Featured Artist – Danis Morgan
Artist: Danis Morgan
Oils & Japanese pigment painting
Bainbridge Island, WA
danis.morgan@icloud.com
www.danismorgan.com
Q & A
Q: Tell us a little about your art.
A: My paintings have evolved into abstractions of landscapes, expressing the hidden language of nature…Flora, trees, water, air and earth. The feeling we get from smelling the fragrance of a flower or pine tree — or simply just being in the presence of any of these elements — is what keeps us connected and reminds us of something bigger than ourselves.
Q: Why did you start doing what you do?
A: It is a way to express myself and give to others. To send beauty into the world is important to me and this is one of the ways I can share that.
Q: What makes you different from others in your field.
A: My paintings are unique because I am gathering mineral pigments from mother earth and places I love, like France and Japan, as well as making my own paint with walnut oil. I am weaving into my work connections from my own life, my children, the garden, food and awe, wonder and mystery from the natural world.
Q: What are your biggest influences?
A: I admire art, artists, design, architecture, botanical dyeing, gardens, slow food and wine, anything artisanal, handmade and authentic.
Q: What has changed since you’ve first started?
A: For many years I drew very detailed drawings of plants and trees in my encaustic paintings which were more monochromatic and textural, light filled…now I am more fluid and painting abstractly with more color.
Q: Tell us something most people don’t know about your process.
A: It is very experimental and intuitive. I work with walnut oil and Nihonga. This technique is labor intensive and very process oriented. Here I make my own paints with mineral pigments which are heated to bring out the luminosity of the minerals. The white is a crushed shell and has to be pounded by hand 100 times, creating a zen experience.