More than a pretty painting on the wall

For art’s sake Hamilton artist Riss Moore uses her spiritual journey to influence her art work. 

“I’m an experimenting artist at the moment, trying to figure out what my ‘thing’ is. However, the biggest thing that guides my work is being a woman of faith.”

Moore says most artists let their art do the talking, but what is different for her work is that it always has a backstory.

“With my art I like it to have a message behind it to give the viewers something to ponder. I like my artwork to be more than just a pretty painting on the wall.”

In 2018, she had a cancer scare, however, a picture that gave her peace and solace was an image of a pale blue sky with a brown sparrow sitting on a cherry blossom branch.

Moore lightens up as she speaks about a Bible verse.

 “Matthew 6 talks about not worrying for tomorrow because if you look at the sky, the birds do not store food in barns but God feeds and takes care of them. Are we not much more valuable than they are?”

She talks about believing God is trustworthy but this season she had to consciously remind herself.

“To get through every day I had to say, God I trust you. You have done this and this and that, in my life so I’m trusting you with this.”

After getting the results of her biopsy back and it being clear, Moore finally painted the picture that she had held so dear during her season of uncertainty.

The cancer scare gave Moore a second chance to look at her life and pursue her career as an artist.

She talks of her past doubts of not feeling good enough or being worried that she would become a “starving artist” who lived on the minimum expenses.

“After the cancer scare it made me go, what am I doing? I could have been battling for my life yet I am healthy. So I need to do it – and stop doubting myself.”

She shows me her art pieces that hang in every corner of her house. Each of them with a unique narrative.

“It is a pretty picture if people want a pretty picture but the meaning behind it makes it more than that.”