took a nose dive in the fall of ‘08. Despite some struggles finding projects, he’s been able to acquire some commissions that if not lucrative have been highly visible.
The First Night Poster for 2008 was a feather in his cap and helped garnered him some work with Metro Parks designing brochures for the summer programs at Pt. Defiance. The down economy also allowed him to be Mr. Mom when Jamie—who works as a court reporter from home—gave birth to their second daughter Lydia in the fall of 2008. At the Day of the Dead Exhibition at the Tacoma Art Museum, Casey had a work featured on one of the altars.
The down economy also gave him time to return to his first love, painting. The result is on display at the Rosewood located at 26th and Warner in North Tacoma. A long-time fan of Casey’s work, I have a signed First Night poster hanging in the entrance to my home and some of his earlier works, much earlier works, in my bedroom. You see, this talented 36 year old happens to be my oldest son. And to borrow from Paul Harvey, “Now you know the rest of the story.”
6 comments:
Thanks for sharing!
This story is inspirational and motivational to me in a number of ways!
My pleasure, really really my pleasure. I didn't want to use the old "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade" because it is so over used, but sometimes it happens. Now we have our fingers crossed that the paintings sell.
Stephanie, this is just a great post. He looks like you! Wow!
I know the Rosewood Cafe well. It's my old stomping grounds! My childhood home is mere blocks away. I am in that end of town regularly to visit and I am going to drop by the cafe (which has AMAZING food by the way) to check it out!
Your son is really talented. Clearly, he is passionate about his craft.
You have a very nice family Stephanie.
Josh took me to dinner at the Rosewood and their food is VERY good and the owner very complimentary about Josh (while he was in the bathroom). Just what a mom loves to hear.
Thank you, Kim, about my family. My youngest is studying to be a software engineer and the middle boy is working on a children's novel about a little boy who goes to the beach to spend time with his grandparents who are obsessed with lamps. This is only partially true. We are also obsessed with clocks and radios. We want to know what time it is, be able to see to read and listen to NPR. Anyway, I have hopes to someday live in the manner in which I have yet to be come accustmed to!
What a great family all in all, Stephanie!! Very cool art.
Post a Comment