By Bonnie Gangelhoff
In 1991, when Santa Fe-based painter John Moyers was featured on these pages for the first time, his artistic path was already firmly set. The son of William Moyers (three-time president of the Cowboy Artists of America), John was pursuing his passion for historically accurate, compellingly rendered scenes of American Indians, the western landscape, and figures from the Mexican revolution. Since then, his technical mastery has only grown, as has admiration for his work by collectors worldwide. Painting from life, Moyers maintains a strong focus on research and the use of historic clothing and artifacts. “I don’t want to paint,” he declares, “unless I get everything right.”
Has your style or approach to your art changed since you first appeared in Southwest Art? I don’t think my style has really changed, as far as technique, but hopefully I’m still growing and doing better work.
What is your proudest accomplishment so far? Being invited into the Cowboys Artists of America in 1994.
Would you have done anything differently? You know, I don’t think I would have done anything differently. I’m happy with the way things are going. I don’t think I’d change anything.
What advice do you give to artists just starting out in their careers? Paint from life as much as you can and don’t be a slave to the camera.
What motto do you live by? Put your best foot forward and put out the best art that you can, because nothing bugs you more than knowing you could have done better.
What artists have influenced you? Robert Lougheed and my dad.
What are you working on now? Terri [John’s wife, Terri Kelly Moyers, also an acclaimed painter] and I will be in a show at Nedra Matteucci’s next August, along with sculptor Doug Hyde, so I’m working on that.
What’s your next big goal? Just to continue doing what I’m doing and to be happy doing it.
REPRESENTATION
Nedra Matteucci Galleries, Santa Fe, NM; Claggett/Rey Gallery, Vail, CO.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Prix de West Exhibition and Sale, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK, June 12-September 6, 2010.
John Moyers, Terri Kelly Moyers, and Doug Hyde, Nedra Matteucci Galleries, August 2010.
First appearance in Southwest Art: Profile, February 1991
Awards won since then: The Robert Lougheed Award at the Prix de West, more than 20 awards at the Cowboy Artists of America show, and others.
Price change since then: They’ve gone up.
Featured in “Success Stories” in December 2009