Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Morrison.
Hi Donna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I struggled in college to find my direction, landing on graphic design just as I was graduating. I worked as a graphic artist for ten years, first for other companies and then eventually forming my own company. During that time, I also did some fine art painting in all mediums.
I became close to a woman who grew into my eventual mentor. Her name was Taylor Ikin, and she pulled me into watercolor painting as she was a fabulous painter and well known in that medium. She encouraged me to join the Florida Watercolor Society as well as other art organizations. I felt as if I had found my people!
I continued to grow and learn and sold my graphic business, diving full-time into watercolor painting. As my skills grew, I was lucky to develop gallery space with my framer Smith Brothers framing in South Tampa. I also was given the opportunity to teach at our local art center, the old Hyde Park art center.
My focus has largely been on Florida and its need for preservation and conservation in areas of culture, history, and nature. My art has allowed me to develop an educational platform that helps me connect people to Florida’s story.
I paint for competition exhibitions, commissions, teach weekly classes, and travel for workshops and jurying shows. I maintain my gallery space as well and enjoy using that space to help launch other young artists in the community.
I have given a lot of volunteer time to the arts community of Florida, serving on the boards of the Florida Watercolor Society, the Herrig Center for the Arts, Tampa Regional Aritsts, and Las Damas de Arte. My current focus includes efforts to expand art space and offerings to the Tampa area where such classes and space are grossly lacking.
I maintain a website as well as social media platforms that introduces my art to the world! www.donnamorrison.net / facebook: Donna Morrison Fine Art / instagram: donnamorrisonart
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Building a career requires steps of growth, evaluation, and often times struggle. Starting out as a graphic artist without formal training required me to learn on my own in a brand new field where there were limited opportunities for teaching and equipment that did not always perform as hoped. I had a family member who worked in the computer industry who was a help along the way.
After spending time as a graphic artist, I realized that my strength lay not in details of managing visuals, but more in creating free flow visuals (paintings). I found my home place in fine art, but this landing required complete retraining in a new career direction.
I always say life is a journey that requires many steps along the way. The path is forever growing and changing. I learned to listen to my heart and pay attention to what opportunities are laid on my plate. Staying open to relationships and help, suggestions and critiques have helped me tremendously
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been an artist all my life. I started out as a graphic artist and ran my own company for 10 years before moving into fine art exclusively. I paint in all media but 99% of what I do is Watercolor.
I use my artistic platform to help promote the conservation and preservation of fragile and disappearing ecosystems and species in our great state of Florida. I enjoy collaborating with other organizations that work throughout the state to build a united front in critical conservation efforts.
I am most proud of building a reputation of being an effective artistic voice for change in the conservation world. My work is recognizable, appreciated and sought after for teaching as well as for personal and public collections.
I teach all levels of watercolor painting at a local Tampa art center as well as lead workshops throughout the state and country. I compete internationally in juried exhibitions and also personally jury shows. I am available for commissioned work and sit on two ArtCenter boards that help promote the growth of art throughout Hillsborough County and Manatee county and surrounding areas.
I am a life member of the Florida Watercolor Society and served on their board for many years as well as a few other art organizations. I hold my signature status with the National Watercolor Society, the Southern Watercolor Society, and Florida Watercolor Society.
I also am so grateful to Smith Brothers framing and gallery for offering me the space to collaborate with them in developing my own gallery in shared space. I have managed that gallery for over a decade and use it as a platform to launch other young artists in the community.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am a little old school and don’t use a lot of apps in my work. I am a representational painter and use my prior skills as a graphic artist to alter photography in photoshop in order to create the best composition possible before painting. I enjoy teaching the benefits of photoshop to other artists as well.
I often times listen to books on tape, free through the library system, while painting as entertainment and to keep me in the saddle longer!
I mainly listen to one podcast called “Ologies” by Alie Ward. It is a cutting-edge science based podcast, and it definitely keeps me inspired to do my best to help promote truth through science and the value of cultivating and protecting our world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://donnamorrison.net
- Instagram: @donnamorrisonart
- Facebook: donna morrison fine art @ commissions
- LinkedIn: Donna Duke Morrison
- Youtube: @donnamorrison4031
Image Credits
Carlton Ward, original photo of owl image
