Davis W. Morton — ARTIST

THE SIBYL, BUTCH AND RUCK
2009, oil on canvas – 36″ x 24″

Interview with artist Davis W. Morton —

1. Who are you and what do you do?
As a painter I have never known how to describe myself by any one particular phrase or label.  Having borrowed from many disciplines, all I have ever tried to be is a school of one as an individual.  But when I attempt to describe my work to other people; labels are inescapable. At close inspection my paintings do contain elements of both Classic Realism and Impressionism.  Lacking a better term, I have called myself a Realist / Impressionist.  To me this is a reasonable description for my style or technique but it does not describe the spirit of my work. For my complete artist’s statement, please see “My Paintings,” that was published as an article in the winter 2002 issue of American Arts Quarterly.

NANTUCKETS CLASS OF ’71
1996, oil on canvas – 30″‘ x 40″

2. Why art?
This is too big to answer in a few sentences. For me all the arts are expressing something about the mystery of existence. Painting comes more naturally to me but I love writing just as much even though it is more of a struggle. And I love the simple songs I create in the key of C on my piano.

ENDGAME
1992, oil on canvas – 24″ x-30″

3. What is your earliest memory of wanting to be an artist?
I’ve always drawn since I was small and painted since I was 14. I’ve been selling paintings since I was 16. But I never wanted to “be an artist.” It’s just what I did. I’ve enjoyed everything that I’ve done that gives me something to paint about.

4. What are your favorite subject(s) and media(s)?
I’ve enjoyed everything and learned from it so I want to paint everything to represent it all. I’m naturally drawn to oils and pencil but if I had enough time I’d also be drawn to sculpture.

THE VALET
2001, oil on canvas – 25″ x 33″

COLUMBIA STATION
2002, oil on canvas – 30″ x 32″

5. How do you work and approach your subject?
I explain this in “My paintings.”

6. What are your favorite art work(s), artist(s)?
There are so many. Oddly I see a huge connection between Vermeer and Hopper (please see My Paintings again) then there’s Velazquez, Van Gogh, Van Dyke… it seems almost anyone whose name begins with a V… just kidding but oddly that’s the way it works out… except for Michelangelo, Leonardo and Rodin.

TEN FOOT ISLAND
2000, oil on canvas – 12″ x 21″

THE WATCH POCKET
1999, oil on canvas – 24″ x 28″

7. What are the best responses you have had to your work?
In 2008 I had sold over 86% of the paintings I have done through galleries internationally. Since that time it is still over 80%.

THE LAST NOTE
2015, oil on canvas – 20″‘ x 24″

8. What do you like about your work?
I know that it is completely sincere and not influenced by what will sell.

9. What advice would you give to other artists?
I would give the advice that Winslow Homer gave a young artist in his day. (paraphrased) “Paint what you see. Whatever else you have will come out anyway.” I’ve tried to live by this since I was 16. The subconscious mind is a very big deal to me. I would add to that, “protect your own vision by not listening to any advice about what you should create.” And I think that applies to all of the arts. Other than one anatomy class at GW I didn’t go to art school.

LOSING VIRGINIA
2013, oil on canvas – 22″‘ x 28’

10. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Creating or growth is it’s own reward. I don’t think about fame or anything of that sort. We keep interacting, painting, writing, or doing things like that. Then we die and move on somewhere. Not a bad deal.

Davis W. Morton

LINKS—

Website:  http://www.daviswmorton.com/
Telephone:  410-437-6897
Email:  davis@daviswmorton.com