Artist’s Statement

Candace X. Moore is a realist painter whose work explores themes of identity, personal narrative and the yin-yang interplay of mystery and familiarity. Her focus is the human face and form. She emphasizes inventive shape design, expressive color and gestural mark-making to create her emotionally charged images. 

After a career in pharmaceutical research, she began her art journey in the early 2010’s training in drawing, anatomy and oil painting at the Watts Atelier.  Candace has received national awards from the Portrait Society of America and the Oil Painters of America, and has participated in numerous regional, national and international juried exhibitions. She maintains a studio in San Diego, California.

Art Education

  • Watts Atelier of the Arts, Encinitas, CA (drawing/painting) 2009-2013

  • Mentorship (9 months), Portrait Society of America (color usage), 2013

  • Landscape Atelier, Clarksville, TX (landscape fundamentals), 2016-2017 

  • “Learning to See” program, Gabriel Lipper/8Paint Infinite Arts, 2021-2022

Selected Juried Exhibitions and Honors

  • ­Best in Show, “Crimson”, Ashton Gallery, San Diego CA, 2026

  • Finalist, American Women Artists, Online Juried Show, 2025

  • Honorable Mention, Figurative Oil Painting, San Diego County Fair 2024

  • Honorable Mention, Figurative Oil Painting, San Diego County Fair 2023

  • Finalist, Oil Painters of America Salon Show 2020

  • Finalist, Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition 2019

  • Finalist, Oil Painters of America National Exhibition of Traditional Oils 2019

  • Finalist, 14th International Art Renewal Center Salon, Portraiture category 2019

  • 2nd Place, Figurative Oil Painting, San Diego County Fair 2019

  • Realism Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America Salon Show 2018

  • Finalist, American Women Artists Spring Online Juried Show 2018

  • National Oil and Acrylic Painters “Best of America” National Exhibition 2018

  • 4th Merit Award, Portrait Society of America, Members Only Competition 2015

  • Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition 2015

  • 11th International Art Renewal Center Salon, Drawing category 2015

  • William D. Cannon Gallery Juried Biennial Exhibition, Carlsbad CA 2014

  • 3rd Place, La Jolla Art Association “Black and White” Exhibition 2013

  • Finalist, Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition 2013

  • 9th International Art Renewal Center Salon, Drawing category 2013

  • “The Best and the Brightest” Scottsdale Artists School Fine Art Show 2013

 Professional Affiliations

  • Portrait Society of America, Member

  • Oil Painters of America, Associate member

  • American Women Artists, Associate with Distinction

  • Oceanside Museum of Art, Artists Alliance