This week in the DP Café
Meet artists k. Madison Moore and Linda McCoy
A Chat with artist k. Madison Moore
How would you describe your painting style?
My diversity has enabled me to survive as an artist for over a half century. Most artists stay with a style that reflects their inner personality. I believe that an artist should be like an actor who plays many roles and who subjugates themselves to the role at hand, letting it tell them how to play it. A chinese artist once said, " to paint a flower you must "be" a flower, to paint a tiger, you must be a tiger. "Madison"
What was your earliest indication that you wanted to be a painter?
At three years old when my professional artist Grandfather took me into his studio and put a brush in my hand....the beginning of my life as an artist.
Do you come from a painting family, or did you pick it up on your own?
Only my Grandfather who was my first mentor and for many years.
What is your favorite movie & why?
Modigliani. The history was wonderful as well as the era. The love story was very touching and was a true story.
Favorite book? Why?
The Prophet by Kahil GibranThe book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death. It covers all of life for me.
Favorite type of music? Why?
Opera, My father was a tenor opera singer and stared in many broadway musicals. I was raised on it and was part of life in our home. Then it was Mario Lanza, now my favorite is Luciano Pavoritti and / or The three Tenors.
Favorite color? Why?
Red, I love the intensity of the pigment. It can represent love, passion, fire, brilliance, etc.
For how long have you been painting daily?
Most of my adult life.
Do you complete a painting every day?
No, I paint every day but do not complete a painting a day as my work is too detailed and layered to rush.
What's your typical day like?
Family and pets in the early AM, emails and marketing online for a few hours, studio most of the day and back online for several hours in the PM.
What have you had the most fun painting?
My Art within Art Series, never boring!
How would you like to be remembered?
As a diversified and sharing artist, a loving wife and mother, an animal lover and a good friend.
What is your favorite room in your house?
The family room and decks where we all share with each other and have fun! Secondly, my studio, of course!
If you could have dinner with anyone famous, past or present, who would that be?
Winston Churchill. He was a wonderful man and my grandmothers cousin so it would be an honor to share a meal with him.
What are you most proud of in your life?
My wonderful, dedicated, honorable husband that makes all things possible for me and my son who is a beautiful, loving person.
What is one thing about you that few people know?
That when I was a young adult I danced professionally with a partner and a dance team in several musicals until I had an accident that changed things.
What are people most surprised to find out about you?
That I have a son that is 45 years old. I guess that's a compliment!
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Vivid
If there was a movie made about your life, would it be a comedy or a drama?
Comedy for sure!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Life is like a big canvas - we should throw as much paint at it as possible!
See all of k. Madison Moore's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/1101/k-Madison-Moore
A Chat with artist Linda McCoy
How would you describe your painting style?
Contemporary realism, but I'm not crazy about labels. I use an impressionist palette, sometimes painterly, other times finely detailed.
What was your earliest indication that you wanted to be a painter?
When I was in kindergarten the teacher asked us to paint our houses, she went around the room commenting to each child. When she got to me she said "I've never seen a polka-dot house before!" As she was walking away I thought "Doesn't she know those are bricks?" After all, I'd been painting for 4 years, I surely knew better than her! I can still remember that art room, the small easels, the smell of the tempera paints and newspaper print. That may have been my 'aha' moment but I didn't act on it until many years later.
Do you come from a painting family, or did you pick it up on your own?
My mother spent countless hours with my sister and I coloring, painting, sculpting. We both had rheumatic fever, so we were pretty much confined to the house. She laid the foundation for the love of creating art and although she did not pursue it herself, she is very talented. My brother is an artist as well. I started painting about twenty-five years ago; most of what I learned came about the hard way, but then those are the best lessons. I've also had the privilege of painting classes with some of the greatest artists of our day, Nita Engle, Ted Minchin, Vincent Chiaramonte, Margaret Baumgartner, Jessica Zemsky and Jack Hines and others.
What is your favorite movie and why?
I can't think of just one favorite but one that comes to mind is 'The Gift' with Kate Blanchet. I can't really say why, the story is not that extraordinary, but the sound, mood and visuals have me hooked.
Favorite book? Why?
The children's book my daughter wrote and I illustrated with watercolor. We are trying to get it published.
Favorite type of music? Why?
Rock and Roll and the Blues. I love all that energy! I grew up on the south side of Chicago and music was a big part of that time. I still love it today.
Favorite color? Why?
Smalt. It's hard to find but in oil but it is great in the dark areas of a painting, and in watercolor it has a beautiful deep violet hue.
For how long have you been painting daily?
Since I joined the Daily Painters Gallery in October of 2006 when it was newly formed by Micah.
Do you complete a painting every day?
I did when I first joined, but now my larger works keep me busy. When I'm working on a portrait it may take weeks to complete. I paint in the 6"X6" daily painting format as often as I can.
What's your typical day like?
Coffee, painting, more coffee more painting. Lay awake at night and think of painting; usually from drinking too much coffee!
What have you had the most fun painting?
Portraits of people, I love the challenge of trying to capture the essence of a person. It isn't just about technical skills; the portrait has to have soul. I like that they are unique.
How would you like to be remembered?
I don't much think about that, but if my children thought of me as a good parent that would be great. As for my artwork, I am convinced my paintings will find their way onto 'Antiques Roadshow' after I am gone, and will sell for outrageous amounts of money!
What is your favorite room in your house?
My laundry room. This is where the east light is splendid in the early morning; it illuminates many of the objects I paint. I do most of my still life set-ups here.
If you could have dinner with anyone famous, past or present, who would that be?
Past: John Singer Sargent. Present: Daniel Greene.
What are you most proud of in your life?
My three children. They are grown with families of their own now. When my husband and I see them together laughing, talking and making us laugh with their antics it makes us proud.
What is the one thing about you few people know?
I've authored craft instruction books.
What are most people most surprised to find out about you?
That I abandoned corporate life for the Bohemian lifestyle of an artist. I swore off the trappings of that life including coloring my hair. That lasted until my roots started to show! I haven.t returned to the workplace, but I still color my hair :-)
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Curious.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, I would like to thank the customers to have purchased my paintings to add to their collections and another thank you to the artists I have come to know through the Daily Painters Gallery. Their insight and knowledge is invaluable.
See all of Linda McCoy's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/644/Linda-McCoy
