Artist Anne Moses
Congratulations to Anne Moses for placing as the 3rd Place Winner in the 6th Edition!
who are you?
I am a full-time professional artist, living and working in a small coastal town in England. Since a child, I have always drawn and painted and although they recognised talent at my school it was not considered the 'normal' thing to go on to university.
My only focus was to study painting. I was lucky to gain entry into a wonderful Foundation Course in my local area which was my gateway to studying Fine Art (with the help of a government grant) at the University of Manchester, UK. I hold a BA Honours Degree in Fine Art specialising in Painting.
Up until 2014, I supported my studio practice by lecturing in Art & Design. I managed and delivered a successful Art & Design Foundation Course which enabled many disadvantaged adults to return to mainstream education and gain entry into universities across the UK.
Taking the arduous (although late!) leap into gaining exposure for my work has been a long, lonely journey, however, I am now represented in London and New York, exhibiting nationally and internationally with recent success in the Aesthetica Art Prize 2022, UK, London Art Biennale, 2021 and the London Art Fair, 2021.
“Closed”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
CAN YOU discuss the inspiration and thought process behind 'Closed'?
Observing the world at close range and focusing inward has always been the main element of my work, my point of focus being the human figure and face.
The painting 'Closed' is from a series of paintings depicting fragments of life seen at close range - the portrayal of an elusive touch or feeling, the detail, and minutiae of life, and introspection.
This series forms the basis of a body of work that I wish to develop called 'on the edge of figuration' - taking a blown up, fragmented figurative image into abstraction whilst retaining a high level of detail.
“Touch”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
Your work showcases hyperrealism and close up detail, can you talk to us about the inspiration behind this artistic decision?
There wasn't a conscious decision as such regarding hyperrealism. Looking back at my artistic development, it’s clear that I have always viewed life in close-up, focusing on detailed fragments. After some consideration I have come to the conclusion that this may have a lot to do with having poor eye-sight from being a young child, forcing me to look closer at the detail and minutiae of life, looking at and appreciating texture, pattern, and surface.
I believe that there is an innate response to the mimetic and the re-presenting of our own image, it is something we are fascinated by and conditioned to respond to. I love the fact that painting takes this into another realm with the artist controlling each element of the re-presentation.
“Boy in Red”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
Can you discuss your utilization of people as a subject matter in your work?
I have always drawn and painted people more than any other subject. I am not sure why this is but I am fascinated with the human face/body. I am not interested in making political or profound statements with my work, I respond to and attempt to portray the intimate, almost unconscious moments of reflection.
I often (unconsciously) select people on the basis of certain qualities being evident, responding to certain tensions which may be evident in terms of introspection alongside boldness; shyness alongside confidence, etc. universal qualities of fragility, introspection, and strength that I relate to and we all have.
“If Only”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
Can you explain why you choose Oil Painting as a medium for your work and voice as opposed to others?
From an early age, oil painting has been my preferred medium. It is an incredibly versatile and sensual medium allowing for many different methods of application. The slower properties of oil paint allow me to 'build' a picture layer by layer, strengthening the colour where necessary or leaving thin washes of colour on the surface. The physical act of painting with oils is seductive and exciting.
“Closer 2”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
Have you experimented with other mediums? If so, which ones and how?
Photography is an absolutely essential element in my work. Photographing the world around me is my starting point, capturing the fleeting image passing by or in the more controlled environment of the studio. Creative development of the image then takes place through digital manipulation allowing experimentation with composition, colour and detail prior to scaling up the image onto canvas prior to painting. These are learnt processes that I have developed over time. I also love drawing, particularly with graphite which can elicit the most nuanced detail. Over the years I have worked quite a lot with acrylics and watercolour on paintings both on a large and small scale and, although they are both wonderful mediums in their own way, I find they are both a bit limiting and may be too 'immediate' for me!
“Under cover”
Oil on panel
By Anne Moses
What would you view as your most successful piece? Why?
I can't really say which piece is my most successful. There have been various breakthroughs in my work over the years which have produced significant paintings in my creative development so they are important to me but hopefully the work goes from strength to strength. In terms of technique I feel I have gradually honed my skills as a painter over many years and become more confident and adept with the subject matter I use so I'm always excited about new work Im working on.
“A Touch Remembered”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of painting someone?
A massive breakthrough for me was the accidental discovery a few years ago of using transparent colour oil glazes, building layer on layer of transparent colour allowing the white ground to show through. Whilst 'wiping off' a painting (a part portrait of a friend) I wasn't happy with I accidentally recognised the wonderful, glowing effect it gave by allowing the white of the oil primed canvas to show through, it was this 'happy accident' that led me on to developing the oil glaze painting technique I use today. This technique particularly suits my subject matter giving a luminosity to the skin tones or fabrics depicted in my work. I have extensively researched and studied the technique of glaze painting and adapted it to suit my own purposes to the extent of producing my own slow drying oil glazes.
“Justin”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?
I am currently working on a large painting entitled 'Whitby Girl' (pictured below) which is being developed from a series of photographs taken during COVID lockdown in my hometown of Whitby, UK. It is one of my 'part portraits', depicting a young girl on a summer’s day walking across a bridge - a fragment of everyday life. I am also working on a very small painting from a series of works entitled 'under cover' (see image). This is a painting of Elsa, a young French woman who, although rather camera-shy, has great qualities of strength and determination. I am also about to embark on a new series of works entitled 'on the edge of figuration, I am currently gathering initial photographic source material. Taking close-up figurative images into the realms of abstraction whilst retaining and exaggerating the detail.
“Whitby Girl”
Oil on canvas
By Anne Moses
Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?
Keep going and keep believing in yourself!! Although I have been painting for many years I emerged into the gallery scene late and it has certainly been very daunting at times. Taking the arduous leap into gaining exposure for my work has been quite a lonely journey and there have been times when I have nearly given up, however, I developed a thick skin and just kept pushing on. I now have gallery representation in London and New York, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Prestigious competitions such as the wonderful Boynes Award greatly help to raise your profile and give much needed confidence!
To view more of Anne Moses’ work