Meet Carla Mooking
Artist Statement
Have you ever met someone that initially you did not find very attractive and then after getting to know them better they became increasingly more beautiful? If you have had this experience then you are capable of seeing a person’s inner beauty, in other words their energy or aura.
This concept is what I attempt to convey in my artwork. I focus on the beauty inside, as though I am seeing the subject's energy through an infrared camera lens. This approach frees me to explore shape and color within the painting in a unique way – from the inside out. My focus is less on perfection and more on the playful use of color and form. My hope is to create a positive healing energy and experience for the viewer.
I work in acrylics because I find this medium to be versatile, impactful and most importantly forgiving. Inspiration can come from anywhere—a scarf, a website, a tree or a person I just met. It has been said when you fall in love with someone or something you are blind to its flaws, you focus on what is beautiful. As an artist I feel that this is my job. My purpose is to help people focus on the beauty in the world, in others and ultimately within themselves.
“My purpose is to help people focus on beauty in the world,
in others, and ultimately within themselves.”
- Carla Mooking
Artist Bio
Carla Mooking is a Caribbean-born, Edmonton raised, Vancouver based visual artist and Illustrator. Her formative years were spent on the tropical island of Trinidad, which is famous for its vibrant and colorful Carnival celebrations. Carla brings this same vivacious energy to her artwork by using bright, bold acrylic paints and swirling organic shapes. Her work is described as having a healing energy and it is her aim to bring healing and happiness to the viewer.
Carla studied Visual Communication Design at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, majored in illustration and graduated with honors in 2003. In 2007 Carla won an Award for her illustration work on a promotional piece for Edmonton Tourism. She has participated is several group shows throughout western Canada in the last 10 years including the “5 Artists One Love” exhibit at the Alberta Gallery of Art and the “Uncovered” group show in 2015 at the Citiscape Artspace in North Vancouver. She has had 3 solo exhibits to date in the Metro Vancouver area and has focused more on commissioned pieces since June 2018.
