WATERCOLOR

Painting with watercolor was in many ways the antithesis of the precise control that is so evident in Moss’s paintings for commercial assignments. Initially, he took up gouache and pastel to more quickly explore ideas and make comps for clients, and from there, ventured into the study of watercolor with Charlie Kinghan with a group of other commercial artists. Watercolor proved the perfect medium for capturing the summers he spent on Fire Island with his family. Daily walks to paint among the dunes resulted in dozens of watercolors that were strung up by the ferry dock and sold at the end of each summer. Later, trips to Sanibel Island in the winter and time spent in the Berkshires and on the coast of Maine inspired dramatic paintings.

Moss’s evident talent with watercolor brought him the notice of Grumbacher, who hired him to write and illustrate “How to Paint Watercolor,” published by Grumbacher in 1966. Some paintings from this book are noted in this portfolio.