Early Bird
As a Seattle youngster, I spent a lot of time alone outdoors watching and drawing birds from a private perch in our backyard.
The Summer House.
It wasn't just for summer. I played there all year round, and it wasn't really a house - except in my imagination.
One day I took - without permission - an unopened box of oil paints and a small canvas board from Dad's home office to the Summer House and painted a doll's portrait. It looked just like her. Stunned - and afraid I'd be found out, I put everything back.
Secretly in love.
If Dad discovered the used paints, he never mentioned them. The oil portrait was lost.
I kept busy working puzzles, designing paper dolls, coloring in coloring books, and in the sixth grade, when Mrs. Fountain read Maurice Sendak's children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are," I chose my career.
For the next twenty-five years I took art classes in high school and at the University of Washington, until finally receiving a BFA in Painting 'With Distinction' from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Dad paid my tuition.
One of my final paintings was a self-portrait in oils.
The book world opened up for me on a sojourn in New York City, showing my portfolio to editors and art directors at children's publishing houses on my 'Top 5' list.
I spent the next thirty-four years wrestling my art and love into illustrations for beautiful children's books.
My 25th - and final - illustrated picture book, "Chicken Talk Around the World," by Carole Lexa Schaefer, came out in March, 2021. Go to "Gallery" to see all my book covers and their ISBN #'s to find them through your library or favorite bookstore:
pierrmorgan.patternbyetsy.com/gallery
Now I'm 70! Living in Spokane, WA, in a small apartment reminiscent of the Summer House, painting birds - early in the morning - to Motown, jazz, and adventure movie soundtracks, hoping what delights me will delight you too.
>> Click on any bird in my "Shop" for more views and details - and to buy! <<
Thanks so much.
~ Pierr (pronounced like a fishing pier ;-))
The Summer House.
It wasn't just for summer. I played there all year round, and it wasn't really a house - except in my imagination.
One day I took - without permission - an unopened box of oil paints and a small canvas board from Dad's home office to the Summer House and painted a doll's portrait. It looked just like her. Stunned - and afraid I'd be found out, I put everything back.
Secretly in love.
If Dad discovered the used paints, he never mentioned them. The oil portrait was lost.
I kept busy working puzzles, designing paper dolls, coloring in coloring books, and in the sixth grade, when Mrs. Fountain read Maurice Sendak's children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are," I chose my career.
For the next twenty-five years I took art classes in high school and at the University of Washington, until finally receiving a BFA in Painting 'With Distinction' from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Dad paid my tuition.
One of my final paintings was a self-portrait in oils.
The book world opened up for me on a sojourn in New York City, showing my portfolio to editors and art directors at children's publishing houses on my 'Top 5' list.
I spent the next thirty-four years wrestling my art and love into illustrations for beautiful children's books.
My 25th - and final - illustrated picture book, "Chicken Talk Around the World," by Carole Lexa Schaefer, came out in March, 2021. Go to "Gallery" to see all my book covers and their ISBN #'s to find them through your library or favorite bookstore:
pierrmorgan.patternbyetsy.com/gallery
Now I'm 70! Living in Spokane, WA, in a small apartment reminiscent of the Summer House, painting birds - early in the morning - to Motown, jazz, and adventure movie soundtracks, hoping what delights me will delight you too.
>> Click on any bird in my "Shop" for more views and details - and to buy! <<
Thanks so much.
~ Pierr (pronounced like a fishing pier ;-))