"There
is a story underneath the story of my paintings. I don't hide the process of how I paint. You can see the layers and count the
strokes it took to get there. With some styles of painting, the closer you
get to the canvas, the more you will see. With mine, the more you step back, the
more detail you will see. That's not easy, which is why it fascinates me."
-Morgan Weistling
With his masterful use of oils, artist Morgan Weistling brings a scene to life
with spectacular lighting, creating a sense of wonder and engaging the viewer's
imagination and emotion. His dreamlike images touch the viewer's heart,
using more than sentimentality to engage the viewer. His canvases are filled
with brushwork that tell a story beyond the subject matter. Like a skilled
movie director, he manipulates the focus of interest with suggestions and
impressions of forms that are barely realized and allow the viewer's imagination
to fill in the details.
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The Fishing Hole
A superb colorist,
artist Morgan Weistling brings this scene to life with spectacular
lighting, creating a sense of wonder and engaging the viewer’s
imagination and emotion. Like a skilled movie director, he manipulates
the focus of interest with suggestions and impressions of forms that are
barely realized and allow the viewer’s imagination to fill in the
details.
The Fishing Hole is a unique, personal homage to brotherly love and
childhood magic. “I was originally going to title this painting
Brothers,” explains artist Morgan Weistling. “It is as much about the
joy of fishing as it is about the bonding experience that fishing
allows. I painted it in memory of my older brother, Steve. I have fond
memories of him teaching me all of the things he knew about fishing and
camping. I painted the older brother with his hand on the younger boy’s
shoulder representing that protection that I always felt when I was with
Steve. It was pretty handy having a brother that was 6' 4".
“I painted that moment when a fish has just taken its first bite, the
line gives that pull and the excitement jumps into your throat. The
experienced older brother is a little more collected and amused with his
brother’s reaction. When I was this age I remember letting out quite a
few whoops of joy while out in our dingy but my big brother was always
there to make sure the fish made it into the boat.”
Limited Edition Masterwork Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“You’re comparing
apples to oranges!” or so the argument will often go. Does the same
apply to the company of young girls and boys? Two-time Prix De West
winner and five-time David P. Usher Patron’s Choice award winner Morgan
Weistling certainly gives us a stunning piece of art to ponder the
question over.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“My main focus was to
make the viewer feel like an eyewitness to the biblical account of
Christ's first miracle,” says artist Morgan Weistling, “changing water
to wine at the wedding feast of Cana. To convey the sense of awe one
would feel, I depicted the astonished face of the servant as he pours
the water and watches as it is transformed into wine.”
“This painting depicts
one of my favorite stories from the life of Christ,” says artist Morgan
Weistling. “I remember reading about Jesus walking on water and noting
that he was out in the middle of a lake! This had a profound effect on
me.
“In Our Refuge and
Our Strength I wanted to show Peter’s point of view, as though the
viewer were struggling in the water alongside him. And, like Peter, we
come to the realization that Christ is there to save us, as suggested by
the light breaking through the turbulent clouds.”
With his masterful
use of oils, Morgan Weistling brings this simple scene to life.
Spectacular lighting combined with gentle brushworks and impressions
create this dreamlike image. A period piece with a modern-day flair,
Alice is as timeless a work as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,
first published in 1865. “I tried to capture the fun and imaginative
world of children and their pets,” says Weistling. “This young girl
and her furry friend were easy inspiration to spur this painting
on.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
The best
still life paintings make the ordinary extraordinary. With his masterful
use of oils, Morgan Weistling brings this simple scene to life.
Spectacular lighting combined with gentle brushworks and impressions
create this dreamlike image.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“When I
first get an idea for a painting, I
usually know it’s worth pursuing if
the title comes with it quickly. I
find endless fascination with the
world that children create in their
imaginations. When I set little
Madison on the floor to explore the
world of baking and told her she
could play with the flour, I knew
magic would happen. Of course, I
will be finding flour residue in my
studio for years to come. It was an
epic mess but it brought me great
inspiration”.
- Morgan
Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
“This painting of
my 4-year-old daughter was inspired by a tea set that her
grandmother gave her,” says artist Morgan Weistling. “The
imagination of children continues to be a wonder for me to paint
because they so easily drift into a make-believe world. She had
little conversations with her stuffed friends while serving them and
seemed unaware of my studying the whole event. It was a very
successful party.”
Morgan’s
popularity continues to soar among collectors and the press. In the
past 18 months his work has been featured in Art of the West,
Western Art Collector, Western Art and Architecture, International
Artist Magazine and American Artist. In February 2011, he won the
Patron’s Choice Award at the Masters of the American West Fine Art
Exhibition and Sale for the fifth time.
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handsigned by the artist
Morgan’s daughter,
Brittany, posed for this painting when she was five years
old. “Looking back on this painting 10 years later, I can
still feel the music and remember the inspiration that
stirred this idea,” says Morgan Weistling. “Brittany and I
were visiting a Cowboy Poetry and Music festival and at one
point she began to dance to some musicians much like in the
painting. I later re-created that scene in my studio. I will
always cherish the memories of Brittany and I dancing
together as the musicians played for us.”
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handsigned by the artist
“Colossians 1:15-20
speaks of Christ’s supremacy and of his being the image of
the invisible God. Studying this passage brought the scene
of Jesus’ baptism to my mind,” says artist Morgan Weistling.
“I chose to depict a
quiet moment while Jesus was in the Jordan River to be
baptized by John. I wanted to focus on Christ alone, looking
to his Father in heaven, as he fulfilled God’s promise to
send a Savior. His reflection in the water extends forward,
reaching out to us, the viewers, as does Christ himself with
his immeasurable gift of salvation. My prayer is that this
painting will not only proclaim the deity of Christ but will
encourage the viewer to answer the question that Jesus asks
all of us: ‘Who do you say I am?’ (Matt. 16:15).”
“This painting
is a portrait of prayer,” says artist Morgan Weistling, “and
its title comes from that moment in the Garden of Gethsemane
(Matt 26:39), hours before his crucifixion. “I was inspired
to paint this by the number of times the Bible refers to
Christ going off alone to pray to his Father, for example in
Luke 5:16: ‘But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and
prayed.’ I wanted the viewer to imagine how Jesus would look
if you were to come upon him in a private moment of prayer.
The painting emphasizes his strong carpenter’s hands,
clasped in prayer, representing his communion with the
Father. As I painted it I also thought about the importance
of praying not only in times of need but often, and
thoughtfully, just as Christ did.”
The disciples
Matthew (Chapter 9) and Mark (Chapter 5) both have accounts
of Jarius, leader of a synagogue, who pleaded with Jesus to
heal his dying daughter. Jesus agreed to see her but before
they reached the house, they received word that the girl had
died. Jesus told her father not to be afraid, but to
believe. When they reached the house, Jesus asked everyone
to leave except His disciples Peter, James and John and the
child's parents. Then He took the girl's hand and commanded
her to get up. The 12-year-old girl rose and walked around
the room. Everyone was astonished, but Jesus told them to
give her something to eat and not to tell anyone. "I chose
to depict that moment when the little girl had been given
her life back by Jesus,” says the artist. “I imagined the
closeness she must have felt for Him. This painting
illustrates a real event in time, and it is also symbolic of
the life Jesus offers everyone. As a Christian, it is easy
to understand the girl’s gratitude because we have all been
given life. I am reminded of Jesus' offer to all in John,
Chapter 11: 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever
lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe
this?' ”
A figure painting
without mood is just another picture of a person. There is no
confusion about which we’re seeing here. With Joy, Morgan
Weistling has created a fine art gem. The atmosphere is
electric. The child simply radiates innocent delight. Morgan,
with as few brushstrokes as possible, has us embraced by the
inner light of childhood conjuring details, background and
relationships from our own lives to create a canvas far greater
in size than the dimensions of this wondrous SmallWork edition.
“We can only see what
the light reveals to us,” says artist Morgan. “And, I’m all
about capturing light.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
The idea for this painting came very naturally.
My daughter, Brittany, is following in her parents
footsteps and is quite the artist at 14. (Morgan’s
wife, Jo Ann, paints under the name J. Peralta).
She has posed for me many times, notably in The Dance. Here, she is a girl
set with kitchen tasks but has set them aside to
partake in her first love, painting. Although she
should be peeling those potatoes, she would rather
set up items from her mother's 1890s country kitchen
and paint a still life in watercolor. Behind her on
the cabinet, other paintings are pinned. I tried to
portray that intensity of young inspiration to be an
artist. It's an unstoppable force when given the
right encouragement.
- Morgan Weistling
Limited Edition Masterwork Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“The one-room schoolhouse goes back to the founding of our great
country,” says artist Morgan Weistling. “It evolved through the decades
but the general idea remained the same. I painted the time period that I
know and love best, the post Civil War era. I decided to place the
teacher as the focal point, a tribute to all the dedicated teachers that
help build this nation.
“This is a rural country schoolhouse and I wanted to portray a class
that was a little more primitive. They were still using individual chalk
boards instead of pen and paper (because of the cost of paper then). No
fancy bows and frilly dresses for these kids. I imagined these children
as coming from a farming community as well as tradesmen’s homes".
- Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
“There are two different stories to
tell about Bowl of Oats. The first is that even though I may not
paint as many paintings of boys as I do girls, most of my
paintings of children come about in the same fashion. In this
case, I put a cup of milk and a bowl of oatmeal out in front of
a little boy who is about a year and half old. As a parent
myself, I have a pretty good idea of what is going to happen.
How that comes about is entirely up to the child. For me, what
they do is simply a matter of nature. Second, one of the things
that I have become highly aware of as an artist is how
completely natural these children are about their hands and what
great poses you end up with as a result. Adults can be downright
weird about them. If I asked you to pose for me right now, where
your hands ended up and how you positioned them would be a very
self-conscious and unnatural process. Kid’s hands end up exactly
where they should be, even when they are not covered in
oatmeal.”
- Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
I learned a lot about spinning wheels
while painting this piece and how different threads and yarns were
spun from fleece a century ago by pioneer women. It is a very quiet,
serene and meditative art form that I witnessed as my model worked
in my studio for hours as I painted. This is also the perfect
backdrop for a two year old to wreak havoc and I am experiencing
this part firt hand in my studio every day with our child. One can
imagine this mother’s reaction when she soon turns to see why her
girl is being so quiet!
- Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
This painting was inspired by the phrase
‘kissing the face of God,’ which I heard in a song many years ago,”
said the artist. “I immediately thought of a composition with Mary
and baby Jesus and how Mary had the privilege to hold God in the
flesh in her arms. She cuddled and kissed him just as all mothers do
with their babies. God chose to send his Son into this world in this
amazing way—in pure humility.”
“I have been fascinated with
stories about the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail since I was a
child,” says Morgan Weistling. “My grandmother used to tell me how
my ancestors had travelled by covered wagon to their new home in the
West. She would show me little mementos that had been handed down
from that time. When I decided to finally depict a scene from this
historic event, I dived into piles of research that are available.
Many of the women along the trail kept diaries that give us daily
accounts of their journey. I chose to capture what they called ‘The
favorite time of the day.’ After walking for eight hours, toiling
with oxen and any number of problems, they would set up for the
night and rest. A campfire and some music went a long way toward
spreading some peace at the end of a very hard day.
Morgan Weistling’s contemporary
impressionism describes the innocence and wonder of a timeless
America, as well as the beauty of everyday moments. Weistling is
inspired by country life and particularly the lives of children with
their irrepressible urge to explore. Morgan says of his model “Her
name is Jessica and I discovered her while she attended a Christmas
play. As soon as I saw her, painting ideas began to come to me. I
imagined her coming in from her grandmother’s garden with her newly
picked prizes". The Gardener portrays the magical innocence of a
darling garden helper, in her straw hat and crisp white apron, from
a not-too-distant rural American past. She holds her beets
tentatively, perhaps because of her white apron! Who wouldn’t want
this little gardener’s help?
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handsigned by the artist
"My model,
Emily, is a very quiet and neat little girl," says artist Morgan
Weistling. "When I first directed her to let some jam drip on her
hands and on the table she could barely make herself do it. But
after a while, she really got the hang of it. Before we were done,
Emily had consumed half the jar."
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handsigned by the artist
“Growing up on the farm, I
always loved to feed the animals. This painting brings back
childhood memories of my two sisters and I.
“I love to paint geese because their
natural design is so decorative. I named each goose as I painted
it—I had Daisy, Lobelia, Bungo, Pippin, Eleanor and Hamfast—and had
some fun painting Bingo, the lone duck, peering out at the viewer.”
- Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
Sisters is a warm portrait of the beauty of the
sibling relationship, a relationship that will only grow stronger in the
face of adversity and with the passage of time.
“The love between these sisters, who are very close in real life, is
testimony to the love and caring possible in our families. Many people are
fortunate to have their siblings as their best friends.”
- Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
"I never cease to be inspired by the wonder and
curiosity of children,” says Weistling. “ This little farm girl loves to
spend time with her chickens and found her way into the coop one day. This
serene moment I painted changed rapidly after she decided to stick her
thumbs into the eggs to see what would happen. It got pretty messy."
- Morgan Weistling
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
Morgan Weistling’s contemporary impressionism
celebrates the wonder of a timeless America, as well as the beauty of
everyday moments. His painting, Quilting Bee, 19th Century Americana, was
the winner of several awards at the most recent Masters of the American West
Art Show and Sale, where it sold for over $160,000.
"I’ve thought about this painting for at
least 15 years. It all began when my mother showed me a quilt her grandmother had made as a little girl in
the late 1800s. I was amazed by its detail and beauty. I began to research
quilt-making and discovered the wonderful American tradition of quilting
bees, and I knew I had my painting. "
"At a quilting bee, women would have family
and neighbors gather to finish
a quilt. It was a real community event. Often a quilt was made to mark a
special occasion, such as a wedding or an upcoming journey. The older, more
experienced women
would do most of the quilt work, but as in my painting, the less experienced
would learn the craft alongside the veterans. The quilt in this painting is
the actual quilt my great-grandmother made as a little girl, which made the
creative process all the more personal for me.” -
Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
'' In the quiet light of morning, a
round-cheeked toddler stands in her own little corner, out of the way of
busy adults. She tilts a pitcher of milk carefully, watching closely as
every drop splashes onto the floor of the kitchen. The little milkmaid in
the cranberry colored dress has no motivation but curiosity and her actions
stir within all of us a remembrance of our own innocence.''
- Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
'Artist Morgan Weistling’s portraits of
young children are among his most popular paintings with collectors. This
delicate image of a girl amid a bounty of fall apples, laced with ruby, gold
and grey tones, speaks volumes on the inner life of children. The darling
kitchen helper, in her bonnet and smock, exudes the wonder of childhood
innocence and grace. Just as we all recognize youth’s fleeting nature, all
the more fleeting are the moments such as this.
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handsigned by the artist
'' Creating a dreamlike narrative inspired
by scenes from daily life with an essence of the Old West, Weistling’s
Reflections has a sense of wonder and emotion''
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
.“This
painting was originally going to be titled Tea for Grandpa and my daughter
Brittany was suppose to be handing her Grandpa a cup of tea. Well, Grandpa
had a shiny pocket watch Brittany had never seen one before. During a break
in the studio, this scene took place and it rang with the sweet innocence of
a curious child. I like to strive for truthfulness such as this in my
paintings. That's when I connect to the painting and my hope is that it will
reach the viewer, too.”
~Morgan Weistling
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handsigned by the artist
“In my search for interesting people to
paint, I came to know this gentleman named Mickey Michele,” says Morgan
Weistling. “He is a fifth generation Californian whose great, great
grandfather was a vaquero and horse trainer in 1890s Los Angeles.The art of
horse training has been passed down from generation to generation and he
follows in the footsteps of his grandfather. Mickey trains horses for
mounted shooting and is an expert in firearms of the old West. I have
painted him with his Trusted Friends that have served him so well, and I
purposely used a rough textured painting style to convey his personality.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
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