NAME: JD Moore
LOCATION: Dallas/Fort Worth

Sum up your creative process in one word/phrase, and explain why.

Mindfulness. Before I create, I need to become aware of my emotions and mental status. Once I recognize where I am, I take the necessary time/energy to dismiss any distractions so that I can tap into my creative mode.

Were you always an artist, even as a child? What was your path to becoming an artist?

Yes, as most children do, I drew and colored a lot. My first memory of falling in love with art, however, was in the 4th grade. I believe we are all born artists, either visually, musically, or analytically. I just chose to keep after it.

What is your medium of choice and what drew you to this particular medium?

Presently, it is oil and acrylic paint. I used to avoid any medium that required a brush because I couldn’t control the tool as well as I could a pencil. One of my mentors, Freddie Trevino, introduced me to oils and showed me how to build on the basics of the application. Like lifting weights, the consistent practice has made me stronger.

Is there any particular experience, person, place or thing that inspires you to create? Tell us about that.

The thing that inspires me to create my next painting is visiting art museums. I think about how far I’ve come and how much farther I can go, and begin visualizing a work I’ve yet to make on the walls next to whatever masterpiece I’m admiring.

What is it like showing your work to people and what do you hope people take away from it? 

I enjoy people viewing my work. I hope they see all of the hard work I put into it.


What did winning the Award for Excellence mean to you? 

Winning the Award for Excellence was a complete surprise. It is a symbol of encouragement. I still display it in my studio and it gives me extra motivation to keep painting and exhibiting.

What advice do you have for other artists who may be looking to get their work exhibited?

I would advise artists looking to get their work exhibited to become familiar with what venue works best for their style of art. Some venues work best for pop art, others work best for abstract or for emerging artists or more established career artists. Don’t get discouraged if your art doesn’t do well in one setting and don’t get too pompous if something sells in another.