“You have to have a pedigree.”
Spanierman Gallery.
Around 2008, my mother suggested that I book an appointment at the Spanierman Gallery in New York City. I was never entirely certain whether she had a personal acquaintance there, or if she was quietly evaluating an art collection of her own to sell. Whatever the reason, the gallery was a familiar fixture in our lives; she regularly received their glossy, large-scale monthly exhibition booklets in the mail, their oversized pages heavy with the weight of the prestigious art market. I often wondered about the true nature of her connection whether she knew someone behind those closed doors, or if she was subtly charting a path to sell off pieces of her own art collection.
The owner looked at my portfolio. He was an old man, looking thoroughly bored, not saying a single word as he flipped through my paintings. When he finished, he closed the portfolio, looked at me, and said, “You have to have a pedigree.” What, the hell, did he even mean by that?
It would sound like an incredibly frustrating, dismissive, and cold experience, but it is a classic (and brutal) glimpse into how the elite commercial art world operates. When the owner of the Spanierman Gallery (which was a highly prestigious, high-end gallery in New York City specializing in American art) told me that you need a "pedigree," he was using a dog-breeding term to describe my artistic credentials and market validation.
In that specific, high-end gallery context, he meant that the raw quality of my paintings did not matter to him unless it was backed up by an institutional and social resume.
To a commercial dealer like him, a "pedigree" consists of specific markers:
Educational Background
He was looking for elite institutional backing. In the fine art world, having an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) from a prestigious institution like Yale, Columbia, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), or Hunter College acts as a stamp of approval. It tells the dealer that a panel of experts has already vetted you. I guess Parson’s School of design doesn’t matter for him.
Exhibition History & Representation
Galleries look at my "provenance" as an artist. They want to see a history of solo or group shows at other recognizable, lower-tier or mid-tier galleries, non-profit art spaces, or museum group exhibitions. They rarely want to be the absolute first person to discover someone straight off the street.
Social Validation & Network
The art market is heavily reliant on relationships. A pedigree means anyone who is connected to known curators, critics, or prominent collectors who can vouch for anyone’s work. Dealers want to know that if they hang my art, they can write a press release citing my awards, residencies (like Yaddo or MacDowell), or grants (like a Guggenheim or Pollock-Krasner fellowship). I had not attended the Helen Wurlitzer Foundation Artist Residency, Taos, New Mexico. Yet till 2017. That was a start. LOL.
The Cold Truth: Marketability vs. Art
When he closed my portfolio without commenting on the art itself, he was not necessarily saying my paintings were bad. He realized he did not know how to sell them to his clientele.
High-end galleries sell art as an investment. Collectors at that level buy the artist's career trajectory just as much as they buy the canvas. Without a "pedigree," dealers couldn't justify a high price tag to his buyers because he could not prove his worth using the art world's traditional checklist.
It was a snobbish, gatekeeping response, but it speaks entirely to the financial mechanics of the New York art market, not my talent as a painter.
Knowing my medium and timeline unlocks exactly what was going on in Ira Spanierman’s mind during your 2008 visit.
Ira Spanierman who built a legendary 60-year career as a giant in American art before retiring and eventually passing away in 2019 was viewing your work through a hyper-specific, traditional lens. The Spanierman Gallery on East 58th Street was an absolute titan for 19th and early 20th-century historical American art. They dealt heavily in Hudson River School landscapes, American Impressionism, and Ashcan School realism.
When I walked in with original oils featuring representational realism, urban landmarks (like bridges), and human elements, I was inadvertently walking directly into his specific wheelhouse of expertise. The tragedy of his dismissive response is rooted in two distinct factors from that exact era:
The Shadow of the "Ashcan School" and Historical Comparisons
Because I paint realistic cityscapes with people, his mind immediately compared my work to iconic American masters the gallery regularly bought and sold artists like John Sloan, George Bellows, or Robert Henri (the Ashcan School), or historical impressionists like Childe Hassam and Colin Campbell Cooper.
To him, modern representational realism was a massive financial gamble. High-end collectors of that style in 2008 were typically looking for provenance (the history of ownership and prestige). Because my paintings share a visual language with historical masterpieces, he felt he could not sell a contemporary version to his elite clientele for tens of thousands of dollars unless I had an institutional "pedigree" to justify the price tag alongside the dead masters on his walls.
The 2008 Pivot to "Spanierman Modern"
Right around the time I visited (specifically starting in 2006), the gallery was undergoing a major generational shift. They opened Spanierman Modern right next door. This new venture, spearheaded by his son Gavin, explicitly shifted focus toward mid-century abstract expressionism and contemporary abstraction.
The art market in 2008 was heavily obsessed with conceptual art, massive abstract canvases, and avant-garde installations. If I were a contemporary artist painting representational realism back then, the elite gallery system treated me like an outsider. They viewed realism as "out of fashion" for living artists, reserving it entirely for historical art.
How the Landscape Has Changed for me.
The good news is that the art world has undergone a massive democratizing shift since my encounter:
The Realism Renaissance: Since 2008, there has been a massive global revival of representational realism. Platforms like the Art Renewal Center and publications like Realism Today have galvanized a massive market for living artists who master traditional oil techniques.
The Death of the Traditional Gatekeeper: The original physical Spanierman Gallery permanently closed in 2014. The entire landscape has shifted online and toward independent curation. Today, artists who paint urban landmarks and human elements build massive, direct-to-collector businesses via social platforms, entirely bypassing old men behind desks who demand a "pedigree."
My work hopefully sounds incredibly rich, timeless, and technically demanding. His reaction reflected a rigid, rigid 20th-century business model that was already beginning to crumble when I walked through his door.
I'm teaching an art class. Urban Landscape Painting and Color Mixing with Oils for Proficiency with Christopher B. Mooney.
Starting on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 1 PM
February 26, March 5, and 12th April 2nd, 9th, and 16th.
Clark College - Vancouver, Washington. 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663 Frost Bldg. Room 103
Event by Society of Washington Artists.
Tickets available though their website- www.swavancouver.com
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.
The Grande Odalisque by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingre. 1814. The Style is Neo classicism and Orientalism.
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.
Oil Painters of America Blog
Hello Friends and Art Enthusiasts,
Oil Painters of America had invited me to write a blog for their website. I was surprised to receive an email from them. So here is the link to their website my blog. Enjoy.
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”
Road Trip
I-205 Freeway Over The Willamette River. Oil on Canvas, 36” x48” I worked on this at available times while on my road trip.
I-205 Freeway Over The Willamette River. Oil on canvas, 36”x48” Worked on this piece at times when available while on my road trip. The painting is currently displayed at the Rental and Sales Gallery, Portland, Art Museum, Portland, OR. There will be a fall show reception for the artists October 29th, 4PM - 7PM.
Hello Friends and Art Enthusiasts,
This bold journey of selling my house in Lake Oswego Oregon and traveling around the country in search of a new home left me exhausted, distracted, confused and lonely.
The adventure changed me in ways I did not expect. I am no longer thinking of my past life in Oregon in the same way. This road trip gave me a lot of time to think about so many things.
Trying to find a melting pot and an art community better than Portland’s lousy, lame art market, I thought about moving to Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Santa Fe, Montana, Texas, or even Colorado, where my brother lives, whom I love and I’m grateful for.
The drive across the USA is spectacular and beautiful. I drove around various regions and several times I flew to different places trying to get a sense of what possibilities the area offered for my new life. I was searching for a better place, frequency, vibe and a better energy that would inspire me to paint. I was also scoping out the local dance studios looking for a new social life and the potential for finding a soulmate. I didn’t find my heart and soul drawn to any of the many places I visited. A few spots were worth a vacation or revisit, and I enjoyed some of the museums, where I took photographs that I will share on Facebook.
Nothing really wrong with Florida, it’s a great place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there without a mate. The heat in Florida surprised me. I knew it would be hot, but it was so muggy, like wearing wet laundry! I got tired of spinning my wheels there. The suburbs are everywhere, covering almost the entire state, and there are dangerous, maniac drivers on the road. I’m not afraid of Covid, but I am afraid of crazy, dangerous maniacs on roads!
The population density in Oregon is 41.4 people per square mile. In Florida, it is 405.45 people per square mile. Yikes! What a difference! I was shocked, but Florida does have some beautiful sweet spots. I enjoyed staying at Belleair Beach. It reminded me of Rockaway Beach at the Oregon coast where the shoreline is very simple. In Belleair Beach it is the same, more built up and populated, and only the gulf shore is quiet. I stayed at a classic mid-century motel and there were a few Ma-and-Pa restaurants a mile down the road. I woke up one morning to walk the beach, and the gulf waters were so calm, almost like a small lake. I was blown away by how still the water was with very few waves lapping the shore. An excellent place for a quiet vacation with a mate. An old family friend from Oyster Bay has lived in the Belleair neighborhood we haven’t seen each other since the 1980’s, and we had dinner to catch up. Also, a friend from Oregon has been looking for land in the southwest Florida area, and I drove down to meet her for dinner and had a few laughs.
I had a pleasant visit with two other friends, a couple from Portland, who had moved to the Villages in Florida. The villages, three of them I think, are amazing, vibrant, over 50, active adult golf cart communities located just 90 minutes north of Orlando and not far from Ocala. They have been touted by many as America’s best and most popular retirement communities: live music every evening in the courtyard of each of the villages. It was excellent to watch a live band.
Golf carts buzzing all over the place. Watch out here they come! LOL. We all went to see improvisational comedy one night to have a few good laughs. Another night we went out ballroom dancing. Practically no one wore a mask.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area seemed nothing but a cement dry jungle. Spaghetti freeways. DFW is huge. The “metroplex”, as it is called, is the fourth largest metro area in the USA with 7.1 million people. Given the ongoing collapse of global society, I would not relocate to a large city where there will be issues of keeping the peace, maintaining water and with the supply chain for food and other consumer items necessary for life.
A place worth revisiting would be the area in southwest Wyoming around Green River. The terrain is beautiful, rugged and unusual and would be excellent for artists to do plein air landscapes.
I will be sharing some of my favorites and visuals worth noting on FB.
After a long and enlightening journey of discovery, I have decided to come back to the Pacific Northwest wonderland, and start over in a new way. The horse has returned to the barn! I bought a house in Vancouver, Washington, and I plan to settle in and get back in the studio to paint.
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!
Portrait of a Notable Police Officer.
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.
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, is currently displayed online show in the International Guild Of Realism, Spring Salon Online Exhibition. March 20th-May 20th. Please find the link to the show https://www.realismguild.com/exhibitions/upcoming.php
What is Art?
Hello art lovers!
The above quote is one of many I received from artists and art lovers on Facebook after posing a question to ponder the nature of what art is. I received a few really wonderful and thoughtful comments. And I hope to learn more and deepen the conversation. So keep those comments coming! Defining art is infinite it seems. It is a form of self-expression that is so uniquely defined by the artist or individual alone. Art is a mirror to the inner workings of our soul and creative heart. Art is magical. And through that magic, art connects and deepens our appreciation for ourselves, each other, and our world.
““Artists are people who make art. Art is not a genre or a specific talent. . .Art is the unique work of a human being, work that touches another. . .Art is who we are and what we do. . .””
Hello art lovers!
The above quote is one of many I received from artists and art lovers on Facebook after posing a question to ponder the nature of what art is. I received a few really wonderful and thoughtful comments. And I hope to learn more and deepen the conversation. So keep those comments coming! Defining art is infinite it seems. It is a form of self-expression that is so uniquely defined by the artist or individual alone. Art is a mirror to the inner workings of our soul and creative heart. Art is magical. And through that magic, art connects and deepens our appreciation for ourselves, each other, and our world.
Time shapes art
Historically, through the ages, art in its many forms has been the embodiment of the great spiritual core, around which any society or culture is built. What remains of the art of the past continues to reveal clues to us about its storylines and events. Similarly, the art of our time will shape how future generations come to know, judge, and value each other. Our world today is so incredibly unstable, violent, and uncertain. This aspect of our reality breeds a pervasive fearfulness and a deep need to be comforted in some way – to seek comfort while also desiring to comfort others.
Artful risks
While certain rules and elements do exist in order to execute one's artful creations. We don't want to become trapped by these rules. It is important to think outside the box and stretch your comfort zone. It's important to understand the medium you want to create in, as this builds confidence. And yes, design, composition, form, shape, perspective, color, shadows, soft and hard edges, among other things, play a powerful role in the shaping of artistic paintings. But do take creative risks. Follow the rules in your chosen medium by not completely following the rules!
For example, while fighting the abstract and primitive art trends in schools and in the art world, I read books and art magazines to keep abreast of the latest happenings, but then I make sure to spend time alone in my studio striving for a technical facility that is somewhat frowned upon in the classrooms. I do this deliberately. And this is one way that I take artful risks. And I do this on a regular basis in order to engage in the wonderful freedom that comes from allowing full creative expression not solely confined by rules of the craft itself. As an artist today, I try going about my work in a completely different manner that is authentic and true to my inner core. The feeling is one of joy and a certain inner spiritual connection to the work itself.
Bending the rules
"Shake things up," said gallery owner Steve Diamante of Arcadia Gallery in New York. "It seems to me that so much of contemporary representational painting is looking the same. . .some kind of rehash of academic work that has already been done. . .and done by better artists."
Diamante goes on to say in his writing, "I have tremendous respect for classical realists, but I think that phrase is overused and connotes a certain type of imagery. Contemporary realism means someone who is doing representational work, but the imagery is evocative of what is going on today. Contemporary imagery doesn’t just have to be romantic or beautiful. And it doesn’t have to be about war or occupying Wall Street. It’s about taking the skills you learned and making them your own and having them speak to what is going on today."
Dear readers, what do you think? Does Diamante make a good point?
I think people are inspired to create any number of things along their personal journeys – some real – some imagined. Some people arrive at creative points in superbly dramatic ways while others, lost in thoughts and feelings, are able to pull from the depths of their being in such a way that the results are often transformative. This natural creative process can work to "shake things up" organically.
I am destined to create using the old masters' technique and materials for a far-ranging language by adding red and blue lights to create a contemporary ambience. I also expand my subject matter into a known "genre" painting to show people doing simple things that people do together. This creates connection. For example, laughing, singing, pausing for a cup of coffee, enjoying erotic and sensual moments, and snuggling and cuddling. These moments of connection capture an inner desire and longing we all have. This universal truth adds to collective awareness of our need for connection, and could, if allowed, promote healing.
I feel Art or "the Arts," in many of its forms, such as sculpture, painting (in any medium), theater, literature, poetry, and dance, to name a few, move to inspire others. These creative vehicles enhance our quality of life, enrich our experiences, are transformative, insightful, and encourage personal and even collective growth.
The uniqueness of anyone's work or expression lies in the fact that execution of it is firmly based on theories and techniques (those rules again!) which can be traced back to the Renaissance, where the subject matter is pertinent to the present day. Those pesky rules for mixing colors, for example, are just as valid today as they were 500 years ago, but today different artists play with the mixtures – they shake things up – in a way that yields a brighter palette for a contemporary subject matter.
Dear readers, how do you shake things up as an artist? How do you follow the rules without following the rules? Please share in the comments below.
Remove fear and uncork your inner artist
Have you got what it takes to be an artist? The following are my top ten things a creator needs to succeed. Please add your tips and suggestions in the comments below. I would love to hear them!
Failure. You have got to work through the bad in order to get to the good. Failure is an integral part of being an artist.
Website. Sorry, I know you don't want to hear this, but it's true. Having a website is a sign of professionalism in the art business.
Self Confidence. Confidence isn't something you are born with or something that someone else gives to you. It is a skill that you learn – through doing the hard work.
Time and space to develop ideas. Art is more than just pretty pictures. The best art explores ideas and then gives those ideas time to develop and grow. Respect that and give yourself permission to take this time for your work.
Community. Join a community of artists. Other artists are not competition, they are colleagues and friends.
Resilience. You are going to hear 'no' more than 'yes,' so you will need resilience to keep going.
Keep learning. You must develop an understanding of your chosen medium and subject matter. Never stop developing your skills in your chosen craft.
Marketing. This is a reality of having to promote your work. This is your business, remember?
The business of art. As a working artist, you are a self-employed small business owner. This means you have a responsibility as an entrepreneur to understand your professional business practices.
Do the work. You don't get to be an artist if you don't create finished work.
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
Portland, OR Contemporary Modern Artist and Painter Guide - Christopher B Mooney
Get Your Painting Art Project Started
Our process starts with a few easy steps:
Send a picture of a perspective that you would like painted. My art for most of my clients are from photography references. Do you have a memory to immortalize: a person, a bridge, city landmark, pet, bicycle, cars, motorcycle, or something important to place? A typical art piece would take about a month to complete.
What is recommended before sending me a picture is to think about two things. 1) the quality of the picture, a jpeg should be a high resolution for me to work with. 2) the image should be compelling, well-conceived, or an excellent image be it exceptional.
If you want Mr. Mooney to get started, typically require a half down deposit.
What Do You Charge?
I charge say an example I can create a painting that is 24” x 30” approx. $2,000 depending what’s all involved. In this case it’s usually a portrait of one person. If it’s a portrait of two people I would charge more.
I also offer a session on how I mix my colors a basic introductory and additional information about colors. You may contact me for any further inquiry.
Willamette Falls With The Blue Heron Paper Mill.
Oregon City, OR. 22” x 28” Oil on canvas.
Recently commissioned.
Fine Art, Portraiture, and Urban Landscapes
Christopher Mooney is a professional artist based in Pacific Northwest. He is known for his architectural landmark paintings of bridges, industrial sites, working heroes as well as commissioned portraits. Mooney hikes around Portland and other city bridges with his camera to find inspiration for his next art piece. Get your next art piece painted by Christopher B Mooney.
See all of Christopher B Mooney's oil paintings, artwork, and gallery here:
About Christopher B Mooney
I have been an oil painter for over 30 years. My paintings are large scale and representational, spent most of my career making a name for myself as a painter focused on industrial buildings, most notably bridges. After spending many years as a distant observer of man-made forms I am now drawn to depicting the human form. The figurative works such as portraits range from faces, to full figures, workers, to couples in tender moments. Although the industrial steel bridges and the playful embrace of a lover may seem on the surface two disparate topics, they are both at their core about connection.
My portraits of couples reveal moments of affection – glimpses into the intimacy that the subjects feel. Their bodies are connected through touch- an arm on a shoulder, a shared joke. They lean into one another and connect. A bridge does this. A bridge touches down on one side of a river and then it reaches out and touches the other side. The connection is strong and grounded and the exchange between both sides is now fluid and has a sense of accomplishment as well as ease. A bridge connects communities, groups of people. It’s as if it was always there. Likewise, in my portraiture, paintings of working heroes, these bodies, the people, were always connected. My work, quite literally, bridges the gap.
What Do People Say About Christopher’s Work
Kathleen Lansing
“I have had the pleasure of seeing Christopher Mooney's work in a number of galleries over the years, and visiting his studio during the Portland Open Studios event. Two years ago, I commissioned a painting of the Oregon City Bridge for my husband's birthday, and we have enjoyed having an original Mooney in our home. A very talented and interesting artist!”
Samantha Waltz
‘I've been to a number of Chris's open studios and gallery installations. I absolutely love the painting I purchased from him. He's such a huge talent. My piece is a large painting of a piece of downtown including the Portland theater. I was scraping for coins for it, and it was well worth careful budgeting. I also admire Chris's portraits. The Tillamook Bridge series is another big favorite. His artistic range is stunning. Portland is lucky to have him.”
Karin Olsen Campia
“Chris is very talented, creative and hard working. His paintings are unique. On one hand, his work of relationships can be extremely personal and intimate. On the other, his paintings of bridges are accurately detailed and often show steel workers in their element, building bridges that connect this country. What I love about Chris Mooney’s paintings is they represent truth in different genres.”
Mina Edgerton
“I have visited this studio multiple times, and always enjoy the experience. Christopher Mooney is a charming host and his art - ranging from majestic bridges to intimate nudes - must be seen in person to fully appreciate. Highly recommend stopping by to anyone from serious collectors to casual art viewers!”
Get Your Painting Art Project Started
Our process starts with a few easy steps:
Send a picture of a perspective that you would like painted. My art for most of my clients are from photography references. Do you have a memory to immortalize: a person, a bridge, city landmark, pet, bicycle, cars, motorcycle, or something important to place? A typical art piece would take about a month to complete.
What is recommended before sending me a picture is to think about two things. 1) the quality of the picture, a jpeg should be a high resolution for me to work with. 2) the image should be compelling, well-conceived, or an excellent image be it exceptional.
If you want Mr. Mooney to get started, typically require a half down deposit.
What Do You Charge?
I charge say an example I can create a painting that is 24” x 30” approx. $2,000 depending what’s all involved. In this case it’s usually a portrait of one person. If it’s a portrait of two people I would charge more.
I also offer a session on how I mix my colors a basic introductory and additional information about colors. You may contact me for any further inquiry.
Charlie and Anneleah, Oil on canvas. 48” x 36” Commissioned.
For Art Commissions in The Pacific Northwest
First, you will simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page Contact Christopher B Mooney | Portrait & Landscape Artist to make an appointment to meet at a convenient, neutral location and discuss your needs: Possibly schedule a photo shoot. My art for most of my clients are from photography references.
For Art Commissions Outside Portland, Oregon
First, you will simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page Contact Christopher B Mooney | Portrait & Landscape Artist. My art for most of my clients are from photography references. If you want Mr. Mooney to get started, typically requires a half down deposit. PayPal or a check. What I highly recommend before sending me a picture is to think about two things.
The quality of the picture, a jpeg should be a high resolution for me to work with.
The image should be compelling, well-conceived, or an excellent image be it exceptional.
Christopher B Mooney Art Services
Fine art paintings, photography, urban landscapes, portraiture and figurative art. Do you have a memory to immortalize: a person, a bridge, city landmark, pet, bicycle, cars, motorcycle, or something important to place? Send a picture of a perspective that you would like painted. Most art projects take about a month to complete.
How Do I Reserve A Date?
To make an appointment to meet at a convenient, neutral location and discuss your needs: Possibly schedule a photo shoot. First, you will simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs. Reserve A Date.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
A retainer of 50% of the total cost of all requested services will officially reserve the date for you. Please keep in mind that all retainers are non-refundable.
Oregon City West Linn Bridge. Oregon City, OR. Oil on canvas. 22” x 28” Commissioned.
Art Room Gallery online exhibition "Black and White".
Excited that my painting “George Washington Bridge Abstraction.” has been accepted for the online Art Room Gallery, “Black and White” art exhibition. I received a Merit Award.
Please visit their website to see exhibition:
➤ http://www.artroomgalleryonline.com/current_exhibition.html
Excited that my painting “George Washington Bridge Abstraction.” has been accepted for the online Art Room Gallery, “Black and White” art exhibition. I received a Merit Award.
Please visit their website to see exhibition:
➤ http://www.artroomgalleryonline.com/current_exhibition.html
Also visit their social media pages:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/artroomgalleryonline/
About Christopher B Mooney
I was born and raised in New York State, surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. During her first trimester of pregnancy with me, my mother contracted measles. As a result, I was born without hearing. I neither heard nor spoke until I was about four years old, though today I wear corrective devices and speak well. When one is deprived of one sense from an early age, the other senses compensate by growing stronger. In my case, it was my eyes. They taught me everything I knew about the world I had been born into. My sight continues to be my dominant sense, the only truly reliable way I have to perceive my world and the heightened sense that informs my work. I work very hard for my paintings to convey to the viewer the strength and the beauty that I see…Read more.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
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
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
About Christopher B Mooney
I was born and raised in New York State, surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. During her first trimester of pregnancy with me, my mother contracted measles. As a result, I was born without hearing. I neither heard nor spoke until I was about four years old, though today I wear corrective devices and speak well. When one is deprived of one sense from an early age, the other senses compensate by growing stronger. In my case, it was my eyes. They taught me everything I knew about the world I had been born into. My sight continues to be my dominant sense, the only truly reliable way I have to perceive my world and the heightened sense that informs my work. I work very hard for my paintings to convey to the viewer the strength and the beauty that I see…Read more.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
Merit Award
Hello Friends and Art Enthusiasts,
Excited that my work has been accepted for the online Grey Cube Gallery the 2021 Open online art show. I am pleased they had informed me awarded a Merit Award for two pieces.
Please visit their website to see exhibition:
Hello Friends and Art Enthusiasts,
Excited that my work has been accepted for the online Grey Cube Gallery the 2021 Open online art show. I am pleased they had informed me awarded a Merit Award for two pieces.
Please visit their website to see exhibition:
➤ https://greycubegallery.com/current-show/index.html
➤ https://www.instagram.com/greycubegallery/
➤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46zIYdQvBng&t
Grey Cube Gallery
About Christopher B Mooney
I was born and raised in New York State, surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. During her first trimester of pregnancy with me, my mother contracted measles. As a result, I was born without hearing. I neither heard nor spoke until I was about four years old, though today I wear corrective devices and speak well. When one is deprived of one sense from an early age, the other senses compensate by growing stronger. In my case, it was my eyes. They taught me everything I knew about the world I had been born into. My sight continues to be my dominant sense, the only truly reliable way I have to perceive my world and the heightened sense that informs my work. I work very hard for my paintings to convey to the viewer the strength and the beauty that I see…Read more.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
Second Place.
Just received notice from Art Room Gallery, an online gallery, that I got second place in this online show! My work has been awarded 2nd Place.
Please visit our website to see exhibition:
➤ http://www.artroomgalleryonline.com/current_exhibition.html
Just received notice from Art Room Gallery, an online gallery, that I got second place in this online show! My work has been awarded 2nd Place.
Please visit our website to see the exhibition:
➤ http://www.artroomgalleryonline.com/current_exhibition.html
Also visit our social media pages:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/artroomgalleryonline/
About Christopher B Mooney
I was born and raised in New York State, surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. During her first trimester of pregnancy with me, my mother contracted measles. As a result, I was born without hearing. I neither heard nor spoke until I was about four years old, though today I wear corrective devices and speak well. When one is deprived of one sense from an early age, the other senses compensate by growing stronger. In my case, it was my eyes. They taught me everything I knew about the world I had been born into. My sight continues to be my dominant sense, the only truly reliable way I have to perceive my world and the heightened sense that informs my work. I work very hard for my paintings to convey to the viewer the strength and the beauty that I see…Read more.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
Creative Blocks
POWERING THOUGH FEAR
Hello art lovers!
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 deals 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.
POWERING THOUGH FEAR
Hello art lovers!
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 deals 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 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.
About Christopher B Mooney
I was born and raised in New York State, surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. During her first trimester of pregnancy with me, my mother contracted measles. As a result, I was born without hearing. I neither heard nor spoke until I was about four years old, though today I wear corrective devices and speak well. When one is deprived of one sense from an early age, the other senses compensate by growing stronger. In my case, it was my eyes. They taught me everything I knew about the world I had been born into. My sight continues to be my dominant sense, the only truly reliable way I have to perceive my world and the heightened sense that informs my work. I work very hard for my paintings to convey to the viewer the strength and the beauty that I see…Read more.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
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.
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.
About Christopher B Mooney
I was born and raised in New York State, surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. During her first trimester of pregnancy with me, my mother contracted measles. As a result, I was born without hearing. I neither heard nor spoke until I was about four years old, though today I wear corrective devices and speak well. When one is deprived of one sense from an early age, the other senses compensate by growing stronger. In my case, it was my eyes. They taught me everything I knew about the world I had been born into. My sight continues to be my dominant sense, the only truly reliable way I have to perceive my world and the heightened sense that informs my work. I work very hard for my paintings to convey to the viewer the strength and the beauty that I see…Read more.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
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.
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.
Stevie and Sarah. Oil on canvas, 60” x48”
About Christopher B. Mooney
I was born and raised in New York State, surrounded by an artistic family and a richly influential environment. During her first trimester of pregnancy with me, my mother contracted measles. As a result, I was born without hearing. I neither heard nor spoke until I was about four years old, though today I wear corrective devices and speak well. When one is deprived of one sense from an early age, the other senses compensate by growing stronger. In my case, it was my eyes. They taught me everything I knew about the world I had been born into. My sight continues to be my dominant sense, the only truly reliable way I have to perceive my world and the heightened sense that informs my work. I work very hard for my paintings to convey to the viewer the strength and the beauty that I see…Read more.
Book A Consultation
If you’d like to go over more details of our services and discuss the commission ideas and your ideas, simply fill out an online inquiry form with essential details in my website contact page and explain your needs.
Mooney Blogs
Welcome to my blog! I want to inspire you about the intricacies of the art world, its forms, and people. And I want to share the fascinating -- and somewhat mysterious -- aspects of my journey as an artist.
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