New Paintings.

For many years I’ve lived in the Portland, Oregon area, primarily in the Lake Grove neighborhood of Lake Oswego. A year ago, I moved to Vancouver, Washington. It’s been a very busy year creating many new works of art.

I created several remakes by studying and copying the masters of paintings like I was doing reproductions. I was fascinated how I was able to do this, learning by copying what a master artist created. Through observational skills and critiquing their own work, many successful artists themselves also copied or studied from the masters.

So here are a few I’ve created.

Rokeby Venus. Painting by Diego Velázquez. 1647.

The Fan. Painting by Christopher B. Mooney. 2022

This is my version, a remake, and a similar composition to The Grand Odalisque.

The original painting by Ingres of the woman is in the nude. Today we clothe the women in tight or loose fabrics or other sensual material primarily as props, leaving the viewer to imagine the sensation. It’s like a suggestion instead of the beauty of the female nude.

Rokeby Venus. Painting by Diego Velázquez. 1647.

Tattoo Venus. Painting by Christopher B Mooney. 2022.

This is my version, a remake, and a similar composition to Rokeby Venus. The original painting by Velázquez of the woman is in the nude. I chose to clothe this subject in tattoos. It seems an ugly or tribal movement only to suggest instead of portray the beauty of the female nude.

Cityscape #3. Painting by Richard Diebenkorn. 1963.

Cityscape No.3. Painting by Christopher B. Mooney. 2022.

This is my version, a remake, of the abstract landscape painting Cityscape #3. I personally think it’s the most color-discordant work of art I’ve ever seen, and yet that’s the reason it’s the most successful work of art. For each different color in my painting, I had to mix a batch of different colors and set aside the palette to create another color. I must have had about five or six palettes! Normally, I use one palette with a minimum of colors—old school colors—yellow, red, and blue with ochre, sienna, umber, and white to create one entire painting.

Hello Friends and Art Enthusiasts →

Coming this Friday, October 28, is the Fall Show at the Rental and Sales Gallery, Portland Art Museum, 1237 SW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97205. Artist’s reception 4-7pm. All are welcome to come.  I have two new paintings on display there.

 

Clark County Open Studios is coming up the first weekend in November! Studios will be open November 5th and 6th. Saturday-Sunday, 10:00am-5:00pm. 

https://artstra.org/open-studios/

 

Last year I moved to Vancouver, WA, therefore the event is my first time in the Vancouver area. It’s been a very busy year creating many new works of art, Clark County Open Studios is the perfect opportunity to check it out.  I will have a painting in progress to share my process, mess and all.

My studio is # 18

https://artstra.org/2021-artists/christopher-mooney/

6101 NW Kauffman Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98663

 

Looking forward to seeing you around, have a great week and a safe Halloween weekend.

NEW LANDSCAPES. →

A graduate of Parson’s School of Design, I’m known as professional artist in the Pacific Northwest for painting urban landmarks, primarily bridges. Influenced by Edward Hopper’s landscape paintings of New England, Arthur Dove’s modern and abstract works, and Hudson River School artist John Frederick Kensett’s “luminism” in his American landscape paintings. I am currently creating plein air landscapes using the blue and crimson primary colors. Four different sizes, large to small, using chip brushes, dabbing like hitting the canvas, creating a texture. It is fascinating how this technique brings out some kind of peculiar magic that I need to experience again and again…. Last September, I was staying at the Oregon coast and a little each day I would walk barefoot at the beach, “earthing” to aid recovery from covid, currently herd immunity, and I soon discovered the ambiance of the crisp need to do plein air!

First Light. Oil on canvas, 48” x 60”

First Light II. 30” x 40”

First Light III. 16” x 20”

First Light IV. Oil on canvas board. Oil on canvas. 12” x 16”

Portrait of Gigi Rosenberg

It was a pleasure to connect with Gigi Rosenberg and have the opportunity to create a portrait. https://gigirosenberg.com/

I thank Gig for the experience to do a portrait of her.

A small world coincidence, knowing the family of artists, her dad is Robert Shore http://www.robertshorepainter.com/

When I attended his classes at Parson’s School of Design, New York City, in the early 1980s, it was Robert Shore was one of the teachers there when I majored in Illustration classes and drawing classes as well.

2006 -2009, I had attended several of Gigi's lectures and workshops about elevator speeches for artists, how to connect and speak with the funders, and workshops on how to successfully write better grants for artists.  I had attended the various workshops through RACC (Regional Arts & Culture Council) and Clackamas County Arts Alliance. https://gigirosenberg.com/the-artists-guide-to-grant-writing

Around 2010, Gigi was getting her name recognized in the community, I was noticing how established artists in the community would do portraits of other notable people in the art scene, art community, friends, or art enthusiasts.  I then decided to ask Gigi to do a portrait. It was then we've discovered Robert Shore is her dad, and was a teacher at Parson's School of Design.

2013, with help from Kathleen Lansing, an advisor at Small Business Development Center in Clackamas, I finally did receive and was accepted for a Project Grant to create two paintings documenting the workers building the Tilikum Crossing. https://oregonsbdc.org/centers/clackamas-sbdc/

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Here is what Gigi wrote in her LinkedIn page.

In 2010, the esteemed Portland artist, Christopher B. Mooney, asked me if he could paint my portrait. To me, this wasn’t an odd request because I’m the daughter of New York City painter and illustrator Robert Shore. The first portrait my dad drew of me was when I was a newborn and I have several other portraits throughout my life, all done by my father, until this one.

Now that Chris is leaving Portland, he dropped off my five-foot high by four-foot-wide portrait at my house this week. It’s by far, the biggest portrait I have!

The sweetest part of this story is that when I was considering Chris’ 2010 request, I noticed on his resume that he had graduated from the Parsons School of Design - The New School in New York City. When I told him that my father had taught there, I discovered that my dad was one of his favorite teachers.

My dad passed away in 2014 but he did get to see a photo of this portrait so he knows that the tradition of painting his daughter’s portrait continues with his former student! Thank you, Chris!

Gigi.jpg

Portrait of a Notable Police Officer.

The detective who knew too much: Don DuPay’s Portland police career haunts him. He’s still trying to get justice - oregonlive.com

Recently read an article in the Oregonian, link above, about Don Dupay a friend, a retired police officer, who I’ve completed a portrait of. He has written two books, both very gripping and has an excellent description of Portland’s police their early years in the 1960s and 1970s their lives of being police officers and their responsibilities. I was excited for him an excellent article written by Douglas Perry. Well written, truthful, and important too. People are proud of Don his career with PPB. I’m looking forward for his third book, "The Tainted Rose: Stories from a Portland Detective," coming this year. Enjoy.

ChristopherMooney-005A6011.jpg

In Response to the Pandemic.

In response to the pandemic, most art galleries and art organization juried events have been curtailed. In response to this there has been a movement to hold their juried events and exhibitions online. This is a world-wide response and has opened up opportunities for most artists to exhibit their work to a much larger audience. I have taken advantage of this and is active with entries in different countries and locales.

Excited! My work, Climate Control, will be displayed in an online show in the International Guild Of Realism, Spring Salon Online Exhibition. March 20th-May 20th. Please find the link to the show which will be display the month of March- https://www.realismguild.com/exhibitions/upcoming.php

Climate Control.jpg

Artrepreneur

Hello Friends and Art Enthusiasts, Excited! I recently just started using www.artrepreneur.com an online art gallery, a site to buy and sell artwork, find a creative job, apply for opportunities, and learn about the business of art. An online gallery to showcase your artful career. Express your love of art & design. I’m being an Artrepreneur, and uploaded a variety of my images of my paintings available for sale.

Thought to share and have a look, and wish me luck.

Chris

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In Response to the Pandemic.

In Response to the Pandemic.

Grey Cube Gallery is delighted to inform me that my artwork has been selected for inclusion into the 2020 Artist’s Choice online art show. The artwork was awarded First Place. Thank you.

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In Response to the Pandemic.

In Response to the Pandemic.

In response to the pandemic, most art galleries and art organization juried events have been curtailed. In response to this there has been a movement to hold their juried events and exhibitions online. This is a world-wide response and has opened up opportunities for most artists to exhibit their work to a much larger audience. I have taken advantage of this and is active with entries in different countries and locales.

I am delighted to receive a Merit Award in Art Room Gallery Contemporary Art Exhibition. I thank Art Room Gallery for this opportunity.

Current Exhibition (artroomgalleryonline.com)

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