Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Moffett.
Hi Michaela, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I can’t really remember when art wasn’t in my life, but I began taking art classes at the age of 7 after many years of scribbling with crayons on the floor. I never realized how much I would fall in love with it. After attending a consecutive 10+ years at my childhood studio, I began studying drawing and painting at California State University, Fullerton, where I found an interest in color theory, concept, and plein air painting.
Throughout my time at CSUF, I focused on building and strengthening my tools, even staying an extra year to take several additional painting classes.
During my fourth year at CSUF, I spent a year abroad in Florence, Italy, where I studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti, the school started by Michelangelo in the Renaissance era. Since I’ve been back in the U.S., I spent several years after graduation working as an art teacher at an independent studio, instructing both kids and adults in the fundamentals of drawing and painting. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we were forced to teach online, our student numbers dwindled, and so did my hours.
Through that chaotic time, I found myself with a lot of extra time with nothing to do but be in my thoughts. I found mental solace in my studio every day in between teaching online. At first, I created simply to paint, to work through what I was feeling, but I soon realized, people gravitated to what I made and found joy in it as well. Not long after, I had people purchasing and ordering artwork from me and that’s when I realized that not only was I happiest during those hours, but it seemed a possibility to make this my life. In June of this year, I was able to finally say that I am now a full-time artist and I have been growing quickly ever since!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There has definitely been many struggles, more than I can count. However, one particular initial struggle that sticks out to me is an internal one. A conflict that every artist at some point in their career encounters is the moment when you call yourself an “artist”. I never felt qualified to boldly claim that title because it seemed to equate me to all the great masters before me and needless to say, I wasn’t there yet. However, the first step in moving into my career was simply taking on that title with inner confidence, despite what my doubts whispered, despite what my sales might say, despite what my CV depicts. I have learned that in order for people to place value in my work, I must first consider it valuable.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work predominately in oil and gouache paint at this time. Gouache is more of a recent exploration and I have grown to love it, especially as a tool to create smaller, sketchier paintings which can easily translate back into my oil work. Through my study of oil and its techniques, introducing gouache into my work was a relatively smooth transition. To me, these two mediums work hand-in-hand and have made me a stronger painter by using both.
During my time in college, I was fascinated with fabric and patterns layered with paint and I would like to revisit that technique soon as well now that I have progressed in my understanding of shape and color. Internally, as someone who is constantly active in my thoughts: processing, contemplating, and making sense of my environment, I found these particularities of my personality manifesting itself in my artwork through precise color mixing and intentional brush marks. In order to make sense of the world through paint, I spend most of my time creating the right color for the right place – much like piecing together a puzzle.
It helps me to feel control and calm as I focus to interpret my surroundings, mostly in Plein Air, both landscape and urban scenes. I really try to prioritize working from life because I’m able to see and replicate the colors more vividly and correctly rather than through a photo which tends to lack the ability to capture true color. Stylistically, I’m interested in capturing light and color and less interested in minute details. In this way, my application process is somewhat impressionistic. Instead of rendering specificities of an object or scene, I attempt to simplify through shape-making and subtle color variations.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
As someone who has finally been able to launch their dream career in the world of art, I have realized more than ever how important these two habits have been in allowing that to happen: consistent practice and asking for help. Since before I launched my full-time career, I began painting pretty much everyday.
Before then, it was a good week when I painted once for a few hours. Within the first month alone of steady painting, I instantly saw, painting by painting, how much I improved and gained a new understanding of my material. Dedication to my craft is the foundation and passion of my work and is what attracts my buyers and collectors. In addition to practice, learning to put on a humble spirit and ask questions, inquire for tips and accept constructive critique is essential. As creatives, it is so simple to live in competition with others and clothe ourselves in pride in order to feel equal or superior to others, especially in a world who’s narrative is “starving artist”.
It’s as if we are told there are only a limited number of “spots” to fit select successful artists and we are all striving to reach those few scarce positions.
That is a myth. There are as many “spots” as artists are willing and able to fill them. Once I let go of a competitive mindset, my business grew incredibly by learning and incorporating suggestions and habits of other creatives!
Contact Info:
- Email: michaelamoffett1@gmail.com
- Website: www.michaelamoffett.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moffettstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoffettArtStudio/
Image Credits:
Michaela Moffett
