LET'S GET TO KNOW KEVIN BRENT MORRIS
Q: Was there a moment early on that inspired you to pursue art as a career path?
A: I have always loved art. In fact, my first date with my wife included a visit to the Baylor Art gallery where we played, “What would you steal?” That said, I didn’t draw, paint or think that I had any inclination or ability to actually make art. In fact, I am one of the worst doodlers. However, I always loved art and when traveling for work, I’d always visit the local art museums. This included a fateful trip to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC in 2015 where I saw a Richard Estes exhibit. I was blown away by his work, and something clicked for me. I remember thinking, I can do that. I want to do that. So I came home and started drawing, first starting with objects on my desk or in our house. Within a month I realized that I needed paint. I desperately wanted to communicate more information than pencil would allow. After I bought my first set of acrylic paints, I have basically painted every day since, introducing other mediums along the way, namely oil and gouache.
Kevin Brent Morris "On Hollyhocks" | Acrylic on Panel 8 x 10"
I also have a horrible memory. I don’t remember much from my childhood. My wonderful mother recently passed away and in cleaning out her things, we found a memory book that she kept from my elementary school days. It included photos, lists of friends, and some standard questions like, “What does your child want to be when they grow up?” I had no idea what I would have responded to that question as a child. But, as I flipped through the pages, I found that in kindergarten I said I wanted to be an artist. In first grade, I wanted to be an artist. Second grade- same. Third grade- same. I had no recollection of this childhood dream, but it became clear that despite my educational and career pursuits, at my core, I have always wanted and needed to be an artist. This memory book was a major blessing as I made the recent career change to become a full-time artist. As an aside, representational painting serves as a memory aide for me, forcing me to reflect on objects, experiences, people, and places, in a meditative way that I hope will, if not enhance my memory, provide a record of what I should remember.
Kevin Brent Morris "On Ochre Floral" | Acrylic on Panel 8 x 10"
Kevin Brent Morris "Go Bananas No. 2, After Warhol" | Acrylic on Panel 8 x 10"
Q: You’ve just left your desk job to focus on being an artist full-time. Do you have any advice for artists looking to do the same?
A: Absolutely. You’re only going to live so long. If you are thinking about launching into art full time, I think there are some steps you can take to mitigate what is inherently a risky decision. First, being a full-time artist is being a small business owner. Know that it will take a significant investment of time and energy. Make sure you are in a good stage of life for that investment. For me, that meant not waiting until I’m older but investing in the business NOW while I have the drive and energy to make it happen. I plan on painting the rest of my life, but painting and owning a small business are very different things! Second, a small ‘test’ step is to take a week or two off work and focus on painting full time. See if you have the stamina to make it happen. Third, I sense that there can be a real temptation to play it safe with your work when you make a transition to full-time art, only painting what you know will sell. I created a calendar to ensure that, in addition to painting what I believe will sell, I also innovate and do experimental paintings. Some of these will be great. Some will fail miserably. That’s part of the journey, and I think its good to include open paint sessions in your calendar to ensure that you’re continuing to grow as an artist.
Kevin Brent Morris "Flea Beetle" | Acrylic on Canvas 11 x 14"
Q: What do you want to convey to viewers through your paintings? And why?
A: I paint a lot of beetles and seemingly insignificant objects. I love the small things that are easy to ignore and storied objects like old boots, cigarette butts, and objects of life. I think you can find meaning in just about anything if you pause, which painting forces you to do. In that pause of creating each piece or in the pause of viewing the paintings, I hope that people find delight and joy the way I do. Also, I’ve heard that beetles represent thirty percent of all known creatures on this planet. God must like beetles. I do too.
Kevin Brent Morris "Inspired by Joseph Bradley" | Acrylic on Panel 8 x 10"
Q: Your paintings depict a variety of beetle species on playful backgrounds. Have you always loved insects? Do you have a special connection to beetles specifically?
A: I studied ecology as an undergraduate at Baylor University. While studying at Baylor, I was a park ranger and spent most of my time hiking, creating trails, and providing environmental education to people in the park. I loved that job, and during this time I developed a deep appreciation for biodiversity. Later in life, around 2017 after I started painting, my family was visiting the University of Kansas Natural History Museum. They had a beetle on display that I fell in love with. It was only about 1 inch long. It was a tiny thing. But I loved the pattern of the beetle and took a photo of it. Later, at home, I continued to scroll back to that photo of the beetle while looking around our home which is full of pattern. (We love pattern in our house!) As my eyes flicked from the photo of the beetle to the patterns in our home, I had the idea of juxtaposing the patterns made in nature with the patterns made by humans. I have played with that idea now for seven years. Given the number of beetle species, I won’t get tired of it!
Kevin Brent Morris "Where It All Began" | Acrylic on Panel 40 x 30"
Q: Chicken or the egg? Which do you choose first, the type of beetle or the background imagery?
A: The two definitely go together. The beetles and the backgrounds provide a great opportunity to explore color combinations and pattern combinations. I typically start by painting the background (these take the longest) and then paint the beetle. It’s quite satisfying putting the finishing touches on a beetle, standing back, and feeling like the beetle is sitting atop the pattern.
Kevin Brent Morris "Rhinoceros Beetle on Floral" | Acrylic on Panel 8 x 10"
Q: Do you have any rituals or practices that help get you into a creative flow?
A: I am a firm believer that you can’t wait to be inspired. You just have to paint. I wake up at 5:30 every day, make coffee, and get started painting. I typically start by working on a beetle. When I need a break from the beetles, I use the left over paint on my palette to do an experimental painting, often on handmade paper. These studies can be landscapes, westerns, or figurative. They’re a complete departure from the photorealism of the beetles and I love them just as much as I do the beetles. They keep my painting fresh and help me continue to grow and evolve as an artist. Lastly, I go on lots of walks throughout the day to give my eyes a rest (about every 2-3 hours) and I devour podcasts. I’m always looking for podcast recommendations!
Kevin Brent Morris "Marks of the Past (on crumpled paper)" | Acrylic on Panel 8 x 10"
Q: If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
A: Curious. Driven. Optimistic.
Q: Where do you see your work heading in the future?
A: I will continue to paint beetles for the foreseeable future. They make me happy. I plan on exploring beetles in oil and plan on scaling up some of the small westerns as larger pieces.
Kevin Brent Morris "On Pink with Squares" | Acrylic on Panel 8 x 10"
To check out Kevin Brent Morris' show Small (In)Significant Things online, visit his show page on our website here.
If you're local to Santa Fe or in town visiting this beautiful city, we'd love to see you at our opening reception on Friday, August 23rd, from 5 - 7:30pm. Located at 203 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Kevin Brent Morris "Day One" | Acrylic on Canvas 11 x 14"