Alumni Interviews: Kaleigh Atkins-Casey
Over the summer we had the opportunity to sit down with an amazing alumna of the Barn, Kaleigh Atkins-Casey. Read more about Kaleigh below!
What years did you attend the Barn, and at what age did you begin classes?
I was 10 when I started, and I was there for almost ten years from 1995 to 2004.
What drew you to study at the Barn?
My pop-pop was friends with Pat Witt, and he felt that I had potential in the art world after my entry won in the Delaware Bay Day drawing competition and was on the front cover. It was thanks to him that I studied at the Barn Studio of Art.
Did you attend alone or with family members and friends? Are you a first- or only-generation student, or have other family members also attended at some point?
I am the only one in my family to attend the classes.
What art forms and media do you enjoy most?
I used to love oil painting and drawing, but now I really enjoy doing room mock-ups in Photoshop to create a visual for design direction, which is a part of my professional work.
Tell us about your career journey and what you are doing today.
I became interested in architecture and design when I studied in Millville, watching the new Riverfront Renaissance Center be built from the ground up. The new open space created an environment where people could meet and create art together. After the Barn, I continued studying Fine Arts at Pratt Munson-Williams-Proctor in Utica, NY, until I transferred to the Interior Design department at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.
In New York City, I learned how to hustle to survive while working at various companies in commercial design. As an Interior Designer at a firm called K&Co, I created a special niche in staging and styling multi-family residences for developers. After almost 5 years at the firm, I moved with my husband to Denver, CO, where we could enjoy nature and build a family. I recently took a design position in the Model Home division of Trio, an interior design firm. I work on model homes for builders, providing direction for construction finishes and furnishings. That includes everything from the furniture to counter-top finishes. I am proud to say that both K&Co and Trio are women-owned businesses.
What are your most memorable experiences and lessons at the Barn, or specifically with Pat Witt, which may have inspired your passion for the arts?
Miss Pat helped me earn the Women’s Society scholarship to pay for my tuition. I felt really lucky because it gave me the chance to work with other local artists who helped me explore the world of art further. While attending Friday Night classes, I learned to work with oil, watercolor, sumi-e, paper-making, pottery, guaoche, egg tempera, and charcoal.
She also introduced me to the Art Creates Excellence Program at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville. I became a volunteer at the gallery and helped out with “Third Friday,” an art exhibition that was held on the third Friday of each month. I looked forward to this event because I was able to learn about other artists’ reactions to the various art forms, and felt inspired by their work.
My art lessons with Pat left me with a strong passion for oil painting. She showed me how to be free and flow with each stroke. “Do not paint like you are painting a fence,” she said. I liked that I could fix mistakes easily and was very proud of my oil painting skills.
What do you feel is the role of an artist in society today? And what is the best piece of advice you have given aspiring artists?
Artists help tell the story of their times. You can learn about history by looking at paintings and sculptures from the past, for example. As an interior designer, I believe that my work can influence how people experience their physical space and engage with others.
The key to success is self-discipline, hard work, and a lot of networking.
