Sean Morris

FT: What is your idea of an ideal day?

SM: Realistically, an ideal work day would consist of getting at least one drawing done that I don’t hate, spending less than an hour answering emails, spending less than an afternoon getting distracted by video games and the internet, remembering to eat lunch, and stopping work before midnight. Those are kinda rare.

FT: What was the first piece of artwork you ever sold?

SM: It was a few years ago, at the first exhibition I was involved in, and was a painting of a sad old truck driver and a teenage beauty queen with only one hand.

FT: How has your work evolved, or have you always kept the same style?

SM: It’s evolved quite a bit – sometimes pretty naturally, just through heaps of drawing and various accidents, and sometimes less naturally – like when i’ve seen art so good it’s make me change the way i think about my own work, or when i’ve gotten bored with what i’m doing and forced myself to try something different.

FT: Hows the gallery going over in Perth?

SM: Pretty well! Our first couple of shows were a big success, awesome work and good crowds. We’re going to keep Last Chance as primarily a studio space for the next few months, but there’ll be at least one big show there this summer.

FT: What is the art/design scene like in Perth?

SM: Small but getting stronger. There’s been a real sense of community building over the last couple of years, especially in the low brow/illustration scene… and a lot of people actually trying to make Perth an interesting, creative place to live, rather than just bitching about it until they move somewhere bigger.

FT: Where does the iconic humor in you work stem from?

SM: I’m not sure! I guess I mainly draw what amuses me… i’m just amused by some pretty strange things. I don’t usually set out to make work that’s necessarily funny, but it is the biggest compliment when someone says a drawing makes them laugh.

FT: How did growing up in Perth influence you and the ideas that you put on paper?

SM: It’s hard to say – I mean, I think there’s a fair bit of my own personality in my drawings, and that’s obviously been shaped by where I live to an extent… and maybe the stripped back, simple ideas I use have something to do with growing up somewhere small and isolated? Or maybe not? Who knows.

FT: What is the attraction to painting on wooden surfaces and objects?

SM: I guess it’s how tactile and ‘real’ the finished product is. I love drawing on paper, but it’s a bit too delicate and precious to deal with sometimes.

FT :It looks like music has a large influence on what you produce, what are some bands that get you going?

SM: The stuff i’ve got on repeat at the moment is mostly wintery scottish bands – Arab Strap, Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks. Also a lot of Against Me! and The National.

Vist Sean’s website, blog and flickr. You can also buy his work on etsy.

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