Gladys Roldan de Moras

1)Tell us a little about yourself (what would you like people to know about you?), your background, heritage, family, what part of the country do you live in?, etc...

My name is Gladys Roldan-de-Moras. I am a full time artist. I was born and raised in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. My father is from Cali, Colombia, and my mother from Monterrey, Mexico. I grew up in a traditional conservative Mexican family. . I married when I was 21 years old and have been living the United States for the past 20 years. I am married to Rafael Moras who is from Cordoba, Veracruz, and we have three wonderful children; Rafael (18), David (16) and Analucia (14) to whom we have tried to instill our Latin culture, heritage and traditions. We live in San Antonio Texas where I am a full time artist and my husband aside from being a very talented musician, is an Engineering Professor.

2) What was it that sparked your interest in becoming an artist, how did you get your start?

The dream of being an artist has been with me ever since I can remember. I have the most beautiful memories of so many art related events in my life. I can sincerely say that I can recall, with great amount of detail, paintings that I saw when I was very young. My fascination with art and everything of beauty has always been with me. After highschool, I wanted to pursue a career in Art, but my family was not very supportive about the idea. They very erroneously thought that Art was only for the “non-intellectual” What a misconception!. Therefore, at the age of 16, I was accepted into Medical School. During my years of study, I was fascinated with Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. I believe it was the creative artist in me wanting to manifest itself. All during my youth I continued to study art with whoever could teach me something. It was only after I married and came to the States, while I was in graduate school that I became pregnant with our first child. . Unfortunately, Rafael Jr was born with a serious health problem, and this is when I got to “live” the other side of Medicine, not as the care-taker but as the patient and I did not like it. There was too much pain. It was then that my husband told me he would support my decision of leaving the Medical profession and pursue what I had always wanted, which was my love of Art.

3) How do you classify your work?

Representational Impressionism. I try to paint from life as much as I can (plein aire, or alla-prima), and believe in trying to be as truthful as possible in representing the beauty our Creator has surrounded us with. Honesty in my painting is something I strive for every day.

4) What is your inspiration?

My inspiration is God’s creation. If I could only represent with my palette a little bit of the awesome beauty He has given us to enjoy, then my job is done! Sometimes I am asked what exactly inspires me to paint a certain subject, or group certain objects in a still life, and I must also say that Music does. I believe that music lifts our soul, and sometimes while I hear a beautiful melody, the ideas will flow and I will think about set-ups for models, or even still lifes. I constantly paint with music. It truly elevates my soul.

5) What type of music do you listen to while you paint? is there a specific genre or musical artist that inspires you?

I hear all kinds of beautiful up-lifting music and it will basically depend on the subject matter that I am painting and the mood I am in. For example, if the painting is from my series of Latin paintings, then I will play Mariachi music or even Latin Music such as Salsa, Cumbia or even Spanish Pop. If I am painting something as delicate as a vase of flowers, and I feel I need to be much more concentrated, then I will play some classical violin or piano concerto or perhaps a Cd with Soprano/Tenor favorites. If I feel I need a bit more inspiration, I will usually play instrumental music such as anything from “Secret Garden”, or perhaps religious music, that can vary from Gregorian Chants to Oriental music. I have such a varied and eclectic taste! In my Cd Collection you will find Jazz, Pop, Country, Zarzuela, Opera, all kinds of Latin Music, etc….

Usually when anybody stops by my studio, I have to lower the volume, since I like to paint to loud music. I like to feel that I am surrounded by music, or perhaps imagine that I am in a concert hall listening to this beautiful music being played.

But I must share with you that every morning, before I paint, and as I am setting our fresh paint on my palette, or adjusting my still life, I always start with a prayer asking the Lord to guide me in this painting, or if perhaps I am teaching, asking Him to help me share with my students what it is that each one needs to learn in that particular time.

Funny you should ask, I usually am not too good at naming my paintings, and sometimes I have named my paintings with the title of the melody that I played as I painted that particular work. It is so much easier for me to remember a painting by the music I played, then by the title I give it.

6) How do you want others to perceive your art?

I would like for people that see my work to see a bit of God’s beautiful creation and to see a little of my own heritage too. My greatest dream is to touch people with my art.

7) Do you have any events coming up?

Yes, these are in the near future

July 5 to 10, 2006 Paint out with the gallery artist of "Mountains Edge Fine Art" Gallery in the Pecos wilderness area north of Santa Fe with a show of the work in Sept. www.mountainsedgefineart.com

PRESS RELEASE: In July 2006 Artists represented by Mountains Edge Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico will gather for a week long paint out in the Pecos Wilderness area northeast of Santa Fe. Days will be spent painting the pristine mountain views, glacial lakes and mountains meadows, mesas and the winding Pecos River and its valley. Pecos is a legendary place in the history of the West. Its all weather pass through the southern Rocky Mountains made it the natural route for Pueblo and Plains Indians, Spanish settlers, traders on the Santa Fe trail, and soldiers of both the Union and the Confederacy. In fact, in the imagination of a young nation “west of the Pecos” is where the West began.

Just as the artists of the 19th century followed the exploration of the West, our artists will record the enduring beauty and grandeur of the Pecos Wilderness. Paintings done “en plein air”, that is directly from nature, and larger studio works completed from these studies will be exhibited in a group show “ Landscapes of the Pecos Wilderness-Gateway to the West” at Mountains Edge Fine Art September 29-October 12. An opening reception with the artists will be held on Friday, September 29, 2006 from 5-7 PM.

September 2006 Group Show at "Mountains Edge Fine Art Gallery" in Santa Fe, New Mexico. www.mountainsedgefineart.com

January 2007. One- Woman Show at "Alla Prima Fine Art Gallery" in St. Petersburg, Florida. www.allaprimafineart.com

March 2007 Leading a group of artists to Spain for a study/tour of the “Sargent-Sorolla” Exhibit in Madrid.

8) Have you reached your artistic dreams? If not yet, where else do you see yourself artistically in few year's from now?

Through the years I have been honored to have received awards and recognitions, for which I am very grateful but I sincerely believe that I still have a long road ahead of me. There is still so much to learn, so much to paint and so much to share with my students. I would like to continue painting everyday as I have been doing up to now and try to represent the beauty that surrounds us as best as I can.

9) Share a mistake you made (if any) along your path to becoming an artist that you would not want anyone to recreate.

Unfortunately I do have a mistake and it is one that I constantly share with other women: Do not oil paint if you are pregnant or even considering pregnancy. It is not worth it. I would never want anyone to go through what we have gone through. I encourage other artists to look for other mediums but try to stay away from oil. I must say that it has never been totally confirmed that our son’s problems where caused by exposure to fumes/ mediums/ fixatives, but it is a guilt I will always carry with me.

10) Share a rare fact about yourself. (can be something silly, fun or even serious)

I guess, since I just answered the previous question, I will have to share more about our children. Our oldest son Rafael, who was diagnosed as having no-brain at birth, blind and quadriplegic, and after having gone numerous brain surgeries is a very accomplished musician. He is an 18 year old tenor, who is a four years in a row first-chair winner in Texas for classical voice, a NFAA (National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts) winner in Classical voice, and is “2006 Presidential Scholar in the Arts”. In a couple of weeks we are headed to Washington DC where he will receive the Gold Medal from President Bush in a ceremony at the White House and will also perform at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. We will be forever grateful to the wonderful Physicians of this great Nation who have taken care of our son.

David and Analucia are also very talented Musicians.

11) What words of inspiration can you share for artists that want to follow in your footsteps?

In the kind of painting I do, my best advice would be to find an artist who is willing to teach you and mentor you, honestly sharing his/her talents. There are many talented artists, but only few precious ones who will genuinely feel that they have been given a gift and that it is their duty to share this gift.. When you find him/her, don’t let him/her go, but learn as much as you can, and always remember that one day you will be the mentor, and it will be your turn to pass along the knowledge as it was given to you. There is room for everyone in this world. But no matter what:

Follow your dreams, believe in yourself, and always strive to be the best you can be!

12) anything else you want to share or think is important for people to know about your artwork, your journey as an artist, instructor etc...

I would like to share with all those women artists who have a strong sense of family and are very serious about their art and who sometimes get overwhelmed and discouraged with having to deal with two very important aspects of our lives, that it can be done! If I can do it, anyone can. Let us show the world that we are serious about our work, that we value our family and heritage, and that we can be successful at both things!

God Bless Always

Sincerely,

Gladys