An intriguing combination of textures, predominantly warm colors and a variety of materials playfully dance during the development of each piece of art. These materials are separated from their intended purpose then converted to become an integral part of each painting.
Thyra traces her current creative style back to a serendipitous event that led her to reinvent her process and her art. That event was a rambunctious rescue dog named Xena. As Thyra explained, “With a grabby and destructive attitude, Xena ruined many items of clothing, bedding, toys, you name it. In trying to find the positive in Xena’s ruinous nature, the destroyed items were resurrected to became integral parts of new creations.”
Thyra connected with how this transition from adversity to optimism represents cycles in life. Her destructive rescue dog had been thrown away. In this case, with a bit of effort, Xena
was renewed to a wonderful family member. She described, “Throughout life, everyone experiences hardships of some kind. It is how these hardships are handled, reframed, repositioned, and repurposed that determines the next chapters in life.”
It wasn't always all about abstracts. There was a time that
Ms. Moore was, at that crossroads in her life. She had a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) from the renowned Tyler School of Art in Pennsylvania. She had created and grown a successful advertising agency. She loved developing strategies and promotions that really made a difference to her clients. Eventually, in spite of the
successes and awards, Thyra needed to be somewhere else.
“Many people with similar yearnings and circumstances might get a convertible and take off for parts unknown,” said Thyra Moore. “I wanted – no, I needed to paint.
As a result, she went back to her roots and began painting with gouache. A move to Maryland with its boats, birds and water served as a further inspiration. I abandoned the commercial world I had lived in for so long, and dove head first into the liberating pool of creative expression,” she explained.
Thyra fully immersed herself, joining watercolor societies, taking workshops, and entering juried shows. After acceptance into a number of juried shows, Thyra Moore achieved Signature status at the Baltimore Watercolor Society, and had a piece accepted into a National Watercolor Society show. Yet, it was not satisfying.
“I was not creatively free enough. With watercolor and gouache, I was meticulous and precise. I used sketches, masking, pouring, and a rigid path to the finished piece. The entire process was too ‘left brain’ for me. My history and my training for the commercial world continued to shackle me. I needed to loosen up. I needed the freedom to express more emotion and passion. Ultimately I needed to allow myself to respond in real time as the painting evolved. I wanted the adventure of entering into a painting not knowing where it would lead,” she stated emphatically.
Challenged by her new insights and artistic opportunities, Thyra explored a different medium, “With acrylics I have the freedom to experience each step and stage of my art,” she said. “I can react with little or no preplanned outcome, and take full advantage of the evolutionary process that’s hidden within each creative challenge.” Thyra continued, “I’ve come to see life as an evolution of adversity to optimism. A process of destruction that leads to creation. A way to turn negatives into positives. For me, this process creates unlimited opportunities to discover each painting’s true essence as it evolves in front to me.”.
Thyra's work is in private collections and appears in numerous juried shows. Thyra won Best In Show at a juried show at District Arts gallery in Frederick MD. and First Place in the 37th Annual Faber Birren National Color Award Show in addition to other prizes in other shows. Frankly, the true depth, dimensionality, and impact of Thyra Moore's work can best be appreciated in person. Contact Thyra directly to arrange to view pieces in her studio.
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