About the Artist: Monte Moore

After achieving a BFA from Colorado State University in 1993, Monte has pursued his lifelong dream of creating new artistic visions and stretching himself as an artist. From taking art workshops around the country and studying with Master Teacher Frank Covino for 20 years, Monte offers a wide range of art and styles in acrylics, pencils, oils and airbrush. Several other Wildlife Art Master Artists that Monte has studied with include greats such as John Seerey-Lester, Alan Hunt, Carl Brenders and Morten E. Solberg.

In his 25 year career as a pop-culture artist, he has won many accolades, including being the two-time winner of the World Fantasy Art Show, and having his work seen in dozens of magazines including Time, U.S. World Report, Newsweek, The Robb Report, and includes advertising work for such companies as Pentax, The Australian Outback Collection, Ocean Spray, The U.S. Marine Corps, Harley-Davidson and the U.S. Olympic Training Centers. Although most well-known as a pop-culture artist for companies like Lucasfilm, DC Comics, Marvel Entertainment and many others, Monte also has a passion for Western and Fine Art. His family has been in the cattle and ranching business for over 100 years, and Monte's youth was spent on an expansive working cattle ranch in the mountains of Idaho where daily activities included working with horses, cattle, mending fences and much more.

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH MONTE MOORE:

1. 1. Who is the biggest influence on your artistic style?

I don’t have one specific biggest influence but some of the illustrators I respect the most would be Rockwell, Olivia, Sorayama, Royo, Elmore, Parkinson and Mucha. 

2. 2. What sort of music do you listen to when you create artwork?

I’m very much a genre person, so if I am working on a Western piece, I have country music or a western film on. If I’m working on cover art for a spy novel it might be James Bond. So, as you can imagine while working on art for The Mandalorian, I watched / listened the entire series about 6-7 times while painting because it keeps me connected to my source material. 

3. 3. When did you first realize you wanted to be an artist?

I was 16 years old and sitting in art class in high school when I made the decision to become an artist for a living. I went home that night and announced to my parents I planned to be an artist / designer and they were extremely supportive as they knew my passion for art. They encouraged me to follow my dreams and get a degree in graphic design / illustration and I continue on that path today. 

4. 4. Where do you create art?

I have two studios at my home, one in the house and another that was completely finished out in our detached garage. That one is for larger projects such as auto / moto paint jobs which I used to do in the past, as well as a meeting space for clients. The exterior studio we call ’Studio B’ and it is finished out with refrigerator, TV, AC / heat and even has a steampunk themed bathroom!

5. 5. Why did you decide to pursue a career in art?

I was going to be a doctor most of my childhood as I liked the idea of helping people, but the older I got the more my passion for creating art grew. I became less sure I would enjoy the stress and drama that would come with being a surgeon in an ER so I changed my career path at 16.