Sandy Moser Visual Language Magazine May 2014 Vol 3 No 5

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VL

May 2014 Volume 3 No. 5

VISUAL LANGUAGE contemporary fine art

Sandy Moser

ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

VL

Sandy Moser

When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be an artist?

I think that being an artist was always part of my dreams. I started drawing and painting as a teenager and always loved to create. I choose to go to Nova Scotia Teachers College instead of art college, so it wasn’t until I retired that I had the time to concentrate on painting. Being an artist and creating art now is huge part of my life. Besides painting, I do photography, make jewelry, and do rug hooking.

Who has been your mentor, or greatest influence to date?

I have always admired Robert Bateman as an artist. He is an icon in Canada. But I would have to say that taking art lessons from wildlife artist Ron Decker has been the greatest influence for me.

He not only is a great artist, but he has really taught me the basis for creating wildlife art.

Who is another living artist you admire and why?

There are so many great wildlife artists that I admire and study their works. Some of them are John Seerey –Lester, Guy Coheleach, John Banovich, Terry Isaac, Carl Brenders and Derek Wicks. But, I would have to say that the late Bob Kuhn is my favorite artist which is rather amusing because he painted his works with minimal detail. My paintings are so realistic and I strive to work towards simplicity.

What is your favorite surface to create work on or to work with? Describe it if you make it yourself.

I use canvas for my acrylic paintings and I gesso it several times and sand it between coats. This gives me a smooth surface to create detail. I also paint with pastels, and I use swede matboard for this medium. This allows me to use various layers to create detail.

What are your favorite materials to use?

I use Liquitex paints. They allow me to apply paint with a palette knife or I dilute the paints to create thin glazes.

Do you have a favorite color palette?

I love to work with bright colors such as red, burgundy and teal. However, when working with wildlife art, I don’t get to work with this bright palette. For the wildlife art I use a limited palette of colors which are Titanium white, Mars Black, Cadmium Red Medium and Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Orange, Dioxazine Purple, Quinacridone Magenta, Payne’s Gray, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Hooker’s Green, Sap Green, Ultramarine Blue, and Phthalocyanine Blue.

How often do you work on your artwork? How many hours a week?

I try to paint everyday but sometimes this doesn’t happen. I have been diagnosed with Chronic Daily Headaches so that dictates how much time I can spend painting. A good day would be to paint around 3 – 4 hours.

Sunshine in a Cup http://www.sandymoserart.com/

Eye’m Wide Awake Acrylic 20 x 16

Where’s Brother Charley

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

VL

Sandy Moser

What is the one thing you would like to be remembered for?

I’d like to be remembered as an educator. I spent 20 years teaching in the public school system and I also teach a painting group.

There are many culprits that can crush creativity, such as distractions, self-doubt and fear of failure. What tends to stand in the way of your creativity?

I would say that at this time in my life I am filled with creative ideas. There are so many images that I would like to paint. I also find designing and creating sea glass jewelry has given me a new medium to create.

What are your inspirations for your work?

I immerse myself in nature and from that experience I create my art. I hike, canoe, kayak and beachcomb and travel to animal parks. I live on the ocean so there are many birds and animals that live in my area. We have deer and raccoons that visit our backyard and many species of birds come to our bird feeders.

What is your favorite way to get your creative juices flowing?

I take a lot of photographs of birds and animals and scenery, so I will often look at these images on my computer. Also, getting out in nature helps me become creative.

Which work of yours is your favorite?

I always say that the one that I’m painting on is my favorite. They are like my children, you can’t choose which one is your favorite.

In Momma’s Embrace

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

Yellow Rose of Texas

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

Sandy Moser

ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

VL

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

Friends of Taylor Head

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

Sandy Moser

ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

VL

Thanks Momma

Loon Dance

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

I Love You Momma Acrylic- 24 x 36

Getting Cozy

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

Sandy Moser

ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

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Muted Brilliance

Tuckered Out

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

Getting to know you Q&A What is your favorite color in your closet? purple, and teal What book are you reading this week? A book by Sandra Brown Do you have a favorite television show? I enjoy nature shows and American Idol.

What is your favorite food? seafood What color sheets are on your bed right now? Blue What are you most proud of in your life? Raising my children Who would you love to interview? I would have loved to interview Nelson Mandela.

Do you have a passion or hobby other than painting? What is it? I create sea glass jewelry and I love hiking, canoeing and kayaking.

Who would you love to paint? I don’t paint portraits.

If you were an animal what would you be and why? A tiger. They are beautiful.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three things, what would they be? A phone, survival kit and a boat.

Share something with us that few people know about you. I love sushi.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? I love Canada, but it would be nice to live in a warmer climate in the winter.

I have been painting endangered species for several years, as well as animals that are indigenous to Canada. I want the viewer to be able to appreciate the beauty of these creatures in my paintings, and perhaps they will understand how important it is that each of us must do our part to try to preserve the environment for their habitat. I feel that each individual has a responsibility to co-exist on this planet in a way that respects and protects wildlife and their surroundings.

http://www.sandymoserart.com/

www.sandymoserart.com