Artist of the Week – Harriet Morris
September 21st, 2009 § 1 Comment
This week, we look at the work of recent graduate Hatty Morris, 25, interviewed in her Stockwell studio, South London.
Hatty’s work was all snapped up by frantic buyers at her summer graduation show – so she’s one to watch out for!
What specific feature of the medium appeals to you?
Drawing with charcoal and rubbers on a big scale is very active and physically tiring – I enjoy this a lot. I like the logic of black charcoal and white paper and at the moment I don’t see a reason to use colour.
Who are your inspirations?
I like looking at natural history drawings (especially early ones- Italian 16th century), anatomy drawings, cave paintings, children’s drawings and symbols for people and animals such as those on road and London underground signs.
Did you study formally?
Yes. I studied Fine Art at City and Guilds of London Art School and before that, History of Art at Cambridge University.
Why be an artist?
Making things is what I enjoy the most, so it would be sad not to keep doing it.
What other artists do you admire?
Because my ‘inspirations’ are not usually artists or strictly art, I’m not sure. I do like Charles Avery’s drawings and models and Alex Hoda’s sculptures. I love Mark Wallinger’s plans for ‘The Angel of the South’.
Did you study art with a view to a professional career?
Yes, I studied it knowing I wanted to continue beyond the course.
How does your work develop – on paper, in your head?
A bit of both but the most important problems and solutions come during the actual making and I want any struggle to be visible in the finished piece.
How many of your ideas never get produced?
I try out nearly everything I want to, but often they don’t work and aren’t completed.
How important is it for your work to be understood?
I hope there’s not too much in my work that needs understanding. It is very important to me that no knowledge of art is necessary in order to enjoy it. I don’t want to make art about art but hopefully something that anyone could find funny or odd or satisfying to look at.
What was the first work of art you sold?
A huge GCSE painting of some trees to a lovely music teacher at school for £50!
What’s new for this year and where do you see things going in the future?
I’m taking a project to London Zoo in October. The visitors will be asked to make drawings of the animals and from these I will make a giant animal series to be shown in the zoo. I think I’ll always want to work on projects with institutions like museums and zoos which have the space to show big work and a ready supply of visitors I can bully into working with me.
For more information about Hatty’s work go to www.hattymorris.com
what a great site and informative posts, I will add a backlink and bookmark your site. Keep up the good work!