The Arts & Culture Journal

Artist and Fallyrag art director, Jon Morse, gives us his latest collection to preview; alongside some of his thoughts.

“This latest series has been a really refreshing break from painting. Having recently moved to Brighton I’ve been exposed to a wealth of stencil work and I love the wit and intelligence behind something that is so often branded as 'vandalism'.”

Jon’s ability to try his hand at different artistic platforms always lends itself to a multiplicity of results. Underpinning styles though is a force which taps on many an artisan’s mind:

“More recently my art has become a lot more selfish with a personal recognition of mortality - a desire, need perhaps, to feel like you're making something that'll out live yourself.”

One of the great traditions in art history is examining where individuals have developed their interests and their inspirations from. The kick-off point that helped set them on the artistic path and provided them with a point of exploration:

“I've always been drawn to figurative artists - from Rembrandt's portraits to Lucien Freud. I love Jenny Saville's work - confident, bold strokes and a mixture of strong colours. This loose style is something I strive to fulfil in my own painting but it's tricky.”

Aged only 23, in the post-university phase of his life, Jon is currently facing a world that isn’t readily driving an individual’s creative force. “You spend 3 years surrounded by visual thinkers only to be thrown into a mundane job clouded by work politics! I think it's hard for artists to stay creative in those circumstances. The biggest challenge, post-uni, is keeping yourself thinking creatively.”

With this mind, Jon spoke at length about the need to immerse yourself in the artistic environment, to test your skills against the