Charles Moffat

Charles Alexander Moffat has been painting for a very long time. However it should be interesting to note that while growing up, he HATED painting. Absolutely hated it. The schools provided students with cheap paint and even worse brushes. With such materials, the paint would not do the kind of detail and perfection that he wanted to do.

It was not until highschool that he discovered acrylic paint and high quality brushes, and not until university did he experiment with oil paint. If you compare the chronological link to the left, you can see how his style and methods progressed through the years.

In 1997, Moffat's primary focus was experimenting with colour and line. In 1998, that changed somewhat to studying portraiture, but still maintaining a fondness for unusual colours. The Twelve Faces painting in 1998 is an excellent example of his determination to study portraiture.

In 1999, Moffat's interests became more figurative. Belly buttons, legs, necks, people's backs and whole figures. 1999 was also the beginning of the Lilith Incarnation series which continued into 2000 and spawned new themes concerning violence, sex, feminism, abortion, and memory. He also started to experiment with thematic photography.

2001 however was a very productive year. His interest in photography grew and he directed the "Nightmares in the Morning" series (and video art piece) in cooperation with Melody, followed by the "2001 Mirage Freak Show". His paintings continued to progress at the same time, as he also did murals and experimented with more "on the spot" paintings; Normally his paintings are planned out heavily.

2002 was a time of reflection following the September 11th. Moffat studied art history and spent much of his time writing about artists and their historical meanings. This historical interest however led him to create the reproduction of Friedrich Overbeck's "Italy and Germany". His self portraits during 2002 were brought about by Moffat studying what his style really is and what is involved in his artistic process. The Self Analysis series is more about process than the actual finished piece. In Autumn 2002 Moffat started painting penises and phallic symbols (see "Pacifism" and "Freudian Explosion") for a short while, cunning works about homophobia and androphobia. This continued briefly into 2003.

In 2003, he re-invented his style with "drip and flick" paintings (not to be confused with Jackson Pollock's "splatter and dribble" paintings) and created such works as "Untitled #3", "Salmacis in the Rain" and "Violinist #2". He also did 5 portraits of his friend Julie, of which #1 is currently shown in the Lilith Gallery. Moffat moved to South Korea in July 2003 and started working on 5 new paintings, a continuation of his new "drip" style, and those paintings should be available online some time in the future. While in Korea, he made the "Land of Morning Peace" photographic series, a comment on the beauty of Korea, but also the possibility of war with North Korea if the United States continues on its current warpath of destruction and economic chaos. The themes in the photography lean towards pacifism and the prospects of peace & tranquility.

In 2004 Moffat continued painting and doing more photography but also has started to experiment in video art. He has since created a variety of videos, including: "Fear Americans #2: Gun Control" and a variety of other "pastiche-style videos".

Moffat has created these new video art pieces as part of an artists co-op known as "United Anarchist Artists", although he is not an anarchist. He is a devout pacifist and agrees with the group 'only in principle' because he feels the United States is heading down a road of destruction & ignorance.

In 2005, Moffat released a much larger scale video art piece, "Nuclear Winter" and has continued the 'drip and flick' style with paintings such as the "Canadian Water Nymph".

Artist Statement "My method of painting goes in the following order: I conceptualize and plan a particular piece. A particular idea may go through several drafts on a notebook. Many ideas never leave the notebook. Once the painting begins nothing is left to chance. I either draw a new image in the notebook/sketchbook or on a scrap of paper, appropriate an image or take a digital photograph of my intended image. This image may then be augmented or changed on computer, and then graphed on to the canvas or paper. I use layers of both thin and thick paint until the final piece is complete. I sometimes flick paint rather than brush it, smear the paint with a thumb to create a more desired effect and will sometimes use a toothpick for doing detailed spots. Many of my paintings are portraits (or follow a portrait-like formula even if its not an image of a person), and within those portraits I follow a mix of formulas in which the face and eyes of the person/character I am portraying usually becomes the most intense part of the painting. The background is often used to accentuate and/or frame the face (sometimes using perspective with a focal point behind a person's eyes). I strive for a level of realism that gets my image across to the viewer, but without the piece becoming overworked. I choose my colours or shades in order to create a different emotional response from the viewer. I often strive to create an intense painting that draws a person's attention. "Blue Lilith" or "Winter Lilith" is one of my works that best exemplifies what I am trying to achieve from the image. It is iconic, much in the same way that Alberto Korda’s image of Che Guevara is iconic. This iconographic imagery is something that endures, that people remember and will recognize again and again. It is also something that tends to become popular. "United States Censorship" is another prime example of this iconic imagery, except it has a significantly more political purpose. It has become my theory in the past that activist art is the art that becomes more popular and endures the most. Looking back at art history, it has been the art pieces that made social commentary that became more readily popular. My favourite artists tend to be activists of some kind. Guernica, Olympia, Che Guevara, etc. This therefore includes artists such as Cindy Sherman, Manet and Diego Riviera. Artists that deal with iconic portraits are also of interest, therefore Andy Warhol and Patrick Nagel also interest me. The level of popularity that Nagel’s work created was such that most people know what his work looks like, but very few people know his name. The idea of how works become popular also interests me, and I contribute this largely to mass reproduction of individual pieces. I have found in the past that I am simply not satisfied with my work unless I am making some form of social commentary. Landscapes therefore have little meaning for me, unless the landscape itself is inherently political in some way. For example, a landscape of the DMZ (de-militarized zone) between South Korea and North Korea is inherently political, even though you can't see the landmines and bombs hidden under the ground. History and mythology plays an important part in my artwork. To date I have made 11 paintings based on Lilith, with a large segment of my work exploring other historical and mythological archetypes, ranging from Ophelia to Saint Hildegarde von Bingen. In August 2001 I have created a new archetype called "Mirage". This is a deliberate attempt on my part to create an identifiable archetype that has very few negative connotations. Lilith, Ophelia and even Hildegarde have negative connotations. Mirage is therefore an attempt to create an archetype free of negative connotations that can serve as a conceptual role-model. Mirage is really about illusions however, since she does not exist, much like Utopia does not exist. I sometimes mix mythology with Freudian symbolism. Since 2003 my works are straying from painting: I am working more with photography and video art, often using landscapes or images of buildings. My new work in 2007 revolves around experimentation and mythological narratives. Sincerely, Charles Alexander Moffat" Last Updated: February 1st, 2007. Alphabetical Listing of Art by Charles Alexander Moffat : A-D Above the City : 2000 Above the Freeway : 2001 Acts of God? : 2001 Advertising Criticism #1 : 1999 Advertising Criticism #2 : 1999 Advertising Criticism #3 : 1999 After Thought : 2001 Albion's Androgyny : 2004 - New Lithograph Angela Tarango #1 : 1999 Angela Tarango #2 : 1999 Anne of Green Gables at the Beach : 2006 - with Dale MacNevin Astarte : 2001 Astarte Close-Up : 2001 Athena with Shield : 2001 Autostopowicz : 1999 Bad Vibrations : 2002 Bald Girl Shaving : 2004 Bald Grrl : 2001 Bang Bang Wonderful Days : 2004 - 6391 KB. Bast / Tiger Woman : 2005 - New Painting Bottle of Femininity : 1998 Boycott Unocal Oil : 2001 Burnt Flag : 2001 Canadian Goth : 2004 Canadian Water Nymph : 2005 - New Painting Cancer #1 : 2001 Cancer #2 : 2001 Capitalism Perverts Reality #1: 2001 Capitalism Perverts Reality #2: 2001 Changing People : 2001 Charcoal Back : 1999 Che Guevara Meets Diego Riviera : 2001 Crop Signs : 2005 - New Movie, 19 MB Cyborg Blowing Bubblegum : 2000 Dark Fairie : 2000 Dream of Gold on Black with White Swirl : 2006 Dyed Black Hair : 1999 E-G Elevator Scene: Changing Times : 2000 Eternal Lovers : 1998 Eternity of Nirvana : 2004 Eye Brow Ring : 2001 Faces of Personality : 1998 Fantine's Depression : 2002 Fear Americans #1 : 2004 - 4301 KB. Fear Americans #2: Gun Control : 2004 - 4901 KB. Fear Americans #3: Oil Economics : 2004 - 9921 KB. Fear Americans #4: American Life : 2004 - 8595 KB. Fear Americans #5: Wolfowitz War Crimes : 2004 - 14,383 KB. Fear Americans #6: Fear, Hatred & Stupidity : 2004 - 13,746 KB. Fear Americans #7: Pinky and the Brain : 2004 - 2,175 KB. Fetish: Belly Button : 1999 Fetish: Nails : 2001 Fetish: Neck : 1999 Fetish: Orange Lips : 2001 Fetish: Red Dress : 2001 Fetish: Roleplaying : 2001 Freudian Explosion : 2002 Freudian Orgasm : 2001 Gene Machine: Glowing Equality : 2000 Gene Machine: Kali : 2000 Greener Grass : 1997 Goddess of Moonlight : 2005 - New Painting Guns, Guns, Guns : 2006 H-K Hairy Arm Pits #1 : 2001 Hairy Arm Pits #2 : 2001 Hallway Lilith #1 : 1998 Hallway Lilith #2 : 1998 Hallway Lilith #3 : 1998 Hallway Lilith #4 : 1998 Hallway Lilith #5 : 1998 Hands in Hair : 1999 Hands Off : 1998 Headache Heart of Demona : 2004 - 9877 KB. Hermaphroditus/Salmacis Series #1: Childhood : 2001 Hermaphroditus/Salmacis Series #2: Flowers : 2001 Hermaphroditus/Salmacis Series #3: Crying : 2001 I69 : 2005 - New Painting Inside the Feminist #1 : 2000 Inside the Feminist #2 : 2000 Inside the Feminist #3 : 2000 Inside the Feminist #4 : 2000 Inside the Feminist #5 : 2000 Inside the Feminist #6 : 2000 Italy and Germany Reproduction : 2002 Jack is Too Sexy : 2004 - 5075 KB. Jack the Ripper : 2001 Julie #1 : 2003 Kat #1 : 2001 Kat #2 : 2001 Katya : 2000 Kill Bill Daddy Cool : 2004 - 5849 KB. L-M Lady of the Lake : 2001 Land of Morning Peace #001 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #002 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #003 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #004 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #005 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #006 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #007 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #008 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #009 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #010 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #011 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #012 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #013 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #014 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #015 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #016 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #017 : 2003 Land of Morning Peace #018 : 2003 Lilith by the Red Sea : 2000 Lilith Incarnation #1 : Blue Lilith : 1999 Lilith Incarnation #2 : Autumn Lilith : 2000 Lilith Incarnation #3 : Forest Lilith : 2000 Lilith Incarnation #4 : Scary Lilith : 2000 Lilith Incarnation #5 : Red Lilith : 2002 Lion Nightmare #1 : 2000 Lion Nightmare #2 : 2000 Lion Nightmare #3 : 2000 Male Taboo Topic #1 : 2001 Male Taboo Topic #4 : 2001 Male Taboo Topic #7 : 2001 Marilith : 2000 The Mirage Freak Show Series : 2001 Mirage Painting #1: Thinking : 2001 Mirage Painting #2: Scythe : 2001 Mirage Painting #3: Crying : 2001 Mirage Painting #4: Smile : 2001 Mirage Painting #5: Eye : 2001 N-P Natural Born Babykillers #001: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #005: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #007: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #010: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #011: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #016: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #017: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #023: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #035: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #040: 2004 Natural Born Babykillers #045: 2004 Nightmares in the Morning : 2001 - 2057 KB. Nightmare in the Morning #08 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #30 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #42 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #44 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #52 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #56 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #58 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #60 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #62 : 2001 Nightmare in the Morning #74 : 2001 Nuclear Winter : 2005 - New Movie, 45 MB Oh So Serious / Gypsy : 1999 Oil, Blood and Cleavage : 2003 Oil Truck : 2003 Ophelia #1 : 2001 Pacifism : 2002 Pacifist : 2003 Plaid Hitchhiker : 2000 Postal Warrior II : 2000 Portrait of Carolina : 2004 Portrait of Eve #01 : 2005 - New Painting Portrait of Eve #02 : 2005 - New Painting Portrait of Eve #03 : 2005 - New Painting Portrait of Eve #04 : 2005 - New Painting Protestor : 2003 Q-T Ranma 1/2 Kung Fu (Large Version) : 2004 - 14620 KB. Ranma 1/2 Kung Fu (Small Version) : 2004 - 7938 KB. Reject : 2000 Reproduction : 2001 Ripple #1: The Girl in the Corner : 1997 Ripple #2: A Drop in the Bucket : 1997 Ripple #3: The Love Ripple : 1997 Ripple #4: Raindrops on Roses : 1997 Salmacis in the Rain : 2003 Samurai Jack - Hotel California : 2004 - 7710 KB. Samurai Jack Meets Wong Fei Hung : 2004 - 6789 KB. Samurai Jack - Stayin' Alive : 2004 - 8793 KB. Self Analysis #1 : 2002 Self Analysis #2 : 2002 Self Analysis #3 : 2002 Sexual Blasphemy #1 : 2005 - New Painting Sputnik : 2000 Starry Night : 2006 Statues of Memory : 2000 Succubus Wings : 2001 Succubus in Corset : 2001 Tattoo of Time : 1999 The Cleveland Medusa : 1999 The Glancing : 1998 The Glowing Maid : 1998 The Glowing Violinist : 1998 The Heart of Molloch : 2004 The Last Thing You Feel Bub : 2004 - 6569 KB. The Suited Medusa : 1998 The Suited Succubus : 2000 Twelve Faces : 1998 U-Z Un Lego Soldier dans le Champagne #001: 2004 Un Lego Soldier dans le Champagne #007: 2004 Un Lego Soldier dans le Champagne #017: 2004 Un Lego Soldier dans le Champagne #018: 2004 Un Lego Soldier dans le Champagne #019: 2004 Un Lego Soldier dans le Champagne #020: 2004 Un Lego Soldier dans le Champagne #022: 2004 Untitled #3 : 2003 United States Censorship : 2001 Valeska : 2000 Vertigo : 2001 Violinist #2 : 2003 Why? : 2000 Windsurfing : 1997

Sexual Blasphemy I, 36 x 58" : 2005 Canadian Water Nymph, 9 x 12" : 2005 Bald Girl Shaving, 32 x 24" : 2004 Salmacis in the Rain, 36 x 30" : 2003 Acts of God?, 24 x 30" : 2001 Oil, Blood and Cleavage, Oil on Canvas 30 x 30" : 2003 United States Censorship, Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 25" : 2001 Pacifism, Acrylic on Canvas 30 x 30" : 2002 Mirage Painting #1: Thinking, Acrylic on Canvas 20 x 24" : 2001 Blue Lilith, Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 30" : 1999 Freudian Explosion, Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 18" : 2002 Italy and Germany Reproduction, Acrylic on Canvas 48 x 36" : 2002 Violinist #2, Acrylic on Canvas 36 x 48" : 2003 Albion's Androgyny, Ink Lithograph on Japanese Paper 24 x 28" : 2004