My life began in San Francisco, CA in 1942. I was born creative - at least in my own imagination – and at the young age of eight I won the State of Nevada art competition for my age group. An ego building experience to say the least.
After school and a stint in the Navy, I searched for work and direction in my life, experimenting in many art forms along the way, while taking jobs to simply survive. I did everything from floral designer, to roofing, to working nearly every position in the restaurant trade; from dishwasher, cook, and manager.
Married and with our first child on the way, I decided I needed to get serious about my economic future. I was hired by NCR as a salesman and for nine and a half years I rose the corporate ladder to become a District Manager. My last four years there I was assigned to the Columbia, SC office. Even though all my life I had played artist, it was during that time I was determined to be more creative and started painting.
A neighbor that saw my work knew a friend who owned an art gallery, the gallery owner liked what he saw and gave me a chance in a three man show. I just about sold out. After that I showed my work throughout South Carolina and Georgia. With the sales from my art, my wife and I went to picture framing school. After which she began framing all my work, plus other artists from the surrounding area. We did so well, I decided to quit NCR and strike out on my own selling my art.
We founded Chrishawn Associates, Inc. – named after our two boys - way back in 1978. We decided the grass was greener in Florida, so we uprooted our family business and moved to Bradenton. I won’t say we starved our first two years, but there were times we were a little concerned. It all worked out though, and for 25 years we prospered selling original art wholesale to the furniture and interior design industry. We grew to the point where we had 42 in-house artists and craftspeople, an office staff, and 27 independent sales associates across the US and Canada.
That all came to a screeching halt after September 11th, 2001. Within the year we just wound down, finally sold the studio, all 21,000 square feet of it.
I started looking for a job. I discovered that with my list of skills and age I was not as much in demand as I had thought I would be. In desperation I applied at Walmart as a greeter, no luck, they thought I was over qualified. So I retired.
One Christmas I was asked by the American Legion Auxiliary if I would play their Santa at their annual Children’s Christmas Party. I did it, and I loved it! So for the last ten years I have proudly worn the Red Suit.
Although being the spirit of Santa is 24/7 - 365 days a year, I only make a modest income from it a few months out of the year, and the reindeer have to eat year round to be ready to go on Christmas Eve.
So, I decided to create Caso Studios online. Not just to hopefully make ends meet throughout the year, but to show the world my art. I love the challenge of experimenting within my mind, placing pencil to paper along with other mediums such as pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic, leafing, hand made paper, etching, silk screen and collage. All of which have allowed me to create and produce an image with balance and harmony. It can be realistic, abstract, thought provoking, really anything the mind inspires.