Christopher Mooney. shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Christopher, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Each day of the week, my normal day would be scheduled in order to stay focused. A list of accomplishments; preparedness meets opportunities. As a career minded artist, I generally allocate certain days of the week to work on the computer and certain days many hours to paint. There are some days I would have some free time to play like I go to the various social dances. The dances or dance classes helps me stay motivated; it’s the joys of getting out of the house. Every day I try at least go for an hour walk in the neighborhood. That’s when I walk away from the cell phone, I leave my phone at home, observe the clouds, and enjoy nature. Monday or Thursdays are marketing days to apply for the various call for artists to submit for theme art shows or Juried art competitions. Somedays I work on my website www.chrismooneyart.com my site is hosted through Fine Art Studio Online, other days I would watch or participate in a zoom meeting organized by BoldBrush.com
FASO (Fine Art Studio Online) and BoldBrush are essentially the same company, with BoldBrush being the parent brand that encompasses FASO, its core artist website builder, plus a suite of art marketing resources like contests, newsletters, and tutorials, all working together to help artists build businesses and sell art online. Think of FASO as the website platform and BoldBrush as the broader ecosystem providing the tools, community, and marketing power that come with it, including the famous BoldBrush Art Contest and marketing guides.
BoldBrush.com offers free and paid media, information, education, community, apps and sites designed by artists, creatives and art industry professionals for visual artists.
BoldBrush is where you learn the art and business of being a visual artist. You’ll realize your potential as an artist and be inspired to produce your (very) best work, and, if you truly internalize our unique marketing method, which is non-coercive, creative, human and unlike what you find anywhere else, you’ll start getting paid well to do it.
Marketing art is unlike marketing any other product; success depends on the quality and magic of your art and your marketing. It’s not about metrics and tactics; it’s about creating magic.
Today, I’m still learning the ropes to be able to manage the plethora wealth of information BoldBrush have to offer.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Born and raised in New York State, I was surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. Despite being born without hearing due to my mother’s measles during pregnancy, my sight became my dominant sense, guiding me through the world and informing my work. From a young age, I was inspired by the works of Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler, Charles Demuth, John Sloan, and Richard Diebenkorn, as well as our neighbor, the American artist Joseph Golinkin.
Pursuing my deep appreciation for art, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design in New York in 1983. In 1987, I moved to Portland, Oregon, which proved to be a turning point in my career. The exposure to the city’s landmarks and bridges became a central focus of my art, and I am now renowned for my depictions of urban landmarks, primarily bridges, industrial sites, and the working heroes who build and maintain these structures.
The rivers and bridges of Portland are a great source of inspiration for me. I am fascinated by the complex steel girders and geometric shapes that underpin the majesty of bridges, compelling us to stop and breathe in the ingenuity of these grand structures. Through my work, I aim to document buildings and structures that might otherwise go unnoticed or forgotten.
As a painter of contemporary realism, my technique mimics the old masters but embraces a contemporary sensibility and ambience through careful and expressive brushstrokes. I strive to deliver unusual points of view that render exciting realistic and abstract portrayals, particularly in my paintings of bridges and cityscapes. I am also well-regarded for my portraiture, images of working heroes, and figurative work stylistically depicted in modern realism.
I enjoy hiking and walking around cities, carrying my camera to capture photo references. By stepping off the sidewalks, I seek to discover new dimensions in my work, creating paintings that are both abstract and realistic, illustrating the strength and beauty of the world around us. My mission is to share this unique perspective with others, inviting them to see the extraordinary in the everyday and to appreciate the ingenuity and artistry that surrounds us.
My paintings have been exhibited nationally and have received recognition from Oil Painters of America, International Guild of Realism, the American Artist Professional League, and the Society of Washington Artist. My work is currently on display at the Rental and Sales gallery in Portland, Oregon. https://www.rentalsalesgallery.com/
Lately I have been concentrating on fine art painting primarily representational realism. Studying the human form, my inspiration comes from artists such as Daniel Greene’s lonely women in subway stations, Nelson Shanks’ Salome, Steve Hanks’ emotional and thoughtful figurative works, and John C. Kacere, an American painter. Originally an abstract expressionist, Kacere adopted a photorealist style in 1963. Nearly all of his photorealist paintings depict the midsection of the female body. He is considered one of the original photorealists, although he rejected the term.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
“Do a large piece of smokestacks, Chris,” said David Passalacqua, one of my favorite teachers during my senior year at Parson’s School of Design. What? I thought. I just looked at him feeling a bit awkward. I didn’t really like the feeling, and I wasn’t sure why he said that. I looked at my work in progress. I had a decent, albeit slightly boring, illustration going. I wasn’t ready to give up on my illustration. I looked at David. He was an excellent teacher – so extroverted. David’s friendly eyes had an uncanny ability to bore a hole into your soul just by looking at you with the surety he had for the mastery of his craft and literally yank the guts of your creative instincts to the fore. That is what happened to me when I looked at him. He simply kicked my ass – as he was known to do with students – using a mischievous smile and an electric energy spilling from his deep knowledge of illustrative art. He made it his mission to challenge students to higher levels. “OK,” I said to him calmly while my energy surged through my body. Something central changed that day for me. My journey as a painter became a passionate adventure — a mission to capture the unimaginable. He saw me clearly before I could see myself.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
POWERING THOUGH FEAR.
Sometimes I look at a blank canvas and then decide to go mow the lawn.
That is fear for you. Or is it?
Dealing with the feeling of being frozen in front of a blank canvas, or the artistic medium of your heart, is an experience every artist deal with during the creative process. Known as the “creative block,” it is quite daunting when it happens. And it will happen, probably a lot. The feeling of a block can render an artist into a creative funk with great resistance as a result.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The primary solution: Face the fear head on and just get moving on your creation, even if it is just a line on the canvas or a dot on the page.
Move through fear
Fear is crippling and stops the flow of creative energy, which is always there even if you lose temporary access. So embrace the block, really lean into it, and don’t judge it. In fact, stop judging yourself. Just take a deep breath and remember why you are a creator. Now it can be effective to step outside or take a day away from your work all together to reignite creative inspiration. And sometimes it is just a matter of taking the pressure off. But in the end, it is about allowing the gift of 100% self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-love that will assist in moving through the stifling suffocation of a creative block.
Return to the creative flow
Forgive the block, own the block, and watch it dissolve. Your inner critic will give you all kinds of negative feedback when you are in the middle of a creative block but just laugh at that critic. Transcend it. You can do it. Just don’t follow the negative thoughts. You can see them there – be aware – but then choose to not engage with the ego and the psyche. Instead, go into your heart space. This is where inspiration lives.
Keep it simple
Allow the energy you feel during the creative block to be present without judgement. This is important because it creates a space for a sense of peace to return. Remember, this happens to every artist, and it is normal and expected.
Prioritize
What are the three to five most important things that have to happen in your day? Create a list with these items. Make sure you pen only three to five items. The idea here is to re-establish a sense of control over your day – while also maintaining a sense of balance — without sparking more stress and creating stronger blocks. These priorities could be as relaxing as stretching a bunch of canvases for a sense of productivity. Reward yourself for any accomplishment.
Meditate or reflect
After I create a daily priority list to wipe out a block, I will meditate on it to see if it is resonating with my intuition and aligned with my life purpose and mission. Meditating alone can release a creative block simply because the inner work sparks a renewal, which usually leads to inspiration. Remember to remain flexible with your lists.
Trim it down
Try trimming the fat off your day or removing nonessential things to do that don’t actually serve your mission or keep you on track with your specific artistic goals. I mean, do you really need to check your e-mail every 15 minutes? Or would twice a day work better? There are many ways to eliminate stress and wasting time, which can vampire creative energy and result in those dreaded creative blocks.
Just take one small step
Take any immediate step when you feel inspired action, however small, as it is through this action that your momentum begins to build and your intentions become more clearly defined. This is where you feel freedom in your heart. And this further fuels the creative flow. It’s like magic when this happens, so just enjoy it! Don’t question your movements when they come from this kind of heart space. Don’t get in your own way. Instead allow the energy to move you forward. You just have to let go and trust yourself.
Remember patience
Take a moment each day to reflect on your artistic mission and your purpose. Remember to cherish the reasons why you want to create art. These reflections alone will spark a sense of vigor and energy. Connect with your heart each day and know that your work matters because you matter. Create with joy first, and the rest will follow.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Successful – When preparedness meets opportunities. Being successful in any field means a job well done in a timely manner. Patience, execution and methodical work are essential but also it is necessary take personal joy in what you do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chrismooneyart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopherbmoone/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-b-mooney-72a51834/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Walk2bridge
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.b.mooney
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
