Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born and raised and still reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. I run an entire art alter ego under the name MoseenMomade, which translates to Mo has seen it and now Mo is going to make it her own.
Painting formulated into a necessity during my teen years and my style has developed through being self taught. I was never entirely interested or thought of going to college.
Now I focus on large scale paintings and manually screen printed apparel. I just recently turned 30 and my relationship with painting and my creativity has never been better, so that’s exciting!
What do you like to do in your social life?
Anything that centers around a sensory experience, I love to eat and cook. Spending time with music also tends to be of equal importance as painting. In reality, most of my weekend activities tend to go towards MoseenMomade, as I do street pop ups at least every other weekend. This keeps me very social too actually!
Are there any art movements that you are influenced by?
There is a deep interest and admiration in street art, graffiti, and generally public art in a city landscape. I like the abrasive nature of it, it’s protruding itself on the world, not asking for permission to be seen or accepted. It’s also so much more accessible.
I’m sure a reason for this influence is my lack of formal education. When you rely on yourself for your “education” you find more of a home within the people that wouldn't take no for an answer. There’s so much resilience and strength in the street art movement. It feels accepting and honest, without the pressure or confines of a formal art society. It gives you the space to show up exactly as you are and creates room for the people that truly see you.
Who are your role models?
I am seriously about to bring up my dog. In all honesty I’ve been very out of touch with finding role models or important figures in my community or industry to supply inspiration. So much of my time tends to be focused on looking inward, not out.
The effect of the city you live in on your art?
Growing up with San Francisco so accessible to me was a huge influence on the confidence I feel around my work. It is such a hub to get inspired, make connections and build community. There’s an acceptance of the obscure, the different and the ones that really come in strong with their own identity. It’s also just a beautiful city that celebrates color and abstract ways of thinking.
Artwork or artists you admire outside of your field?
Tarriona “Tank” Ball is a musically poetic queen. I remember when I first watched Tank and the Bangas Tiny Desk, I was completely taken aback by her ability to translate such a broad range of emotions into a concise spoken word. That girl is painting with her words. I have so much respect for anyone that can use their craft to challenge emotions. She phrases her thoughts in a way that pushes us to think about how we navigate social issues, love, growth and connections.
Do you plan for a long time before picking up your brush? Or do you follow your feelings? We are curious about the production process and discipline.
I really just wait for the moment that I'm ready to jump in and then I ride it out. The hardest part is timing out the moment to jump. I need to be open and receptive to going within but at the same time there’s an expectation on myself to prepare for endurance. I want to see the painting formulate into something that I can recognize from that first stroke. I get easily bored of them if this doesn't happen quickly.
I tend to focus on two rough colors that are more often than not contrasting and then slowly build the rest of the palette around them as I go on. It comes down to what the color turns into next on the pallet. I really let them (colors) take the lead. They will adapt on their own and when you build the next off the previous they tend to feel more cohesive and intentional.
So much of how I work is left to intuition. Painting is incredibly meditative for me and I don’t work well with a lot of structure going into it.
Can you describe your art in one sentence?
The content vibe of your real life through your dream alternate reality.
When we look at your work, do we see elements from your private life?
Absolutely you do. My paintings are incredibly private. They’re snapshots of memories, some small and some very powerful. Every painting I do directly relates to a moment in time from my personal life. I started painting and developing this style as a form of escapism. I had an unhealthy relationship with my real world when I was younger. When I would paint I got to disappear into my alternate reality. I got to breathe and have a break in a controlled environment. That is the root of my work. Now as I’ve gotten older the relationship with that alternate reality has gotten much healthier. I want to celebrate it now, put it on display. I think it’s a beautiful space that brought me so much security. Now my goal is to use it as a lens to capture meaningful moments and memories. It's now a tool to help me feel more like myself, not a place to strictly escape.
What types of paint do you use in your art?
Almost strictly acrylic. I move very quickly and prioritize color concentration. Acrylic can keep up.
The colors you use enable us to notice the objects we see in real life much more vividly and effectively. What is the importance of using such colors for you?
The colors are a direct play and arguably drive the alternate reality concept. My paintings tend to be in scale and of pretty common main characters, bottles, table settings, books, street corners, ect. I focus on the colors gaining and maintaining your attention. I think if we all saw things more vividly and concentrated it would be easier to regain those moments as meaningful. I also just really love the challenge of color, I mix every color myself and strictly work with a primary base. Knowing that I’ve not only properly organized but created these colors brings more satisfaction to the images and memories they’re representing. It brings more of a sense of control and proper representation through that alternate reality lens. Also when you trust colors they really will lead you where they want to go.
The short, dashed lines you use are a hallmark of your art. Were you inspired by street art techniques when choosing this style? Please correct us if we're wrong.
Definitely street art has its influence, I wouldn't say it’s a foundation or a direct inspiration to my style though. I just heavily admire and respect it. I think the quickness that is felt through my line work is in relation to trying to capture that memory or moment in time before it fades. The images I paint are ready to fall into the past and become a generalized memory. When they are captured in a painting they are immortalized into something else. They get to be part of that safe haven and shared through that lens. I believe that’s where the urgency comes from which is then seen in a lot of the movement of the brush work.
What is your least favorite type of art? There may be a genre you just can't stand or find ridiculous.
I think cubism is ridiculous.
Are there any platforms where you sell your works?
I am a self represented artist, which means I sell my paintings directly to collectors, usually under a pop up tent at street events. I find it incredibly enjoyable because I get to have a real life interaction with the people that support my work. The literal exchange of a painting from my hands to someone giving it a home is wild, like I’m passing on a piece of my personal life. Besides in person markets I have an extensive online site where I sell prints, and screen printed apparel. Everything is painted, printed and designed in my living room. I represent myself under the name MoseenMomade.
You can find my website at moseenmomade.com and my instagram @moseenmomade.
Have a new project recently?
I would say focusing on creating a larger collection of works over six feet. I tend to paint large already but the power of working on something that stands up to me, taller than me is so intriguing. I’m also just manifesting a moment when all these works can be in a public place together. Towering over everyone and reminding us the power of a memory.