We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Corey Moortgat. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Corey below.

Hi Corey, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve always known I wanted to work in a creative field. Growing up, it was never even a question that I’d pursue some sort of career in art; the question was just which direction I’d take. Now, several decades later, I’ve explored multiple artistic paths, from those only tangentially related to creating to those that allow me to fully immerse myself in creating. In walking those paths, I’ve learned that I’m most definitely happiest with the latter. At my core, I’m an artistic individual who thrives when allowed to express that. I consider myself truly blessed to have found a career that allows me to achieve that!

Corey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a professional artist living in Jacksonville, specializing in emotionally expressive, colorful portraiture. I hold degrees in both Fine Arts and Art Therapy. In my work, I push beyond the basic artistic structure of a face; I delve instead into the structure of the subject’s soul, capturing emotion and depth with my use of colors and brushstrokes.

Giving voice to difficult emotions is one of the primary goals in my work. As a mother to children with mental health issues and someone who struggles with mental health issues myself, I’ve learned how essential it is to allow those emotions to speak, and not only to speak, but to speak beautifully! As an artist, I love that I can turn something difficult and painful into something beautiful- what a powerful thing to be able to do!

When not painting either gallery pieces or client commissions, I teach and mentor artists both online and locally. I live my life as creatively as possible, always on the lookout for inspiration. I adore color and pattern, and surround myself with beautiful and inspiring things that feed my soul. My work has won numerous awards both locally and internationally, and I feel truly blessed that my artistic voice resonates with so many.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is knowing that a piece of me has touched another person. Whether a client commissions me to paint a portrait or a collector purchases one of my gallery pieces, there’s such an intimacy in the idea that my creation is now interacting with another person, evoking emotions and touching their daily lives. Even as an art instructor, knowing that something I’ve taught has inspired another human being to create is powerful. The fact that my creative voice is speaking to so many people across the globe is humbling.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

While not picture-perfect, in the early years of my family, we were happy and thriving. Three children, a few pets, nothing outside of the ordinary. As a mother, I was a pro at managing things- the house, the mess, my emotions… Raising young kids had its share of struggles of course, but nothing could have prepared us for the step our lives took a few years ago.

When one of my children began exhibiting signs of mental illness, I thought at first we could handle it. But over the course of the next few months, it became quite clear we could not. Within the span of a year or so, our lives went from ordinary and boring to chaotic and turned completely upside-down. My focus as a mother shifted from helping with homework to managing daily panic attacks and sitting on suicide-watch, going to psychiatrist’s appointments and considering hospital stays. There were no answers for my questions, neither then nor for the next several years.

My entire life became focused on keeping my child safe, and on realizing the effects this was having on the rest of the family as well. Our lives were forever changed, and we existed for months at a time in survival-mode. My own mental health plummeted, my emotions so frayed, I was close to breaking.

As fate would have it, a painting course was offered online at the same time I was going through this. After a long draught in front of the easeI, I was inspired to seriously begin painting again. First tentatively, but then more ferociously. I painted and I painted, and those emotions began pouring out- in my colors, in my brushstrokes, in my subjects. It was such a relief, to be able to put voice to emotions I’d been trying so hard to hold in. Not only that, but people responded to my work, telling me how much they related to it.

This story isn’t over. Our family is a bit more stable now, but we still struggle. There are ups and there are downs. One of my other children is also now walking much the same path her brother did. But we are more resilient now, and we are most definitely stronger. And I now have the voice of my artwork to lean on as well. I feel blessed that through this ordeal, I have both found that voice and also found an audience who appreciates my allowing it to speak.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.coreymoortgat.com
• Instagram: brushstrokesbycoreymoortgat
• Facebook: coreymoortgatart