Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Moss.
Hi Xavier, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Having a love of art and science since childhood, I chose to study Biological Illustration at the University of Florida. Biological Illustration is the use of technical illustration to visually communicate the structure and specific details of biological subjects of study, in other words, visualizing natural history. After graduating, I decided against pursuing a Master’s in Medical Illustration, as I felt led to use my skills in a non-medical realm. Finding work after graduating proved difficult for the better part of a year. For some reason, I’d come to believe the notion that if my first job out of college wasn’t in my field of study, then I’d failed. Eventually, with the help of my family, I realized this was untrue, took stock of my other skills, and began working as a teacher for Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS). I worked as a Support Facilitation Teacher, ESE Paraprofessional, Art Teacher, and Substitute Teacher over the course of six years, but it was in my fourth year that I began thinking about getting back to art. I’d continued freelancing in illustration whilst teaching, but knew I wanted to make that my main course of work – specifically, visual arts ministry. Opportunity came knocking that same year, and I won calls to artists from The City of Oviedo to complete murals in two of their parks! I had never painted a mural beforehand, but I leaped at the chance to expand my creative skillset and by February 2020, I had painted my first two murals. I completed those two murals while working full-time, and even had to take time off to work on them. I was tired, to say the least, but having to take time off from one job, to work another that I was more passionate about got me thinking. If I was having to take off from something that left me with little energy to do the thing I really loved, perhaps a change was needed. I grappled with God about my situation – why weren’t any doors for visual arts ministry being opened for me to leap through? The answer came back just as quickly: I was more concerned with the safety net of a salary, rather than stepping out of the boat and trusting Him to establish my steps. That was a clap-back and a half but rang true and so I submitted my administration that I would not be returning the following school year. Not a week after I had done that, Covid-19 came into our lives and changed everything. The kids were gone, and my duties became clerical in nature, save for installing a small mural on the campus of the elementary school I worked at. As quarantine continued into the summer, I got to thinking again about making art my mainstay. How would that happen? Could it work? Well, I figured if being in lock-down didn’t provide me ample enough time to start a business, then nothing would. So, in July 2020, I launched my business XMOSSART LLC. I had a lot to learn, and if I’m quite honest, am still learning. Hard lessons early on taught me to be wary of scammers, never sell myself short, and own the value of my time. I am continuing to install murals across Central Florida for municipalities, businesses, and cities alike – refining my techniques with each one. I’ve also continued to develop my own fine art, body of work that is biological illustration through the lens of Scripture – I call it Biblelogical Illustration. I believe that the arts are severely underutilized in the ministerial realm, and can be just as effective as music, dramas, and other “standard means,” of communicating God’s love. I mean, if I serve an infinitely creative God, I’m not gonna limit the ways He wants to express Himself! So, with my art, I aim not only to bring aesthetic beauty into my surroundings, but for each piece to reveal the beauty of God’s character – be it mural, drawing, or painting.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Quite a few obstacles and challenges!
About a month and a half after I launched my business, I was scammed out of about $2,000. I was devastated, angry at myself, and felt so incredibly stupid for being duped. The bank and police said there was little that could be done, and it seemed that everything I’d earn for the foreseeable future would go towards getting out of the hole. I blogged about the scam, hoping to prevent other artists from falling prey to it, and basically said that I’d done everything in my human power to recover financially, so the ball was in The Big Man (God’s) court. The Joshua 1:9 Foundation headquartered in Gainesville, FL came across my story and reached out to encourage me to not let Satan bury my business before it had even launched. Then, they did something crazy: they donated enough to get me out of the hole, only asking that I testify that God still moves people to do good when it is in their power to do good. That truly rekindled the belief that I was on the right course, and even though it was a rough experience, my resolve is stronger because of it.
Other difficulties that have come with the territory are leads for work ghosting you after you’ve already begun to put together concept/design ideas on their behalf, having to break through my own glass ceiling, and not being afraid to charge what I know my skill and time are worth, and not falling into the trap of negative self-comparison with my peers. That lost one is especially dicey since I’m very much still growing as a business professional, but at the end of the day – I’d rather do the hard work of figuring out how to make my passion work on the front-end than to see years fly by doing something half-heartedly.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work in a wide range of media including watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen, and ink. My own body of work, Biblelogical Illustration, focuses on the exploration of natural history within the context of Scripture. I also create murals for municipalities, businesses, and residences. I am heavily influenced by graphic novel storytelling, printmaking, dynamic sketching, creature design, Art Nouveau, and Impressionism.
Bibliological Illustration: I create impressionistic murals My faith is the lens through which I see and engage with the world – a world brimming with flora and fauna. An enduring love of this natural world compels me to explore Scripture, seeking to unearth the essence of the plants and animals contained therein. Whether literally or symbolically present, all uniquely reflect their Creator. I forge a connection between the seemingly disparate viewpoints of natural history and faith, challenging individuals from diverse backgrounds to pool their knowledge and unravel why these biblical biotas are significant. I believe that exchange of ideas, racing as half-formed images through the mind’s eye, is the closest man comes to understanding God. In the realm of that moment, I use bold colors and dynamic, gestural strokes, to create impressionistic sketches of God’s creations.
Murals: Prior to 2019, I had never done a mural. I had always thought it would be something cool to do in the future, but sometimes, the future comes a-knocking hard! Beginning with a call-to-artists from the City of Oviedo, I submitted a mural design for a local park and it was selected! I quickly researched as much I could, and now – 5 murals later – I’m muraling like it’s nobody’s business! Whether residential or for a business, I strive to bring vibrant, impressionistic, and interactive designs to the table, or rather
I am Known for:
– Center Lake Park Mural, Oviedo
– Round Lake Park Mural, Oviedo
– Oviedo Aquatic Center Murals (3), Oviedo
– Crooms Academy of Information & Technology Interactive Mural, Sanford
– ArtsyDevotionals (Series of Biblelogical Illustrations); Online
I am proudest of the continuing technical refinement I see in my work. Whether it’s paintings or murals, I am keenly aware of my continuing development of my own visual language, rather than forcing my art to look like someone else’s. Embracing my own natural style and sensibilities will ultimately, lead to pieces that are a true reflection of me. Also, with each mistake I make, I learn a lesson that I carry forward. Ultimately, it boils down to growth mindset. Never stop at “I can’t,” always add, “yet.”
What sets me apart from others is a bold usage of color, gestural linework, and impressionistic aesthetic that unite to create a dynamic flow, bringing my art to life. Whether that’s flora and fauna of Scripture coming to life, or the walls of a building, my work challenges a conformity to statis nature.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I believe the visual arts industry will be very saturated and heavily reliant on digital means of production. That being said, there will always, always be a place for analogue art-making. I think that in order for artists to be able to separate themselves from the pack, they will have to actively seek out not only the problems our world will then be dealing with but also the practical ways their art might provide a solution.
Pricing:
- Bos fractus (Exodus 32: 19-20) – $835.00
- Primores pueri (Isaiah 11: 6-9) – $735.00
- Vulpis ignis (Judges 15: 4-5) – $805.00
- Vipera lingua (Psalm 140:3) – $770.00
Contact Info:
- Email: info@xmossart.com
- Website: www.xmossart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xmossart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XMOSSART
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/xmossart
- Other: https://bit.ly/hirexmossart
Image Credits
Orlando Photoworks
Erin Monroe
Christine Chapdelaine
Touchstone
