JUNE 2021: Featured Artist
Watercolor Painter:
Bob Morgan
~~~
Bob posing with one of his pieces "still in progress"
|
Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Bob Morgan’s early interest in art was fueled by the rich traditions of the Berkshires/Hudson Valley region. After residing in Buenos Aires, London, Boston, and San Francisco, among other places, he returned to the area of his youth. He currently lives in the Taconic Mountains of Petersburgh, NY with his artist wife, Pennie Brantley.
Early in his career, Bob was honored with a prestigious MacDowell Colony Fellowship. After exhibiting in numerous solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries on both U.S. coasts and internationally, he was featured in a major retrospective at the Borges Cultural Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the exhibition catalog, Ed Shaw, one of South America’s foremost art critics, said: “Morgan is an anachronism in today's art world. Cloaked in classical garb, his work requires a pause from zapping and deserves the effort of a second glance. For those who are willing to share his search, he takes aim at clarifying those obscure mysteries which make life so tantalizing.” Bob utilizes traditional watercolor medium to lure the viewer into a sensual, surreal and conflicting journey. While his work sprang from the delicate, sensitive watercolors abundant in this historical region, the paintings have grown into huge, collaged pieces that invite a wide, participatory view. With dense pigment, textured treatment of the surfaces and off-beat compositional schemes, he stretches content, technique and scale, reversing the ‘precious’ attributes usually associated with the medium. |
Bob’s paintings are frequently composed of a number of layers of varnished watercolors mounted with objects on canvas, resulting in visual planes that are often out of expected context. He wants his works to resonate, to vibrate on a frequency that sets off a chain reaction of personal conflicts and comparisons. Bob isn't content with gratifying the viewer with agile craftsmanship; instead, he wants us to share the tension inevitably lurking behind the beauty.
Myrna Haskell, executive editor, had a chance to view several of Bob's pieces in the summer of 2020 at "VISIONS," a group exhibition at the Albany Center Gallery. Since then, she has gotten to know more about Bob and his imaginative and thought-provoking work.
Iguazu Encircles Florence
Watercolor on Paper on Canvas: 44 X 56 inches © Bob Morgan |
French Carousel Over Mass Pike
Watercolor on Paper on Canvas: 58 X 76 inches © Bob Morgan |
Your works are very large for this medium because you piece different paintings together to create a collage. Could you discuss this process and the inspiration behind it?
The largest retail watercolor paper available comes in a 51” roll. My desire to break the typical view of watercolors as delicate, little paintings pushed me to increase the sizes by gluing pieces together, ending up with works that are large enough to envelop the viewer. The collaged layers of paper also allow me to create expansive, soft washes behind other cutout images without losing the fluidity. Similar to surrealist artists, I can also pair disparate images that may seem out of context when combined with others. This method allows me to present contrasts – hard and soft, dark and light, warm and cold, peaceful and threatening – all in a medium that normally does not facilitate this diversity.
The largest retail watercolor paper available comes in a 51” roll. My desire to break the typical view of watercolors as delicate, little paintings pushed me to increase the sizes by gluing pieces together, ending up with works that are large enough to envelop the viewer. The collaged layers of paper also allow me to create expansive, soft washes behind other cutout images without losing the fluidity. Similar to surrealist artists, I can also pair disparate images that may seem out of context when combined with others. This method allows me to present contrasts – hard and soft, dark and light, warm and cold, peaceful and threatening – all in a medium that normally does not facilitate this diversity.
Belgian Seeder at Rock Field
Watercolor on Paper with Sheet Metal on Canvas: 55 X 68 inches © Bob Morgan |
Cutie's Pool
Watercolor on Paper on Canvas: 46 X 58 inches © Bob Morgan |
The detail in the foreground, middle ground and background are often equivalent. This invites the viewer to scan all parts of the painting – clockwise to counterclockwise. Are you encouraging a heightened awareness?
I learned from Vincent Van Gogh that all parts of the painting deserve attention and intensity, so I am very concerned with the details.
Would this technique work as well in another medium, or do you find that watercolor – which can be transparent or opaque – enhances the layers in such a way that other mediums would not?
I think watercolor is so versatile. It allows me to paint soft and transparent as well as hard and densely pigmented. The collaged aspect allows sharp edges to be juxtaposed with airy washes.
I learned from Vincent Van Gogh that all parts of the painting deserve attention and intensity, so I am very concerned with the details.
Would this technique work as well in another medium, or do you find that watercolor – which can be transparent or opaque – enhances the layers in such a way that other mediums would not?
I think watercolor is so versatile. It allows me to paint soft and transparent as well as hard and densely pigmented. The collaged aspect allows sharp edges to be juxtaposed with airy washes.
Resilience
Watercolor on Paper on Canvas: 51 X 61 inches © Bob Morgan |
COVID Camping
Watercolor on Paper with Sheet Metal on Canvas: 42 X 50 inches © Bob Morgan |
Please discuss the paintings “Resilience” and “COVID Camping.”
Resilience: This painting pairs a row of houses from Provence, France against the Andes mountains, fronted by debris-scattered flood waters. Here, the residents of the colorful houses are caught between powerful forces of nature, exemplifying the ‘resilient’ character of humans as they try to maintain a safe and rewarding existence on this earth.
COVID Camping: During the COVID outbreak, I was struck by the urge of many to escape to a more rural environment. However, escaping is not a solution to all problems – the viewer is still ‘stuck between a rock and a hard place’. The rocks in the foreground are ancient hedges from Les Baux, France, and the mountains in the background are from the Pyrenees. There is not an obvious reference to COVID in the images, but the feeling is what I am trying to capture.
Resilience: This painting pairs a row of houses from Provence, France against the Andes mountains, fronted by debris-scattered flood waters. Here, the residents of the colorful houses are caught between powerful forces of nature, exemplifying the ‘resilient’ character of humans as they try to maintain a safe and rewarding existence on this earth.
COVID Camping: During the COVID outbreak, I was struck by the urge of many to escape to a more rural environment. However, escaping is not a solution to all problems – the viewer is still ‘stuck between a rock and a hard place’. The rocks in the foreground are ancient hedges from Les Baux, France, and the mountains in the background are from the Pyrenees. There is not an obvious reference to COVID in the images, but the feeling is what I am trying to capture.
Private Landing
Watercolor on Paper with Ribbon on Canvas: 52 X 60 inches © Bob Morgan |
Padded Canal Ride
Watercolor on Paper with Saw Blade on Canvas & Cushion: 50 X 57 inches © Bob Morgan |
Some of your paintings seem to be representative of dreams. Individually an object might make sense; although, once put together, the viewer is transported to another world. Do any of your pieces represent actual dreams you remember, or do you escape to your imagination with eyes wide open?
The latter is the most accurate description – I do explore subjects with my eyes wide open. Sometimes I don’t even know all the images or layers until I’m already into the painting.
The latter is the most accurate description – I do explore subjects with my eyes wide open. Sometimes I don’t even know all the images or layers until I’m already into the painting.
Bridge to Nowhere
Watercolor and Ground on Paper on Canvas: 47 X 60 inches © Bob Morgan |
Under the Radar
Watercolor on Paper on Canvas: 48 X 58 inches © Bob Morgan |
Any new projects or series planned?
I approach each painting as an adventure, so each work is a project on its own. Currently, I am working on a painting of a large, scarred weeping willow tree fronted by a wispy layer of dripping buds. As with most artists, I am impacted by the life around me. COVID-inspired art has been my project for the past year. This latest painting demonstrates endurance – the tree survives years of injury and continues to spring anew. As we move further from COVID, I hope my ‘projects’ also evolve to a new experience.
I approach each painting as an adventure, so each work is a project on its own. Currently, I am working on a painting of a large, scarred weeping willow tree fronted by a wispy layer of dripping buds. As with most artists, I am impacted by the life around me. COVID-inspired art has been my project for the past year. This latest painting demonstrates endurance – the tree survives years of injury and continues to spring anew. As we move further from COVID, I hope my ‘projects’ also evolve to a new experience.
