Runway Gallery artist Jake Mosher reveals the unique process behind his intricate work inspired by nature

CALL OF THE WILD

HAVING grown up amongst woodland in northern Vermont, Jake Mosher has always been passionate about nature but it wasn’t until he left his job as an explosives engineer and moved to Montana that his desire to capture it came to the fore. Since then, he’s won numerous awards, including the People’s Choice Award from the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest. Jake’s latest collection, Metamorphosis, is inspired by the patterns on butterfly and moth wings, observed through his camera at high magnification.

How would you describe your style? I entwine photography and art to show natural beauty in a way that’s never been seen before – like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. I like to call it ‘metamorphosis’ art. What inspired you to make moths and butterflies your subject matter? The colours and the brilliance of their wings – it’s a miracle of nature. I wanted to find a unique way to capture their beauty.

Talk us through how you create your work.

I start by taking hundreds of magnified images of butterfly and moth wings, moving the camera a minuscule amount each time. Once my editing

program has stacked them into a single image, I work with the pictures to create a kaleidoscope-like effect.

What’s been your career highlight so far?

A few years ago, one of my pieces was featured as Photo of the Week in The Sunday Times and has since been publicised around the world.

How do you like to display your art? I’ve always been a fan of less is more. You’ve chosen a piece for a reason, so why not make it centre stage? My works are pretty large so can hold their own in bigger spaces. Against a neutral wall, the colours really stand out. What advice would you give to someone buying art? Investing in art is great, but it’s tricky to predict what a piece is going to be worth in years to come. I’ve bought a couple of Western-themed paintings recently because they struck a chord within me. If you have to look at it every day, it’s got to be something you love.

BUY ONLINE AT RUNWAY GALLERY Showcasing contemporary, fashionfocused works from celebrated artists, online Runway Gallery enables you to buy original prints for your home. Browse at runway-gallery.com

Next month, meet contemporary American artist Jeff Muhs, who is known for his innovative, abstract style and creates oil paintings and concrete sculptures inspired by the scenic surroundings of his studio in Southampton, New York.