August 7, 2015 | Posted in:Vellum News

 

With a curiosity for animals typically found in folklore, artist Drew Mosley creates portraits on unusual materials. These consist primarily of wooden bowls and other assorted thrift store items. These rummaged objects eventually become host to Mosley’s paintings and dioramas. He favors certain animals such as foxes, owls, hares and bears, and portrays the four legged creatures as half-man, half-beast. Their actions are surrounded by forces which consistently take on a dark and foreboding nature. Even though the little subjects are depicted doing common, mundane tasks, Mosley captures them in a state that provokes deeper introspection and thought. Sound messages are brought forth using symbols such as fire, red flags and arrows. These speak to the obvious concern for the environment and those in it. However, there is a more psychological narrative at play in the foliage which accompanies the figures.  This symbolizes hidden fears and truths. The animal spirits are significant in representing characteristics such as strength (bear), intuition (owl), diligence (hare), and cunning (fox). Besides all of the ethereal meanings, the works themselves are beautifully made objects which could easily fit in a museum or curio shop. The dioramas are constructed using the actual materials depicted such as eggs, sticks, rocks and leaves.