Artist Profile: Chase King

By Atiya King

When walking into Chase Kings art studio/workshop, visitors eyes zigzag everywhere, ping-ponging off the walls lined with fascinating works. Between the kaleidoscope of colors, the intoxicating scent of oil paints, and the mesmerizing artwork, viewers will have a hard time keeping their hands to themselves.

Even though art appreciators may be tempted to pick up every picture, examine it, and find the meaning, etiquette suggests avoiding this because the studio is much like an art gallery. So, visitors walk slowly with their hands in their pockets to avoid knocking anything over, remembering what their moms used to say any time they entered a fancy department store as children Dont touch anything! Yeah, thats the feeling viewers get when surrounded by paintings called Jail Birds, Fishery, and many others.

But 27-year-old artist Chase King has a different approach to his art. He encourages admirers to touch everything pick it up and devour every piece. Hes proud of his work, and he should be. While his works can be viewed online, in his studio, art enthusiasts can see every little detail of each work, slowly gliding the pads of their fingers over the roughly textured pieces.

Though many assume the raised mounds are simply shellacked globs of paint applied to certain areas of a canvas, King explains that many of his works are painted over paper. Its mixed media, he says with a smile.

King has been an artist for over 11 years. His passion for art started during his sophomore year at Etowah High School, where his art teacher encouraged him to start painting after his mothers passing. This young artist clearly has talent. King disagrees, Its not a talent but a drive.

And, a drive it is. King says he paints every day, Its a compulsion, an outlet.

His studio is proof of this. Paintings fill the room, leaning against the walls. Most of them are abstract. Splashes of color meticulously dance across canvases. Twirling combinations of light and dark pli into crashing waves. Long, graceful strokes of muted grays, greens, and blues create smooth, tubular designs. Its like poetry that allows readers to understand nothing then everything.

When asked what he wants his art to say,
King says his art is personal, from the heart,
honest and genuine.

He wants people to see what he doesnt, to see beauty in waves crashing against rocks and in blackbirds perched on a tube against an apricot-colored sky. Beauty is especially evident in Madeline with a Ponytail, a painting of his current muse.

Along with his partner, Madeline Henriques, who will be managing sales and outreach, King is in the process of developing a small fine art company. For more information, to view his works, or to contact him, see the following information:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I 404-409-6968
ChaseKingArt.com
Facebook - chasekingart
Instagram - @chasekingart