By Avery Quinn
Moonshine Quinn is a twenty-three year old artist currently residing in Olympia on Coast Salish, Cowlitz, Nisqually, and Squaxin land. Moon is an incredible human, who in addition to being my sibling has also saved my life more than a hundred times over simply by existing. Their artwork is deeply soothing and I’m honored to have witnessed much of their journey as an artist. I asked Moon a few questions and they responded with the following insights. They will be attending Evergreen, beginning in the fall of this year.
How did you become interested in painting as a medium?
I started out just doodling with markers, pencils, and colored pencils. I knew I was very interested in making visual forms of the things I felt, to just have somewhere to place it and share for people to resonate with or admire. I found myself very intrigued by painting, especially moving into a new city surrounded by new people and living with many artists who created beautiful work. I attended a few hangouts with one of my housemates at the time who is an incredibly talented painter (Deana Nguyen) who I will most likely mention again because she has been a huge inspiration of mine as a creator and person. I caught myself feeling immersed in all of these different processes of paintings from different people and just the different ways you can say what you want without actually having to explain much at all. It’s just right in front of you, and people get to look at it and feel it and have their own unique perspective. And this is true with any medium, but there is something about paint, the way it can mix and blend. It’s fun to see the different colors and textures that can happen based on what style I’m going for.
What other art forms have contributed to your journey?
I love making pen and pencil sketches as well as drawings on my iPad. I sometimes turn these pieces into prints as well, which has been a fun process. I used to be super into sculpting clay & am hopefully going to get back into it because I’ve had ideas to sculpt pendants for earrings and paint them.
What have been your influences?
To name a few, Deana of course (@dream_unravel on Instagram) because of the dreaminess and lightness of her mystical paintings. My lovely friend Robin @byrobinhunt who creates intricate and soft illustrations. My older sibling Avery, their beautiful stories and words they form, shedding light on what is not talked about enough.
When it comes to style, I mostly get inspired by psychedelic ~trippy~ art, mystical/spiritual art, and dreamy skyscapes and sceneries. My interests can definitely range from dark & eerie to light & calming.
Can you tell me about your process? How do you best create? What are you thinking/feeling while making art?
Creating does not always feel easy, and sometimes I go weeks without doing it, due to lack of feeling inspired and just being tired with everything else going on in life. I try to be present when I’m doing art, whether I am feeling anxious, angry, irritable, depressed, all kinds of emotions. This is my outlet, and it’s beautiful to know that I can create whatever the f— I want and put whatever feelings I want into it. While some of my pieces come from a place of happiness, this is not always the case. But if I limited myself to only doing art when I’m feeling good, I wouldn’t have made some of the pieces that ignite sparks of joy in me when I look at them today. Sad times are necessary for better times. And so I guess how I best create is just being present and real with myself.
What do you hope to convey in your paintings, if anything?
I would just hope that it can bring feelings to whoever observes it, that it can awaken connections for people, maybe even incite a new way of perceiving something.
Has your relationship to creating/painting impacted your perspective overall?
Yes! It has made me look at everything in a different way. My sibling and I have discussed together the idea of life being a form of art. Everything we do is art, the way we move, work, stretch, cook, feed ourselves and care for others. We are constantly creating just by existing. And creating visual art has only made me realize that more, because it encourages me to be more imaginative and curious and in touch with that part of myself. It brings me closer to the child I once was, who still exists within me.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know?
The most important thing to do is to take care of yourself.
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