Gallery Wild Santa Fe is excited to present new work from Christy Stallop and Larry Moore in their new show "Wild West Revisited."
The unexpected content of Christy Stallop's work, such as bandanas, tumbleweeds, and birds sporting accessories, are executed with a splash of whimsy and incredible attention to detail. Her representation of the texture and shadow allows her subjects to almost jump off the canvas with realism.
In his pieces, Larry Moore brings collage and layering into play, applying color and shapes that interact with beautifully rendered animals and skulls of the southwest. Drawing on years of refinement and experimentation, Moore's style has a balanced dynamism that is instantly recognizable.
LET'S GET TO KNOW ARTISTS
LARRY MOORE & CHRISTY STALLOP
Larry Moore "Hard Country" | Mixed Media on Panel 24 x 24"
Christy Stallop "Red Wrangler" | Oil on Panel 40 x 30"
Q: Was there a moment early on that inspired you to pursue art as a career path?
LARRY: I’m not sure there was ever an option. I started at a young age airbrushing clothes and surfboards, went from there into graphic design and commercial illustration. Those two careers still inform my work today.
CHRISTY: I've always felt like a creative person and spent a large amount of time exploring sculpture, music and painting. In fact, I was so intrigued by all the different artistic disciplines that it became a detriment to my development. I decided to focus on oil painting and spent the last few years developing my technique and style.
Christy Stallop "Dusk" | Oil on Panel 24 x 18"
Larry Moore "Outland" | Mixed Media on Panel 24 x 24"
Christy Stallop "Red Justice" | Oil on Panel 18 x 18"
Q: How has your approach to painting changed during the course of your career?
LARRY: From the mid-90’s I was doing what a lot of people were doing, plein air landscapes. Fun but not personally satisfying. I realized that I had a tool set from illustration and graphic design that I wasn’t using and decided to change everything. I started doing more personal narrative pieces, and work that used my background in the commercial arts. It was freeing and personally satisfying.
CHRISTY: My introduction to painting started in High School. I was lucky enough to be part of an art program that didn't follow a set curriculum but allowed each student to pursue their own creative endeavors. I took an interest in watercolor and learned about various techniques associated with the medium. This led to an exploration of acrylics and gouache followed by my current love, oil paints. Though my materials have changed, my approach has remained the same. I tend to work backwards with the completed work manifested in my mind. From there, the process of going from a blank panel to finished piece is loosely thought out until I'm confident about the direction of the work. It's not to say things don't change once the paint is applied. It's a dance and there are times I trust the paint more than myself. My intention is to create realistic work while still keeping a painterly feel.
Christy Stallop "Hanging Around" | Oil on Panel 24 x 18"
Q: Do you have a favorite piece from Wild West Revisited? If so, what do you enjoy most about it?
LARRY: This skull series has been a blast, it’s a chance to have fun with all that I’ve learned over the last 50 years in art. I like them all for different reasons.
CHRISTY: I wouldn't say I have a favorite piece but I have favorite aspects of each piece. The color and feel of Old Friend, the large blue bandana is something I quite enjoy along with the textured background of the two luchador grackles. It is satisfying to create quiet detail amid loosely structured subjects.
Larry Moore "Heaven's Gate" | Mixed Media on Panel 24 x 24"
Christy Stallop "Portrait of a Tumbleweed" | Oil on Panel 18 x 36"
Q: Do you have any rituals or practices that help get you into a creative flow?
LARRY: I never get out of the creative flow. I’m thinking of new things all the time.
CHRISTY: There are definitely moments when I am in the creative flow and it is a magical time but I find it unreliable. There was a long stretch of time where I waited for this inspiration and it never appeared. It was pretty devastating and eventually I realized that it wasn't necessary to do the work. I've become more pragmatic and regard painting as my job with set times and expectations. It's not romantic but it's realistic and I have found that following this method reduces stress and creates a consistency that actually feeds my creativity.
Christy Stallop "Tempting in Turquoise" | Oil on Panel 18 x 18"
Larry Moore "Paint Your Wagon" | Mixed Media on Panel 24 x 24"
Q: Where do you see your work heading in the future?
LARRY: No idea. Perhaps bigger, more narrative work.
CHRISTY: I'm giving myself 6 months to explore new themes and techniques. I don't know where any of this will go yet but I sure am excited to find out.
Christy Stallop "Hankering" | Oil on Panel 24 x 18"
To check out Larry Moore and Christy Stallops' show Wild West Revisited online, visit his show page on our website here.
If you're local to Santa Fe or in town visiting this beautiful city, we'd love to see you at our opening reception on Friday, September 27th, from 5 - 7:00pm. Located at 203 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Larry Moore "City Slickers" | Mixed Media on Panel 24 x 24"
Christy Stallop "Bundled Up" | Oil on Panel 14 x 11"