From the Artist:

The desire to render images of the world in such a way that resonates truest to me is an experience that goes back to my earliest memories.  Growing up in the often stark grey climate of Western Pennsylvania, the hours and days spent coming back to an image, working physically and emotionally through various aspects of the picture, strike a chord in me as deeply as the smell of rotting apples in a warm autumn orchard. These experiences and creations are not merely ornaments to enhance one’s life; rather they are the fundamental ingredients that course through our veins and make us who we are; the lens through which we view our world.

I’ve had little “formal training” in the way of high school and college coursework in my native western Pennsylvania.  In my experience, formalized art training can provide a foundation for technique or a style of work but it can do little to impart inspiration or the discipline to see a work through to completion.  There comes a point with every piece where the initial spark of inspiration has dimmed and what remains in order to arrive at the desired image is the “work” in Artwork. What sees a work through to completion is not sexy; rather it is a stick-to-it-ness.

So where do the images come from and what is the point of investing so much time and energy into these pieces?  I seek to render images that are rooted in American imagery and imaginations. The subject matter must be easily traced back to something unique to this American experience. This does not mean that I do paintings of eagles draped in the American Flag or old Chevy cruisers. Rather, the images are drawn from images that have a distinct American tradition; horses, birds, family, and landscape. These subjects and their histories can be complicated but they also can embody an element of mystery which draws in the viewer.

I draw and paint what I know with a heightened sensitivity to not get drawn en vogue, working at the expense of authenticity. The goal is always to render the image in way the reaches the viewer but maintains a certain primitive element. The importance is staying primitive in a world that is increasingly preoccupied by novelty, style, and mania. (I believe most rational human beings can agree that the world has lost its mind when a shark in formaldehyde fetches $8 million at auction in the name of “Art.”) No, I’d rather create images that can be understood by most folks and do not require some convoluted elitist dissertation to justify their existence.

So, enjoy the images. I hope they hold your attention for a few moments and perhaps initiate some reflection drawing upon the importance of staying connected to the past as we inevitably move into the future.

Biography: Jason A. Morgan

Jason Morgan was born in Western Pennsylvania in 1975 and spent his childhood in the outskirts of Pittsburgh, PA.  He began creating art in early elementary school in the sides of his notebooks. Early subjects included comic book characters and other cartoon images. Throughout his life, he has also resided in Tennessee and South Carolina, drawing inspiration for his work from the local wildlife and architecture. Jason is primarily self taught, having taken only an occasional class or two.  He is influenced by and frequently studies the impressionist masters—Chagall, Degas, Matisse, and Renoir—as well as Rembrandt. His favorite family of artists is the Wyeth family from Chadds Ford, PA.

His choice mediums include watercolor, pen and ink, oil, and charcoal. Jason’s work “Carriage Horses” earned him a second place award during a Charleston Artist’s Guild juried art exhibit in Charleston, South Carolina in November 2008.  Jason moved to Colorado in 2009 for the mountain air and lifestyle. Since, he has begun working on several watercolors depicting scenes from Colorado historic sites.

Jason has completed degrees in philosophy and business at Westminster College and University of Tennessee Chattanooga respectively. He is also an accomplished trail runner with a Leadville 100 finish in 2012.  His main focuses are spending time with his family–including his wife and 2 Carolina Dogs, creating art, and trail running around Green Mountain Falls, CO.  Jason enjoys teaching his 3 nephews and friends’ children how to create artistry of their own.