The Art of Jason Morgan, A Springfield Museum of Art Exhibit

Flipping through a copy of Ohio Magazine, I was drawn to an article about a local artist Jason Morgan from Yellow Springs, Ohio. I learned that he would be exhibiting at the Springfield Museum of Art, and booked a Saturday to see his artwork for myself. I was fascinated by his amazing still life scenes and wanted to learn more about his artistic style.

Prior to entering the exhibit, I picked up a small guide with an overview of the artist and his work. Located at several stations throughout the museum, thought provoking questions were posed to encourage a deeper reflection on some of the paintings. I found this practice to be very helpful and enjoyed thinking about Morgan’s artwork in a more artistic manner. Outside of the left wing was Morgan’s “Strange Pilgrims”.

My eyes were first drawn to the Hawaiian-like totem figure and then to the yellow pepper which seemed out of place. Reminding me of a scene in the movie Toy Story, I was fascinated by the colors in the yo-yo and the reflection of the light on the egg.

The artwork on display was primarily acrylic on canvas dating from 2002 to the present. I quickly noticed Morgan’s talent for painting portraits which progressively evolved towards a photographic style. I provided some of my thoughts on only a small number of pieces on display and separated them into two categories, portraitures and still-life.

Portraiture

I began my exploration of Jason Morgan’s artwork starting with Moonstruck which was painted in 2001. Compared to the 2012 painting of Dr. Cotton, the images in his earlier paintings had more subtle backgrounds but not as much definition in their facial expressions.

The work titled “Tim & Brooke” was one that first captured my attention in the next collection of portraitures. The attention to detail and texture is phenomenal in this painting. I was most fascinated by the natural bunching up of Brooke’s white t-shirt. The shadowing gave the piece of clothing such a unique three-dimensional feel.

“Acala at Ten” was an extraordinarily elegant black and white portrait. I was drawn to her eyes and her defined facial features. The simple background allowed my focus to remain solely on her.

I had reached the “Dr. Cotton” painting and I found this to be one of the most interesting portraitures in the collection. I was impressed with his use of texture and dimension in the background, especially the brick and the fall-like plants/trees that can be seen through the window. Of course the main focus was on the doctor himself. Morgan was able make scrubs look interesting with the use of shadowing and his ability to create an added component of depth is fascinating. I was mesmerized by the recreation of the doctor’s hospital badge as well as the detail that was not overlooked in the watch and pager. The detail of the doctor’s hands, all the way down to his fingernails and cuticles, was extremely life-like and photogenic.

The Use of Portraiture and Still Life

“Mirror in the Mirror” seemed like an transition from Morgan’s painting of portraits to still life, incorporating aspects of both people and things. The girl in the background appeared softer with less detailed features while the items in the foreground took center stage. I noticed that the painting had a three dimensional feel with the daisy in glass at the front, the skull and pomegranate in the center and the young girl towards the back. She was paying no attention to the items laid out in front of her, but rather taking more of an interest in the IPhone that she was holding in her hands.

Still Life Paintings

“Pins and Needles” was another opportunity to explore Morgan’s mastery with the use of lighting and for painting reflections as they would appear on his objects. Light reflected off, not only the orange, but each pin that had been stuck into the spool. There were several aspects of the painting that seemed to have been included to challenge Morgan artistically. First was the orange. There was a great amount of detail given to the flesh of the orange looking as though it had just been squeezed. Instead of a perfectly sliced orange, there was an element of experimentation in the modified object. This could also be said for the re-creation of the photograph of the man and the young child, which brought Morgan’s attention to detail to a whole new level.

I wandered towards the center of the exhibit where there are samples of objects that Morgan used for his paintings. The display also provided and explanation of the process for which Jason Morgan creates his designs, using a three-step process.

The Perfect Photograph

Towards the end of the exhibit, I found myself spending the most time viewing “Indian Four”, an acrylic on canvas. Mesmerized by the artistic detail of this painting, I noticed the intricate reproduction of each of the motorcycle’s parts and hardware. There is rust on the metal, the chipping away of body paint and the reflective lighting on the bike was incredible.

The next three pieces that were painted from 2011 to 2013 were, in my opinion, the most developed in the way of lighting and the detail of reflection. The positioning of items in the painting “Enzo” was unique as the items are facing away from viewer. The back lighting gave the painting a distinctive depth in the ridges of the cantaloupe and the marble’s reflection on the table was perfectly executed.

The same could be said for “Grapes of Wrath.” A partial mirror image of the light bulb was painted on the table which was a result of the lighting. “One for Steve” took the reflective concept a step further showing the table’s reflection in the plum. Impressive was the remaining peel left by a bite in the piece of fruit.

It is clear that Jason Morgan is successful in capturing the details and textures that come from his intense strategic placement and lighting of his subjects. Whether portraitures or still life images, the attention to each element is clearly exhibited in the artwork he creates. I look forward to seeing where his talents take him and hope to see more of his work in the near future.

Do you have a passion or love for art? What draws you to a specific artist? If you visited the Jason Morgan exhibit, I would love to hear your thoughts about his work. Please take the time to let me know about your opinions and comments about my post in the comments below! I would love to hear from you!

What to See and What to Do:

The Springfield Museum of Art
107 Cliff Park Road
Springfield, Ohio 45504
Telephone: 937 325 4673

If you would like to explore Jason Morgan’s fascinating artwork, visit his website at www.jasonmorganportraits.com.

Admission Fee: Adults for $5, Students with Valid ID for $3; Seniors 65+ for $3; Children 17 and under are Free and Wittenberg students are Free. Special exhibitions may incur an additional cost, so check the website prior to visiting
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 9AM to 5PM; Sunday: 12:30PM to 4:30PM; Closed Monday, Tuesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day and the Sunday after Art Ball.
Amenities: Partnership with the Smithsonian, Exhibitions as well as Workshops and Classes
Length of Visit: 1 to 2 hours
Tips for Your Visit: Check the website to confirm any additional fees for special exhibits.

Where to Stay:

Marriott Courtyard, Springfield Downtown
100 South Fountain Avenue
Springfield, Ohio 45502
Telephone: 937 322 3600

Where to Eat:

Seasons Bistro and Grille
28 South Limestone Street
Springfield, Ohio 45502
Telephone: 937 521 1200

My favorite item on the menu is the Bibimbap, a Korean rice bowl with marinated beef strips and seasonal vegetables served over white rice. Topped with a fried egg and Korean chili paste.

Another seasonal favorite that is offered on a limited basis is their grilled Chilean sea bass.

Schuler’s Donuts: Their chocolate cream-filled doughnut is their best seller…”home of homemade”. The bakery has several locations in Springfield.
Simon Kenton Inn: This historical home is an inn, restaurant and entertainment venue. With great food, I love the atmosphere of the Simon Kenton Inn.
Guerra’s Krazy Tacos: One of my favorite places to eat in Springfield, Guerra’s is known for their unique gourmet tacos.
Salato Deli: I love stopping by this deli for their charcuterie board
Le Torte Dolci Bakery; Located next to the Salato Deli, this European French bakery also serves amazing gelato.
Mike & Rosie’s Deli: This staple of Springfield is located near the Wittenberg campus and I am extremely fond of their Reuben sandwich.