Carroll Bryant Interviews Ron Moore

Today I get the pleasure to share with all of you an interview I did with a very talented artist, Mr. Ron Moore.

Ron Moore is not just a talented artist, but an example for which others can follow, as well as an inspiration. You see, Mr. Moore suffers from Parkinson's disease, and yet, he refuses to allow this disease control his life. He refuses to make that an excuse to not follow his passion for the arts.

In case you may be wondering, Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It's the same disease in which actor Michael J. Fox suffers from. And just like Michael J. Fox refuses to it to prohibit him from continuing to live his life, so does Mr. Ron Moore prohibit it from taking away from his.

Mr. Moore struggles through his medical condition and continues to work on his art, demonstrating a will and a desire to do what he loves. A lesson we all can learn from and an example for all to follow.

Let's face it, life will give us all obstacles to overcome in our pursuit of our dreams. It's only those who dare to brave the storm and accept those challenges, taking them head on who will enjoy the internal riches of success. I'm not speaking of financial rewards, but of the emotional rewards that come with the determination we have inside of our spirits to accomplish our dreams and goals in life. To see those dreams come true at any level. I think Mr. Moore clearly epitomizes what courage is all about. We only have this one life to live, may as well make the best with what it gives you, and make it work to your demands. This is Mr. Moore's approach, and I commend him for his courage.

A Ron Moore Painting

So let's learn a little more about this man, and his art. Let's keep in mind his condition if his answers appear to be brief, and to the point.

He and I were planning on meeting up for a video interview however, I got side-tracked with another project and couldn't make our meeting. This may also be why his answers are brief. I think he was looking forward to further elaborate on his answers in the video interview which to him, I apologize for not being able to make our meeting.

So let's get right to the questions, shall we?

Carroll: At what age did you start painting? 

Ron Moore: I was 15 years old when I first started to paint. 

Carroll: That sounds a lot like me, somewhat of a late bloomer. So at that age, who (or what) was it that finally inspired you to start painting?

Ron Moore: My late grandparents. Perhaps they saw in me what I failed to see within myself. They were my biggest supporters. 

Carroll: How many pieces do you think you have painted in your career? (Rough estimate)

Ron Moore: I would guess somewhere in the area of about 500. 

Carroll: Wow, that's a lot of paintings. How long does it take for you (on average) to complete a painting from start to finish?

Ron Moore: I would say anywhere between 35 to 60 hours. It depends on what I am painting, and how much detail is required. Experience also helps to dictate how long a painting might take, knowing what is coming up, you are better prepared, and I have been doing this since 1984, so when inspiration hits me, I understand ahead of time all that is required to complete it. 

Carroll: Practice makes perfect, and you're right, experience always makes a better teacher. So, what do you primarily paint? (Landscapes, people, animals, other?)

Ron Moore: It's a combination of everything. I hate to put limitations on myself. But I enjoy painting seascapes the most. 

Carroll: I'm rather fond of lighthouses myself. Now let me ask you about your condition if I may, how long ago were you diagnosed with Parkisans disease?

Ron Moore: I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2004, at the age of 34.

Carroll: And how has this discovery affected your painting, or has it affected your painting?

Ron Moore: It has affected my art a lot. I was unable to paint for 3+ years at one point because the symptoms got too bad. I had DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation), which helped me tremendously.  

Carroll: For everyone who don't know, DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) is a surgical treatment involving the implantation of a medical device called a "brain pace-maker", which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain. So now, back to your art. Do you participate in art shows, and if so, how many shows do you participate in during a year?

Ron Moore: Yes, I do participate in art shows. On average, I would say about five shows a year. 

Carroll: Any shows on the horizon?

Ron Moore: I have one coming up, in fact, at the Butler Institute of Art, and I just had a recent show at the Pump House Art Gallery located in Yoctangee Park in Chillicothe, Ohio. 

Carroll: Yes, I remember the Pump House show. That was where we were supposed to meet up at and I couldn't break free from another commitment. Again, I am very sorry about that. So, how many galleries show / display your work? Where can people go to buy them?

Ron Moore: Currently, you can find my work at the Pump House Art Gallery in Chillicothe. However, since my DBS treatment, I am aggressively pursuing to getting my work back into other galleries. I do sell my paintings through my Facebook page, and by word of mouth. My collectors, and fans, are very loyal, and a great source of future commissions. I just wanted to also add that my book, "Painting Through Struggles: A Parkinson's Journey" has just been released, and is available through myself, my publisher, Seneca-Secor Books, and soon to be in Amazon book stores, and other books stores across the nation. In it, I get more into detail about how I have dealt with Parkinson's. 

Carroll: I'm sure we all look forward to reading it. It sounds like a very inspirational story in which we all could probably learn from. 

Well, that's about it for now. I want to thank Mr. Ron Moore for taking some time out of his schedule to answer these questions, and we look forward to hearing from you in the future. You do some amazing work, and to consider what you have to battle on a day to day basis, well, it just makes it all that much more amazing. Thanks again Ron, and from all of us here at the Carroll Bryant blog, we wish you continued professional, and personal, success. 

To visit Ron Moore's Facebook page, just click on the link provided: Ron Moore's Original Artwork