General
Did you go to Art School?
Yes, I have a Diploma in Visual Art from my local college, but it was a very generalized course that focused much more on exploration and the broader spectrum fine-art than on actual skills or technique. I feel like it informed a lot of my opinions and interests towards art in general, but as to my personal practice and skills I still feel very self-taught.
Should I Go To Art School?
That was a bigger and weirder question than I thought it was when I decided to go, and I don’t think it is one that has an answer that’s applicable to everyone. ‘Art School’ is a deceptively broad term.
Do You Have Any Advice For Beginners?
Yeah. Make a lot of art and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I would also advise carving out a couple hours each week to familiarize yourself with art history and the contemporary art world. Learn to be honest enough with yourself to tell the difference between when you’re being lazy and when you’re genuinely overtaxed.
Materials
Watercolours - Primarily Daniel Smith, with a couple Holbein and Windsor & Newton tubes thrown in
Paper - Arches Hot Press and Cold Press paper for colour work, Canson Illustration Board for ink work
Sketchbooks - Stillmann & Birn Beta and Zeta series, Canson XL Recycled Sketch Pads for rough sketching
Gouache - M. Graham and Co. & Lukas
AcrylaGouche - Holbein AcrylaGouache
Acrylics - Golden Acrylics
Brushes - I use the Jack Richeson travel set as well as a couple of squirrel-hair rounds for watercolour. For everything else I use inexpensive synthetic brushes and replace them when they get too tatty.
Pencils - Blackwing Pearl and Prismcolour ColErase 15% of the time, a basic .7 and .5 mechanical pencil the other 85%
Inks - Primary inking tool right now is the Platinum Carbon Desk Pen. I also use G-Pens with both India Ink and FW Acrylic ink on occasion. For fineliners I love the old style COPIC multiliners and Microns are great, but the nibs never last as long as the ink supply does for me.
Pencil Crayons - Prismacolor Premier
Digital - WACOM Mobile Studio Pro and the Adobe Suite. I also have used Sai and FireAlpaca
Commissions
Do You Take Personal Commissions?
I am currently accepting personal commissions on a limited basis. Due to standing commitments and limited time I am currently only able to take on commissions that are both capture my interest as a creator and will fit into my schedule, as well as help fund my personal work. To submit an inquiry, please visit the Work With Me page.
Can I Get Your Work Tattooed?
Yes! As long as it’s not work that has been commissioned by someone else, or that I have mentioned in the image description is reserved for someone else tattoo. Please credit the artwork on social media @jaybirdmorgan, and have your tattoo artist do the same if choose the share the tattoo in their portfolio/on social. Also, I would appreciate it if you would purchase some of my work and/or make a donation to the BC Cancer Society as compensation. Also, please respect your tattoo artist!
Where Can I Buy Your Work?
Currently you can purchase work directly from me on Etsy, as well as find prints of my work (as well as notebooks and wearables) through RedBubble. My hope if to eventually upgrade to my own fully independent online shop, but for now, this is how we do.
Where Are You Based?
I live and work in my hometown of Victoria BC in Canada!
What Do You do Besides Art?
I enjoy getting outside and don’t get to do it anywhere near enough. I’m a bit of a fair-weather sailor and don’t love being wet and cold, but I’ll hike and bike and snorkel about very happily if I know there are dry clothes waiting at the end of the day. International and cross-country travel is my absolute jam, although a somewhat rare treat. I am lucky enough to have a lot of super-cool people in my life willing and happy to adventure with me.
Do You Have Any Favourite Artists?
Yes. Dozens and dozens. I will try to make a Rad Artist Generator or something because listing them all off would be ridiculous, but a couple standouts include J.C. Liendecker, Norman Rockwell, Yayoi Kusama, Ai WeiWei, Carcamo, Piet Mondrian, Gabriel Picolo, James Gurney, Annabelle Marquis, Masashi Kishimoto, Teagan White, and Scott Fischer.
Personal
Can You Draw/Paint Me Something For Free?
No. This is how I make my living and I cannot afford to work for free. There are no exceptions.
Will You Work For Exposure?
No.
Why do you keep putting u’s in words like color and favorite?
Because I’m Canadian.