Art & Life with Kathy Curtis Cahill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Curtis Cahill.

Kathy, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Growing up in a working class family in upstate New York, I was always interested in the magic of photography. At a young age I took over the job of family historian with my first Kodak Brownie camera. I majored in art in high school and college, with photography as part of both curriculums, so was able to learn how to shoot from the ground up, particularly enjoying the dark room experience.

After earning my degree in art education, I moved to Los Angeles and became involved in the entertainment industry as a Set Decorator. I worked for over 30 years in this capacity, in commercials, music videos, independent films, and eventually, television series. I garnered an Emmy Nomination in 2001 for my work on the CBs series “Judging Amy,” and ended my career after six years ABC’s “Criminal Minds”.

I had to learn many skills in order to execute the task of transforming empty sets to realistic living environments. I began using my own photographs as set dressing to avoid clearance issues. I learned to photograph many different subjects and built a large inventory of photographs, eventually starting a website to license them to other television and film productions.

After retiring from Set Decorating in 2011, I began pursuing photography full time, taking classes and moving into the world of fine art photography. My interests was primarily in night photography, with an emphasis on store window displays and mannequins, seeing in them as tableaus that tell a story in much the same way set decorating did. The deserted streets added to the atmosphere of “otherness” to my work.

I then completed two bodies of work based on my childhood memories, using old style composition dolls as stand ins for children. Creating the sets and shooting everything realistically was a great challenge, but created powerful narratives.

My interests are varied, and I continue to widen my photographic themes. In my newest work I have returned to the allure of the night, but with nature as my subject matter.

I composite photographs, turning day into night to create dramatic and vividly surreal landscapes.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
As photography is my medium, I have a lot of tools in post processing to create unique images and I try to keep learning and expanding my skill. Most of all, I want my art to be eye-catching and provocative.

I have done street photography, I have staged my own narratives and shot studio style, I recently have learned compositing, or photo collage, as a new way to create dramatic images from my own photographs.

Although my art is very personal, the message is what the viewer takes away. I do have several bodies of work that deal with universal childhood issues, both trauma events and the coping mechanisms of play.

The best artwork is authentic, expressing what you feel personally. This does not include being able to produce art that covers every subject matter that may be currently in vogue. Although I am aware of what is happening in the world, it is not expressed in a direct way.

If you look at my website you will see a wide variety of subject matter, lacking only portraiture. For some reason, I do not feel drawn to photographing real people, but to create atmospheric pictures that imply people have been there. I think my latest work has a surreal quality to it, like an alien landscape. Stranger in a strange land, as that is what I am feeling at this time. I could say that about all of my work looked at chronologically. It reflects where I was at personally in my life.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Conditions for artists to have their work seen today with the advent of social media has of course increased to the point of saturation. But having your art seen, and having it sold are two different things. An artist creates because they are driven to do it. Most artist I know have a day job, because you cannot sell enough work to live on, especially in Los Angeles. If you have a supportive partner at home, that can be helpful, but it still takes years to create a style that is recognizable as your signature work. It is called branding, and I resist it, because it requires you do the same type of thing over and over again.

There is also a camera in every smart phone so it is particularly hard for photographers to distinguish themselves. It has to be a passion, and you have to work at it, even if you are not getting paid.

I consider being an artist a calling, not a choice. You either know that is who you are, or it is too hard to try to be one. Being driven is an attribute every artist I know has, Encouraging people who you recognize has this is all other artist can do. You will find on social media most of the people who like your work, already know you.
Networking in the art scene is another important component. Being a part of the group you identify with not only nourishes you, but expands your opportunities.

Since it is difficult for brick and mortar galleries to sell work in competition with the internet, local communities could offer more opportunities for Pop Up galleries, with no fee, or low fee entries. There are many building that are empty in Los Angeles and the surrounding cities where perhaps an art council could offer an incentive to the landlord to use their space for this purpose. Social media does not take the place of seeing art in person. It is an interactive social event that I would hate to see disappear.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am on Instagram, kathycurtiscahill, and have a Face Book photography blog, Kathy Curtis Cahill Fine Art Photography, and of course, my website under the same name.

I am not currently showing anywhere because I am working on 2 new series, and living in the Central Coast at the moment. I have a studio there, and since my current work is nature based, the many state parks and open land afford me opportunities for subject matter that is easier to shoot than in Los Angeles, where even in the nicest gardens, it is hard to see the trees for the forest!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 818-357-7215
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: kathycurtiscahill
• Facebook: @KCahillFineArtPhoto
• Twitter: @Kathy_C_Cahill

Image Credit:
Kathy Curtis Cahill

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