Artist Morgan Weistling | American Contemporary Painter

Morgan Weistling is recognized as one of the best contemporary artists in America. Weistling , a successful illustrator in the Hollywood film industry for fourteen years, made the transition to the visual arts in 1998, which was rapid in such a narrow sense of the word. He was most influenced by his artist father, on whose knees Morgansat and sketched at the age of nineteen months. At the age of 15, he began his serious art studies in the Los Angeles area at the Brandes Art Institute, which was directed by Fred Fixler. Fixler was taught by the renowned muralist Frank Reilly. Under Fixler's guidance, Weistling learned to paint, studying how light and tone tell the story of form.

In an interview for an article in The Art of the West, Weistling recalls: “Fixler used classical methods and still taught a rigorous approach. Great drawing is the root of all great art. This is how he trained me. Other major influences on Morgan's worka - John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Nikolai Feshin, Joaquin Sorolla and illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration.

Weistling was recruited after graduating from art school at Hollywood's leading advertising agency Bacon Reneric Design at the age of 19. For 14 years, he has created film posters for all major entertainment studios. Morgan thrived on the challenges he faced in the highly stressed poster industry, but looked forward to the time when he could be more artistic.

After leaving illustration, Morgan soon became known nationally for his exquisite oil paintings that showcase his honed drawing abilities and his skillful use of values, edges and light. He can use his many years as an illustrator to create masterful compositions with multiple shapes as well as single shape settings. Most often, his subjects are old works reminiscent of a more tender and kind time. He conveys the mood and atmosphere of the past, and his attention to the historical aspects of his stories stems from his desire to show the truth and beauty of America's innovative spirit. His paintings have a deep sense of history thanks to his research and the authentic costumes that he specially tailored for him.

Morgan notes: “In my paintings, I hope to convey to the viewer the same emotional response that I felt and inspired. There must be something visually stunning in this scene that makes me want to capture it. Sometimes I just want to draw the personality of my model and a specific pose. In other cases, it's simply how a particular edge stands out from the softer ones around it. Whatever it is, I know that it has to come from my heart, otherwise I will not remain interested, like the viewer. "His canvases are filled with brush strokes that tell a story that goes beyond the subject. As a seasoned filmmaker, he manipulates the focus of interest with simple sentences and impressions of forms that are barely realized, and allows the viewer's imagination to fill in the details. Morgan adds that there is a story behind the history of my paintings: “I don't hide how I wrote them. You can see the layers and count the number of strokes it took to get there.

While collectors' demand for his original paintings has skyrocketed, the paintings that leave his studio are few and far between. Morgan admits, “I'm not the most prolific artist! I decided in advance that I would not release a picture from the studio if I did not like it. Sometimes this means living with the painting for several months to understand what works and what doesn't. I think that we artists can stop noticing our mistakes, so I rely on my wife Joanne, as well as other artist friends, to criticize each piece before I submit it. I believe that it is a valuable asset for an artist to surround himself with people who are willing to express an honest opinion.

 

Weistling paintings were awarded many awards and were acquired for permanent display in major museums. He is still the youngest to ever win the coveted Prix de West at the National Cowboys and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. He also won it for the second time in 2008. Also interested in portraying his Christian faith, Morgan depicted the life of Christ in many of his paintings. These images can be found in the best-selling book The Image of Christ with Morgan's paintings and text.

Morgan has been equally successful in the print market for 17 years. Thanks to numerous sold out editions of his work, his name has become instantly recognizable in the world of limited editions. His works are published by Fine Art Publishing. Morgan and his wife Joanne have been married since 1990 and also met at art school. JoAnn is represented by Trailside galleries and paints under the name "J. Peralta" in honor of his grandmother. She also exhibits at the Master's show at the Autry Museum. They have two daughters, Brittany and Sienna. Brittany also exhibits at the Autry Masters.