Rachel Mosher (she/her/hers) is a Process Development and Manufacturing Scientist III with Waisman Biomanufacturing at the Waisman Center. Her paintings have been published in a number of issues of Corpus Callosum, including Ebba (Fall 2023), Love Letters (Spring 2024), Dog Days of Summer (Fall 2024), and Elegance in the Breeze: A Royal Canine in the Victorian Era (Spring 2025).
Question 1: What drew you to painting and what is your background in it?
Mosher: Art was always my favorite class in school, and I particularly loved painting in oils and acrylic. I wanted to attend art school after high school graduation and pursue a full-time career in art. However, it wasn’t in the cards and I later pursued engineering degrees. I haven’t had any training or classes since high school, but I would still love to earn art degrees in the future.
Question 2: What motivates you to create and what inspires your art?
Mosher: My dogs, both past and present, are my biggest inspiration. I can’t imagine ever growing tired of painting their portraits! I find inspiration in the love others have for their pets, which has led me to create numerous pet portraits. I am also inspired by beautiful places I have visited, and have a number of photographs waiting to be transformed into paintings.
Question 3: Do you have any favorite artists or art that have influenced you and who/what are they?
Mosher: I love Frida Kahlo’s artwork, for its profound emotion, sensitivity, beauty and strength. I am also a big fan of Kehinde Wiley’s art. His use of pattern and color is so striking! I admire how he tackles racism and incorporates references to Old Master paintings in his work. I am also inspired and fascinated by royal portraiture, and I try to bring elements of that into my art.
Question 4: How do you balance your art with the rest of responsibilities in your life and does art help you in those other arenas of your life?
Mosher: Balancing a full-time job while managing a chronic condition can be tough. I usually only have the energy to paint on weekends, which means I don’t get as much time for art as I’d like. However, the time I do spend painting is incredibly fulfilling.
Question 5: What is next for your art (anything you are working on now or planning to)?
Mosher: I have almost finished my first portrait of a goat, Hank, from Heartland Farm Sanctuary. I hope to paint many more portraits of the rescued farm animals from the sanctuary.
Question 6: Do you have any advice for anyone curious or interested in getting into art who hasn’t before?
Mosher: It’s never too late to start (or to pick up where you left off). After not painting much for 20 years, I resumed during COVID. It was daunting to dive back into painting and to begin sharing my work with others, but it has been completely worth it!
Beyond the joy of creating art, immersing yourself in the art community is a fantastic way to connect with like-minded individuals. Joining art groups and attending events has been incredibly positive for me, allowing me to meet wonderful, welcoming and kind people that I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise!