Weiser artist rekindles love of painting in retirement

By: 
Steve Lyon

Weiser artist Lori Mooney sold her first set of two landscape paintings more than 40 years, a clear indication that she had talent with a paintbrush.
 These days Mooney likes to explore her artistic creativity with watercolors on paper and to a lesser extent with acrylic paint on canvas. Landscapes and still-life figures, such as bright flowers in a vase, are just a couple of the subjects she likes to paint.
 Mooney was recently selected as the featured artist by the Four County Art Guild, an organization that seeks to promote an appreciation of visual art in Washington, Payette, Adams and Malheur counties.
 For the rest of the month of May, a selection of Mooney’s paintings will be on display at Zions Bank in downtown Weiser. Her works of art will move to the Weiser Senior and Community Center on June 6.
 Mooney first began working with watercolors when she took a continuing education class in Boise in the late 1970s. Then life, family and career came along and her art was basically put on hold  until retirement.
 She joined the Four County Art Guild seven years ago and her creativity was reinvigorated, along with her enthusiasm for painting. With more free time in her life these days, she can complete a couple of paintings a month and loves her art time. What does her art mean to her?
 “It’s a way of expressing yourself. It’s just being creative,” Mooney said. “It’s kind of an adventure. You never know what is going to pop up.”
 Her technique is evolving with watercolors. She is less interested in trying to recreate a photograph with exact detail and realism and more interested in becoming “looser” with watercolors, a little more abstract and expressionistic.
 Along with painting watercolors on paper, she also paints on a special watercolor paper called yupo, “a compelling and unique alternative to traditional art papers,” according to one website. The synthetic paper allows for a “loose effect.” The paint flows in different ways, in different shapes.
 Exploring and experimenting with various techniques, and taking classes through the guild, has helped her expand her abilities, not only with watercolors, but also acrylics.
 Mooney said she finds that painting acrylics can offer more freedom to work with the colors on canvas. The paint can be mixed and moved around on the canvas during the painting process. It can even be painted over. Acrylics give the artist more time to render the image.  
 Mooney has become involved in the art guild and its mission to promote art and get youth and the community involved in creating and appreciating art. There are about 30 members, including some incredibly talented women who have won state and national awards and accolades for their art.
 The guild is a big supporter of arts in local schools. The guild awards ribbons and cash to the best student artwork during the school year. The guild also gives schools money to help purchase art supplies for students.
 The Four County Art Guild is always looking for artists to showcase their works, and you don’t have to be a member of the guild to become a featured artist. The guild also sponsors the self-guided art tour located in a variety of local businesses, where the art works of members are on display.
 

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