By Ann Gill (M.A., ’76)
While studying art at CSU, Monte Moore (B.F.A., ’93) met the manager of Fusion Comics in Fort Collins and became interested in the pop-culture genre. He and several other CSU alumni co-published a comic book in 1993, launching his career as an illustrator.
After graduation, Moore accepted his brother’s request to work in the family business. His father and brother, Roy Moore, Jr. (B.S., ’58) and Lance Moore (B.S., ’90), animal science and agricultural business majors respectively, raise and market natural and organic meats at Maverick Ranch. During Moore’s 15 years there, he also worked as a freelance illustrator; he won World Fantasy Art Show for Best Black and White Art in 1988 and 2001.
When he left Maverick Ranch to become a full-time illustrator, Moore established two businesses. He does most of his illustration through Maverick Arts, specializing in “comic, gaming, pin-up, and entertainment illustration.” His clients include DC, Marvel, PlayStation, Playboy, and Sony. Among his many projects, he has done extensive work on Dungeons and Dragons, and he co-owns indie games company MYNDzei (Mind’s Eye) Games.
He attributes his illustration career taking off to the pop culture boom, which “made Star Wars and comics characters mainstream and cool.” His illustrations are “traditional;” he draws and paints them rather than creating them on a computer. They have appeared in video games, comics, and board and card games, including Magic, Warlord, and Harry Potter. Moore proudly notes he illustrated Harry Potter cards before the movies came out so was “the first artist to draw a racing broom and the entrance to Hogwarts.” He also created illustrations for Lord of the Rings and other trading cards.
His passion for motorcycles led to Moore’s second business, Maverick Custom Paint. The website states: “If you can Ride it, Drive it, or Fly it … I can Paint it!” His amazing hand-painted and, on occasion, somewhat risqué illustrations have won a number of awards, including at the Las Vegas Bikefest, Thunder in the Rockies, and Easyriders Bike Show.
While at CSU, Moore worked at the Collegian, did art for the Fashion Show, and rented a table in Lory Student Center where he offered to airbrush T-shirts, the latter being a lucrative business venture. The Art Directors Guild named Moore “Outstanding Senior in Art” for Colorado in 1993.
On a visit back to campus, he spoke to CSU art students, urging them to “know the basics” so they would have a “rock-solid foundation” to succeed professionally. He also told them: “If you never run out of dedication, you will develop the skills necessary to make you successful in the art world.”
This successful artist and spouse Laura (Padlo) Moore (B.S., ’90), a business administration major who works for Cigna Healthcare, live in Littleton, Colorado.
Recently, Moore entered the fine art field, focusing on Western and wildlife themes. Recent work includes his bronze “King of the Rockies” ram sculptures. A portion of the proceeds from sales of these sculptures will go to support activities of the CSU Alumni Association. Click here to learn more.
