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

Morgan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

There are times when I wish I started my creative career earlier in life or that I went to art school because now I am making up for it; whether it is teaching myself the basics by watching youtube videos, like how to properly varnish a painting, or trying to avoid bad habits. It is almost like I am in Art school and starting my own business at the same time. However, I don’t think I would have been ready to pursue art full-time without gaining business knowledge first.

When I was in High School, I really wanted to go to Art School, but I honestly didn’t think it was possible to have a career in art or to be successful as an artist. I have always been a 50/50 split of the right and left brain, so I pursued Architecture. I ended up applying to Clemson University, but they did not accept me into the Architecture Program. I asked them if they had anything related to the Graphic Design world (still trying to find ways to incorporate creativity) and ended up getting my degree in Graphic Communications which is the technical side of Graphic Design. While in school and through a couple of internships, I dabbled in photography and even considered a career in lighting design for concerts.

When I graduated, I worked for Hewlett Packard, then as a manager for a digital printing company in San Diego, and finally as a Program Manager for Amazon. I gained a lot of business knowledge during those 16 years, but I knew it wasn’t something I would pursue long-term. I remember calling my mom in 2018 and breaking down because I hated my job. I completed maybe 5-10 paintings over the course of 10 years. I felt like something was missing. As my dad always said, if it scares you, that means you should go for it. I decided to take the plunge and pursue Illustration. I signed up for an online school called, Visual Arts Passage, and their in-person immersive workshop, The Illustration Academy. It was there where my instructors helped me realize that I should pursue Fine Art and not Illustration. I took a 3-month sabbatical from Amazon to build a portfolio in 2019. When I came back, I moved to 30-hour weeks so I could start focusing on my Art business until eventually in June 2022, I left Amazon to pursue art full-time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Creating, painting, and drawing have all been a part of me for as long as I can remember. The paintings I create express the connection I have with the Earth and energy I feel when I am exploring the world around me. Many of my paintings depict tranquil moments of solitude or harmony in nature. The subject matter of my work ranges from studies of the female form and landscapes, to expressing personal struggles or dreams that emerge from within.

I love to experiment with different mediums because it keeps me on my toes. I am constantly switching between oil painting, watercolor, painting with ink, and drawing. This can be difficult for some people because at this time, my work may seem inconsistent. I think this is a product of me starting my career later in life and not going to art school. Hopefully, people will hang in there and stick with me on this adventure. I recently attended a lecture by Jerry Saltz and he said “Artists, don’t stay in your own lane”. This was the first time I heard someone from the Art World offer this advice. It was as if he lifted a weight off my shoulders. Yes, right now, I am a painter, but 10 years from now, you may find me experimenting with sculpture, textiles, video, or installations. That is the most exciting aspect of being an artist. There are no rules and so many directions you can go. Every day is like a “choose your own adventure” book.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Social Media has changed the art world. I know more and more artists who have left galleries to sell online. I think sharing different artists’ work on social media, even if you haven’t purchased anything, is a small way you can support artists at no cost. Also, I understand that Target and Bed Bath and Beyond are inexpensive, but I encourage people to look at art as a long-term investment. Get to know the artist, what they stand for, and buy their art. Even if you can only afford something small. It is something you will keep forever, vs. spending the same amount over time on ever-changing art from big box stores. And lastly, show up. If you really enjoy an artists’ work, show up to their events. Sharing art is tough and vulnerable. Almost like showing your diary to the world. It means so much to us to have you there and to have your support.

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

Connecting with strangers on a level that I would expect only lengthy friendships or family could. There was a painting, called “Eclipse” that I completed a couple of years ago that was in my head for almost a decade, and I decided to show it for first time at an art fair I was participating in at a brewery. At the event, a man walked into my tent and lost his mind over the painting. He said he couldn’t stop looking at it and he had no intention of buying art that day, but he ended up buying that painting. To see someone react that way was a huge compliment. I also remember painting this lonely wheelbarrow that was sitting in someone’s driveway one day. I kept wondering when the owner would come back to it, but it sat there for days. The person who bought the painting said it reminded them of their friend who was a landscaper and recently passed away. It was like the person completed the story for me. It gave me closure to know that it went to such a meaningful place.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.morganserrenoeast.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgan_s_east/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mserreno

Image Credits
Alexandra Rostad (Little Runaway Photography)