Michael Morris, Artist
Michael is a critically acclaimed Irish artist whose paintings have been lauded for their unique and vibrant style. His main passion is bold, evocative landscapes that strike a balance between classical fundamentals and total abstraction.
Michael has been exhibiting extensively throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe for over 15 years, and his work is held in many private and public collections worldwide.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Personally, I love Instagram. Not the biggest fan of aul Zucks, but the platform is perfect for visual art. To be honest, I reluctantly update my website nowadays because Instagram is so much better both as an artist and for the viewer.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I'm 42 years old and greying heavily (silver fox). I love dogs. I live in Dublin 8 with my partner Amy DeLoup (an amazingly creative textile artist and an equally amazing person) and our little Pekingese pup, Enzo.
I come from a very artistic family and originally studied to be a composer. The painting was more of a hobby, if I'm honest. About 15 years ago, my painting started to take off after being accepted to a classical composition degree. That was the moment music and painting switched places in my life.
Now writing music is my hobby, and painting is my passion. It's worked out well, I think. I'm in the studio five days a week, exhibiting on Merrion Square every Sunday, and have Saturdays off, but I'm also thinking about my art.
It's an obsession, and I'm completely consumed by it. I'm self-taught, classically trained through books and practice. I constantly experiment, make my own mistakes and learn from every one of them. After 17 years, I have amassed a wealth of knowledge, but I have much more to learn.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love the freedom it brings me, being my own boss, and working on my own terms. But more than that, being able to channel that innate desire I have for artistic expression gives me a sense of well-being that nothing else comes close to.
Painting feels essential to me, like a daily purge of bottled-up emotion, and I am blessed to be able to pursue it as a career.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Practice and be bold; test your limits.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I have a burning desire to be great and a deep-seated fear of being terrible at what I do. The love of the craft and passion for mastering it step by step motivate me daily.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
That's a tough one. I guess stepping up to the plate when my dad got very sick in 2019, and I'm proud of that. I was helping my mum to take care of him daily in the hospital that whole year, and then when he was moved to a nursing home. It was selfless, and we never stopped; we loved him so much. He recently passed away, and we miss him terribly. He was such a lovely guy.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I'm not great at that bit and prefer making art. I communicate better through it. I'm fairly social but lack mental stamina. I'm confident but have social anxiety, I guess. It's a real quandary. ^_^
Social media has done wonders for my networking. It's brought my paintings to a global audience, both clients and galleries.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I have terrible concentration but also hyperfocus. I get obsessed with a single subject/thing, and everything else falls away. Of course, that means I forget lots of other important things (and have about seven reminders set on my phone for different things each day), but for art, it's a superpower.
I'm deep in thought about my art for 95% of my waking hours. Techniques, fundamentals, materials, how to achieve this, how to achieve that. I'm literally thinking about how to be a better artist right now. >_<
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Rather than a specific thing, I guess I wish I'd started younger, especially around music. Unfortunately, I'm not as technically proficient musically as I wish I was. I started writing when I was 17 and missed out on a decade or so of muscle memory.
That has hampered me somewhat. My older brother, Rod, was a child prodigy, probably putting me off at a young age. He's been playing the piano since he was two and is now a composer and sound designer.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I admire my mum, her drive and passion for painting are truly inspiring. I wouldn't be where I am artistically today without her. I admire my girlfriend Amy; she's a creative powerhouse. Her DeLoup ethical fashion line is stunning, and her current fine art pieces in progress are very exciting. Her attention to detail and work ethic put me to shame.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
As I mentioned, I love my dog. He's very demanding and takes up most of our free time. Historically, being the emperor's dog, the Pekingese is used to a certain lifestyle and level of attention.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Luckily it hasn't affected my art too much. I was still able to paint as normal. I work alone, so my routine didn't change much. Very lucky. Socially it feels like we've been robbed of the last two years, as I'm sure you'd agree, but work-wise I got away with it.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
No, I do wish I'd had a mentor sometimes. I've seen some of my favourite contemporary artists studied under various luminaries, which I can't deny. Being a bit envious of it from time to time, but it just wasn't on my path. But, I've put in the hours and learned from my own mistakes anyway, so I'm happy.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Paint. Experiment. Be bold. Get your work out there. Repeat ad infinitum.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
It could be any number of things. I guess if you're not crazy passionate about art, then it might not be for you. It's a tough business, though. I know many skilled artists who have had to pursue other lines of work.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
I can't remember anything, and I have a terrible memory for anything other than how to paint. I forget how to do that sometimes too.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I have a healthy cynicism toward brands and companies in general. I do like ethical dairy, though. Big fan of Glenisk organic milk, the little milk Co, the village dairy, and Crawfords.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success can mean different things in different situations and contexts. Artistically success to me is both achieving a standard I am happy with (I'm yet to achieve that) and being able to make a living from it. Success in life for me is being content, in love, at peace, and considerate to others.