We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Deutsch and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Casey, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Over the past year, work/life balance has been incredibly important to me. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I used to work as an art teacher and my personal life was largely dictated by my work schedule. Most of my art is inspired by trips to the mountains where I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, and camping. But much like the rest of Denver’s population, I found myself in a constant race against traffic in order to find space to do what I loved most. At a certain point, that also feels like work and I start to lose interest. Since stepping back from teaching, I have had the chance to flip the priorities in my life for the better; now I get to focus on a more meaningful lifestyle for myself while allowing enough space for natural inspiration. I find that when I have the time to recharge, I am more motivated to create and share my love of art and the outdoors with my clients. This balance has allowed me to take real pride in my work, not only because I can see the growth and the impact it has on clients, but also because it has allowed me to take care of my own needs.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The idea behind most of my work is that I enjoy turning adventures into wooden works of art. In just about every piece, I combine techniques like woodcarving and shaping, layering, and painting to achieve near-realistic affects. When people see my work in person, it’s the texture and layers that they notice first. I get most excited when people tell me “Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this before!” As an artist, it is incredibly gratifying to hear you have created something new and different from what people are used to seeing. I am really proud of the growth I have made as an artist over the 3 years that I have been creating these wooden pieces. When I began, my work was so simple; I only had a few tools at my disposal and hadn’t developed many of the techniques I use today. Now, my work is much more detailed and it continues to improve as I invent new ways to represent the natural world. I also love to have found the organization One Tree Planted. Through them, I donate one tree with every purchase to help reforest Colorado and to help reduce the impact I have through my work.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t move to Denver for the access to the mountains. For that reason, I get most excited to share that part of my life with visiting friends. A stay would often start with some hole-in-the-wall Mexican food around town, followed by a visit at Red Rocks before going on a scenic drive up to the continental divide. There would definitely be a few nights spent out in a tent but I like to keep my secret camp spots guarded!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of my success has come from the support of my close friends who have been by my side since I started this business. I am most thankful for the hours of discussion and ideas generated from Alex, Bridget, Jeff, and Ryan.
Website: www.highalpinedesigns.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highalpinedesigns/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highalpinedesigns