Recently, Jasper got the opportunity to talk with Kim Case, effervescent photographer and co-owner of Studio 3P – a photography studio in Irmo, where she has lived since 1976.
Case has been studying art since high school, growing a “foundation of basic studio lighting, camera settings, and classic posing,” before homing in on her identity by apprenticing under Randy Jones and William of Carolina.
As she came into her own as a visual artist—inspired by artists such as William Mortensen, Norman Rockwell, and Caravaggio—she centered on fine art portrait photography.
“Hallmarks of my work are richness and whimsy,” Case emphasizes, “Primarily a portrait (and self-portrait) artist, in my works I seek to capture a moment in time, revealing an intimate aspect of the subject—I want people to feel something familiar when they see my portraits.”
Case’s photographs are so intimate and rich that they are often mistaken for paintings—especially in light of the “humble” but “sometimes fantastical” themes, wardrobe, and props she uses.
“In my world, I portray themes of quiet strength. The images have a peaceful calmness to them. I love the rich textures of velvet and linen,” Case effuses, “I seek out clothing, housewares and tools that are old, worn, and real. Warmth and richness permeate my works, so do shadows created by a strong and directional source of light.”
Case has rooted this love into South Carolina soil at her Irmo business, Studio 3P, where she serves as co-owner and lead photographer. She shows work all over the city, most recently State of the Art and Chapin Town Hall, and is often inspired by fellow local artists, namely Michael Story and Rob Shaw.
Her passion and skill has been widely recognized, and, notably, in 2018, her portrait creation “Girl with Sword” won Best of Show in the professional category of the SC State Fair—the first and only photograph to ever take that prize in the 150+ years of the fair.
Recently, Case has created two series that stand out in her memory. Homespun shows children and young adults in “rustic and wholesome tableaux—captured in mundane tasks” while “graced with strength and dignity.” In the Time of COVID is “composed of self-portraits and still-life art…[focusing] on aspects of life during the pandemic, such as isolation, altering of routines, search for information, tangible boredom, signals of hope, and desire for normalcy.”
Currently, Case is in the final stages of a portrait project called Tools of the Trade—seeking to find a display location late ’22/early ’23—and is initiating a multi-discipline group collaboration that should be ready for the public in late 2023.
See more of Case and her studio’s work at their website.
