Meet Moldazor | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Moldazor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Moldazor, how do you think about risk?
I’m from a very small town of around 1000 folks, in the Appalachian foot hills of Kentucky. I’ve seen people spend their entire lives in a place where they couldn’t possibly follow their dreams. I think about them a lot. It’s easy, safe, and familiar there to most who have chosen to stay, hunkered in the hills they call home. There isn’t one single thing wrong with living a simple life, if that’s truly what you want and it matches your goals or dreams. I decided a long time ago that I couldn’t stay. For one, I’m a bit too curious, and I feel like I had already flipped over every rock twice back home, by the time I was 10. I always dreamed of seeing new places and meeting new people, while my family and friends all had their nearest neighbors miles down the gravel road.

Needless to say, I didn’t come from money. I was a sickly kid and grew up with my grandparents, and my home life was a bit of a mess growing up. In my early 20’s, (around 22 or 23, I think) I had saved up enough money to put a slide in camper in my truck bed, filled it with what I owned, and took off to find success as an artist. I found friends along the way who encouraged me and helped me learn to sell my art. I worked my way like this in every city I planted in (Orlando, Portland, LA,) till I am where I am today. Half of the adventure I spent in the beat up camper truck or a old retro fitted van, but when things got better I put a roof over my head, rented a studio downtown LA and now I’m living my best life. None of it could have ever happened if I hadn’t broke the mold and took the risk, not knowing if I would see anything come from it. I just believed in myself enough, I reckon.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art attempts to capture moments in the lives of the silly little guys I draw, and at the same time, tell a piece of a bigger story. My art is my inner child coming out, a lot of the time. The messages in my work are often lessons I wish I knew when I was younger. I’ll often write nuggets of wisdom that’s helped me get through the week, right on top of my work. The land in which my little characters live in, is one of pure whimsy and fantasy. My characters, even when facing sadness or obstacles, have a deeply rooted, playful nature to them. More often than not, my silly little guys can be seen in nature and interacting with their environment in a way that lets you know they understand and respect the beauty and wonder of their natural world. Often distorted in some way, the residents of my world always seem to reflect the emotions I want to feel. If I’m painting a smiling character, I smile. That’s something I treasure about what I do. Growing up in the forest, my love for nature and it’s little adventures has never left me. I want people to feel something peaceful when they look at what I do, absorb the message, and apply it to their life, if possible. Most of all, I just want them to smile or occasionally, laugh.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I feel like getting out of the house, I’ll take my note book and sit down with a coffee at “Silver Lake Coffee”. When I’m not drawing or painting I spend time playing pinball at ‘Revenge of” or I make my way to “The Astro diner”. The Astro has become my hang out spot, where all my pals and I will get together, from time to time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Dakota Cates @wizardofbarge and Hunter Jackson @crocodilejackson and all the amazing artist they have introduced me to. Some of my biggest inspirations and heroes growing up are now good friends of mine, thanks to them.

I’d also like to thank Kyle Miller, Josh Martin, and Dominic Polito for all their support, friendship and hospitality.

Of course, I have to mention my amazing partner, Jocelyn Peto, who found me when I was still figuring it all out and selling art out of a truck. She believed in me so much and has been down ever step of the way for all my whacky adventures. If it wasn’t for her love, patients and smarts, I would have never been a success.

Website: Moldazor.com

Instagram: @moldazor