Jeffrey Moose Gallery proudly presents pastel paintings and prints by Jeffrey Moose for the months of December and January. A reception will be held First Friday, December 1st from 6-8 PM. A Facebook video tour will run from about 5:20 to 5:40. A second event will be held on First Friday, January 5th, 6-8 PM and Mr Moose will do a pastel painting demo.

Originally inspired by French artist Odilon Rédon, whose works are in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, Mr. Moose began using pastels while in school in Chicago, eventually creating a series of plant studies for his senior thesis. Working from orchids in the collection of his roommate, Mr. Moose enlarged them to monumental sizes, some as large as six feet high. A pair of these paintings will be on display as well as a couple of the 4x4 foot pastels made in the late 80’s in Brinnon, Washington, on the shores of the Hood Canal.

While in Brinnon, Mr. Moose took some of the abstract backgrounds of his florals and put them into the foreground as subject. Inspired by the powerful energies of the Olympic Peninsula, and images from deep space, the series developed as a spiritual reaction to the fresh new environment. Joseph Campbell, Native American masks and imagery were also inspirations. Five of these works were photographed and made into high quality digital prints which will be on display.

In January, Mr. Moose will add new work to the show. On first Friday, January 5th, he will work live in the gallery on a current composition.