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Jamie Morris

Jamie Morris painting details on a large artwork of a girl running through a wheat field with a train in the background.

Visual Communications

Sessional Instructor, Alberta University of the Arts · BDes · Class of 1997

I can value a piece of art simply for its beauty, but I’ll enjoy it more if it’s supported by an idea. I like to insert narrative moments into my paintings. Give the viewer a story to work through. Get them to think about the moments before and after the moment I’ve painted.

From there, the act of painting is a balance between being tight and being loose. The question becomes where do I slow down to paint detail, subtle colour shifts, and well-crafted edges? And where can I let the brush speak with a bold, confident stroke of paint? Sometimes both sides are satisfied at once when a series of spontaneous brush strokes maintains drawing accuracy - painting transcendence!

Canadian Pacific poster celebrating Canada 150 I wanted to explore a vertical depth of field and use a limited colour palette sampled from the company's 1920's logo. I prefer to work from reference photos, especially for something so complex as a steam engine. My initial thought was to hire a drone operator to shoot some video around Heritage Park, but it turned out to be more of a headache than I expected. I ended up taking reference photos in a model train store. Artists and their creative minds have to sometimes find creative solutions.
Fearless Four book cover This piece involved a lot of research and reference gathering. Despite the fictional moment depicted, the author is a historian and demanded accuracy in the airplanes. I tracked down several photos online, as well as some digital models that could be "posed" the way I wanted them. Again, sometimes you have to get creative with finding the proper reference. This dramatic moment in the story features the Red Baron as the antagonist to our teenage heroine.
Brigadier-General Dan Ormond portrait This piece was a commission for a proud military regiment called the Calgary Highlanders, who have a distinguished history going back prior to WWI. This was the third of a series of military heroes that I painted for the Highlanders. Dangerous Dan was there for the Battle of the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendaele. It's an incredible honor to be asked to paint these men who the Regiment holds in such high regard.
One Fine Sunday This gallery piece allowed me the chance to paint my grandma and young cousin sharing a moment. My grandma still had the business attire from her days of working an office job in the 1980's, while my cousin was dressed courtesy of the old thrift shop. I also sprung for a couple of ice cream cones for them to use as props. That same ice cream also served as payment for them being such willing models. Some expenses are worth investment.

Jamie Morris's Work

Jamie Morris's Work Illustrated Canadian Pacific poster by Jamie Morris showing a steam train crossing a bridge above blue water with a bird flying overhead.
Canadian Pacific poster celebrating Canada 150 I wanted to explore a vertical depth of field and use a limited colour palette sampled from the company's 1920's logo.

I prefer to work from reference photos, especially for something so complex as a steam engine. My initial thought was to hire a drone operator to shoot some video around Heritage Park, but it turned out to be more of a headache than I expected. I ended up taking reference photos in a model train store. Artists and their creative minds have to sometimes find creative solutions.
Jamie Morris's Work Book cover illustration by Jamie Morris showing First World War airplanes in flight for The Amazing Time Travel Adventures of the Canadian Fearless Four.
Fearless Four book cover This piece involved a lot of research and reference gathering. Despite the fictional moment depicted, the author is a historian and demanded accuracy in the airplanes. I tracked down several photos online, as well as some digital models that could be "posed" the way I wanted them. Again, sometimes you have to get creative with finding the proper reference.

This dramatic moment in the story features the Red Baron as the antagonist to our teenage heroine.
Jamie Morris's Work Portrait painting by Jamie Morris of Brigadier-General Dan Ormond seated on horseback in a First World War battlefield landscape.
Brigadier-General Dan Ormond portrait This piece was a commission for a proud military regiment called the Calgary Highlanders, who have a distinguished history going back prior to WWI.

This was the third of a series of military heroes that I painted for the Highlanders. Dangerous Dan was there for the Battle of the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendaele.

It's an incredible honor to be asked to paint these men who the Regiment holds in such high regard.
Jamie Morris's Work Narrative painting by Jamie Morris showing an older woman and young girl eating ice cream on a porch while pigeons gather nearby.
One Fine Sunday This gallery piece allowed me the chance to paint my grandma and young cousin sharing a moment. My grandma still had the business attire from her days of working an office job in the 1980's, while my cousin was dressed courtesy of the old thrift shop. I also sprung for a couple of ice cream cones for them to use as props. That same ice cream also served as payment for them being such willing models. Some expenses are worth investment.

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