Episode 40: Charlene Mosley
Originally aired on May 14, 2022.My conversation with Oscar-Nominated, Fine Artist, Muralist and Illustrator Charlene Mosley
Raised in Berlin, Charlene Mosley is an Oscar-nominated, San Diego- based fine artist, illustrator, concept artist and muralist. She received her BA in Studio Arts from San Diego State University with a minor in German Studies.
Charlene's current work portrays figures and faces of various backgrounds immersed in organic natural elements such as plants and animals. She uses vibrant expressive brushstrokes to bring the paintings to life mainly in oils, watercolors, ink and gouache. She has recently started exploring miniature scenery paintings of her travels as well. Her work expresses her observations of current matters and experiences living in a 21st century media driven society and its relationship to nature.
In 2016, Mosley was one of the contributing artists of “Loving Vincent“, the first ever fully-painted, Oscar-Nominated feature film. This opportunity was the artist’s first time working in animation in Poland. Creating over 250 frames of the film while in Poland “was life changing in a way, and a motivation to keep pursuing my passion as an independent artist”, notes Mosley. During the promotional touring and award ceremonies following the films debut in the US, Charlene had gotten to work closely with the Royal Talens Art Supply company which resulted in her becoming one of their ambassadors.
Charlene works as a freelance, independent artist on several projects, such as murals, private commissions, and book illustrations with clients. Five children's books she has illustrated and a literary novel, have been published in 2018 and 2019; three winning Purple Dragon awards first and second places within their categories. She works closely with various authors and longest so far with Deedee Cummings, the founder of Make A Way Media. As an independent artist, Charlene works with clientele worldwide, shipping out commissioned paintings as big as 12x8 feet. Her large roster of public and private murals include locations such as: San Diego State University, Barrio Logan, La Jolla Shores, Horton Plaza, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Lake Forest and Shenzhen, China.
Her personal artwork is created in her San Diego studio, STUDIO 15, at Art on 30th. Charlene is currently represented by Sparks Gallery in Downtown San Diego, California. The artist is working on her upcoming solo-exhibition "Pollinators" at Sparks Gallery, set to debut May 15th, 5-8pm. The exhibition runs May 15- July 3, 2022.
“My work depicts my curiosity of how people connect to nature in a busy technology and mass- media driven world. I paint people I see in everyday life as well as myself and how I see myself interact with and observe my natural surroundings. I love to paint in a combination of expressive line and brushstroke and vibrant colors, with the effect of intriguing the viewer and letting the eye embark on a visually fulfilling journey.” -Mosley
