Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise Morris
Hi Elise, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was always drawing and making art as a kid. I loved art supplies, and learned how to paint and draw and a pretty young age. In high school, creating art was a way to express myself and explore complicated ideas. In college, I had to be an art major in order to take any art classes, so then I became a double major (with Environmental Studies). I have been painting in a studio continuously since then, steadily growing my practice. I always strive to make work that is meaningful to me, so I am naturally engaged in the work. No matter what else is happening in my life (jobs, family, challenges), I feel a strong pull to create art.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My art is central to my life and I allow it to grow over time – so in this way it has been a smooth road! On the other hand, there have been SO many challenges! Being an artist is a rollercoaster of tremendous ups and downs, but at least I have my work, and a clear vision forward. When something doesn’t go my way I can commiserate with other artists, as we all have our stories. I’ve had paintings warp, get damaged in transit and my work has been copied by imitators on etsy. Early in my career, I was picked up my a prestigious gallery, only to find out they never paid their artists. I have learned to focus on making new work and nurture the solid relationships I have with the amazing galleries that currently represent me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create paintings on paper and canvas that are inspired by my direct experiences in nature. They serve has a memory of a place, and are created by building many layers of paint on a surface. I work intuitively, never planning out paintings, but rather adding color and shapes in order to create a sense of space within each piece. I think my work is known for it’s ethereal quality, sometimes a sense of lightness, or perhaps in the way time feels suspended. I play with opacity in my work, allowing layers to peek through in some areas, and get buried in others. I know a painting is done when it has its own spacial quality that a viewer can engage with. I’m also obsessed with color that is created when layers of colors interact.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I wish I could see that far ahead to understand how digital media and AI will affect the art and design world. I would think that one result is that original artwork will be even more important and valuable, as a direct reflection of true human experience. When I create a painting, I’m spending time with it, making marks and exploring multifaceted ideas about color, composition and texture. Designers seem to be incorporating more artwork into their clients’ homes, in order to create spaces that are richly textured and harmonious.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elisemorris.net
- Instagram: @elisemorrispaint
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisemorrispaint/
Image Credits
All photos by Elise Morris