James Morgan

Jim, or James, Morgan was raised in a small town in Utah, close to the land and creatures that he now portrays in his work. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Utah State University, and creates his artwork in oil, watercolor and graphite. He often paints what he sees when outdoors, preferring to depict early morning and late evening scenes. Artists that have influenced Morgan in his work are John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Carl Rungius, Bob Kuhn, Bruno Liljefors, and Bugatti Joaquin Sorolla. About his art, he says:

"The goals in my work are relatively simple: to enjoy the process of painting and seeing, hopefully to gain an emotional participation from the people who view the painting and to help bring an awareness to others of the often overlooked intimate aspects of nature. I seek to achieve a balance between the subject and its environment. This harmony is further aided by the play of light, shadow, and subtle color changes. I am intrigued by the patterns and shapes found in nature and concentrate on the effects of light on these elements and the resulting array of colors and nature's ever-changing moods."

(quote from NMWA Western Visions: Miniatures & More 2004 Artist Information, p. 50)