Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Morgan Shelton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Morgan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As an independent Artist, my mission is to bring emotionally authentic art to the community through my paintings and photographs, bringing forth genuine joy in those who experience my work. Weather it be through a painting of a favorite location or subject, or a portrait of a family member or loved one. My goal is to authentically capture my subjects in likeness and energy.
This is important to me due to my own passion for life and an acknowledgment of the impact of our time being humans. Emotionally authentic imagery heals, and I want to bring joy and heart healing to my community and beyond.

Morgan , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an aspiring professional Artist currently working out of Flagstaff, Arizona. I received my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, Suma Cum Laude, in 2023 and am now working independently painting my own pieces as well as offering commissions. I also work as a freelance photographer doing shoots of the community and families. My journey as and Artist began in 2018 when I got my first professional camera as a birthday present. Ever since then, I’d been training my eyes to see the world as the artists did. My love for painting grew during my time in undergrad through my various class projects. The peak of that experience having been the opportunity to complete my Thesis paintings, a series of 4 7×4 ft oil paintings titled “Garden of Self”. Getting the opportunity to dive into the series and research what techniques would bring forth my vision best was highly educational and a forever valuable experience to my career. The series is currently on display at Tempus Projects Gallery in Tampa, Fl for those interested in seeing it in person.
If there was anything I wanted the reader to know about me and my work it’s that my passion comes from my love for people and the earth. My work is a genuine reflection of that love, and so my hope is that from that love I can bring light to those who experience what I create. We are all living this life together, and if my hands can create something that brings another joy then I feel I have done my part as a human.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I believe the story of how I stayed on a 4 year graduation track and graduated with the highest honors through the midst of the Covid 19 Pandemic is stellar example of resilience. I began my college career in the Fall of 2019 expecting to have the picture perfect experience. I had no idea that Spring I would be packing all my things and leaving campus mid semester due to the county wide quarantine orders. My classes that could switched online did, but there was an entire semester that I couldn’t take art classes due to the pandemics effect on the school system. I continued to create work, both class assignments and personal pieces, as I switched back and forth between living at school and out of the state. I read books and did extra research online about using light and different visual techniques to fill in gaps in the flow of my education, until it was time Senior year to create my thesis.
During that time most of the Pandemics most strict policies had been pulled back. I was able to pull my “Covid Education” together and create my series “Garden of Self”. Which I am so excited to say, was not only well received by the department, but won first prize as a Thesis series, the John R. Reuter Award, of Florida Southern College’s Department of Visual Arts and Design.
I of course could not have survived that time without the support of my loving family, my professors, and my sisters who where with me through it all. There were constantly voices around me saying “Keep going” and “You can face the challenges you meet”. They inspired me to always keep pushing ahead.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I was gifted the book “Manage you Day-To-Day: Build Your Routine, Find your Focus, and Sharpen your Creative Mind.” From 99U by my Photography Professor during my Junior year of College. This book was incredibly helpful as I began my Senior year and is one I will be returning to continuously as I began my professional career. I highly enjoyed how it gave me break downs of how I can use my time most effectively and to change my thought processes regarding the view of my work vs personal time. The perspectives are encouraging that you can find a rhythm and I can open it up and get inspiration from a short quote or dive in to a more in depth section of the text. I’m so grateful I received it and would definitely recommend to other creatives!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Moea.rt
• Linkedin: @MorganShelton

Image Credits
Photo By: Isabelle Hancock