River Rock Art (Texas Country Reporter)

Summary

Carlos Mosley is a rock artist who has spent his life collecting and working with rocks. Through his creative process, he builds landscapes, animals, and whimsical characters from natural materials. Drawing inspiration from his surroundings, particularly a dry riverbed revealed by recent droughts, Carlos scours his land for rocks to transform into art. With over 2,600 pieces created, his art is deeply connected to nature, and he is driven by a passion that has grown over his lifetime. Carlos embraces the beauty of life and nature, finding endless inspiration in the rocks he collects each day.

Takeaways

• 😀 Carlos Mosley predominantly creates art using found rocks, with only 10% of his work being modified or broken.
• 😀 He has been collecting rocks all his life, starting as early as when he was one year old.
• 😀 Carlos finds unique rocks that fit perfectly into his collection, sometimes with different shapes like round, flat, or skinny.
• 😀 He uses the rocks to build landscapes, animals, and whimsical characters, creating thousands of pieces over the years.
• 😀 Carlos's creative process involves walking the land at his Hill Country home to find raw materials.
• 😀 Droughts have exposed a dry riverbed filled with valuable materials for his art.
• 😀 He spends time sorting, cleaning, and cataloging the rocks, using a system he's developed over many years.
• 😀 Carlos is deeply passionate about his craft, describing the surprises he finds while working with rocks.
• 😀 The artist sees beauty in nature and appreciates how it inspires his work and creativity.
• 😀 His art pieces can emerge unexpectedly, with some ideas coming to him during the process of sorting through the materials.
• 😀 Carlos feels a strong connection to nature, walking the trails on his property and feeling excited and fulfilled in his artistic journey.

Q & A

How does Carlos Mosley describe his approach to art?

Carlos Mosley considers 90% of his art to be 'found'—he collects rocks and only works with about 10% of them, shaping them into his unique creations. He describes this as an ongoing process of discovery and transformation.

What types of objects does Carlos create with rocks?

Carlos creates a variety of sculptures including landscapes, animals, and whimsical characters. He often sees the potential for figures like dogs, cats, and even human forms in the rocks he finds.

What inspired Carlos to begin making rock art?

Carlos has been collecting rocks all his life. As a child, rocks were his toys, and over time, he realized he could use them to create art, leading him to develop his unique style.

How does Carlos collect materials for his art?

Carlos collects rocks from the land surrounding his home, particularly from a recently exposed dry riverbed due to droughts. He carefully selects each rock, often finding new ones after it rains.

What is Carlos’s creative process like?

Carlos’s process involves walking the land to find interesting rocks, cleaning, sorting, and cataloging them. He then waits for inspiration, using his extensive collection to create his sculptures. His designs evolve organically, sometimes surprising even him.

How does Carlos categorize the rocks he collects?

Carlos has developed a detailed filing system, sorting rocks into bins across his garage and yard. This allows him to easily find the right piece for a project when inspiration strikes.

What does Carlos enjoy most about his work?

Carlos finds joy in the surprises and creativity that come with working with natural materials. He enjoys the connection with nature and the excitement of discovering new possibilities in each rock.

How many pieces has Carlos created in total?

Carlos has created approximately 2,600 pieces of art, including about 1,800 rock sculptures and 700 shadow boxes.

How does Carlos feel about his artistic journey?

Carlos is deeply passionate and excited about his work. He feels fulfilled by his art and expresses that he is more appreciative of life than ever before, finding joy in the creative process.

What role does nature play in Carlos's art?

Nature is the foundation of Carlos's art. He draws inspiration from the natural world around him, using the raw materials provided by the land to create sculptures that reflect his deep connection to it.