Drawing may be a two-dimensional art form, but David Morrison is able to create illustrations that resemble the real-life subject. Using colored pencils as his utensil of choice, he masterfully renders different types of flora in exquisite detail. As a result, these depictions of flowers, fruits, and leaves look as though they are sitting on top of the page, and not actually drawn on it.
Morrison recently retired after working as a professor at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, Indiana, for 34 years. Now, he focuses on his drawing practice, using his natural surrounding as his muse. “Nature is the heart of my artwork. It provides motivation every day when I go for walks around my yard and work in our gardens,” he tells My Modern Met. “My intent is to capture in my drawings all the minute details of nature that I’m capable of drawing.
These hyperrealistic drawings isolate individual plants or parts of plants on the page so that their unique qualities are magnified. In this way, Morrison explores the anatomy of sticks, leaves, and other found objects that are normally overlooked. “Each drawing is a learning process for me about how nature impacted each object,” he continues. “Learning to see and depict colors, shapes, and marks on a sheet of paper keeps me highly motivated. Visual expression is an art for me constantly challenging my perception.”
By layering different colored pencils, Morrison is able to create areas of light and shadow, which in turn makes his subjects appear three-dimensional. “Drawing with colored pencils is very intimate for me, as the pencil becomes an extension of my hand,” he explains. “The slightest variation in pressure and sensitivity can be recorded. I like the idea that pencils are relatively inexpensive compared to paints.” Morrison also elevates colored pencils as a material through his highly meticulous work. “My idea is to take the common and give it iconic status,” he adds. “This applies to using the techniques in a highly refined matter not usually associated with the sketchy association of color pencil.”
You can purchase available works via Garvey Simon’s website, and keep up to date with Morrison’s latest projects by following him on Instagram.
Indiana-based artist David Morrison captures different flora in incredible hyperrealistic drawings.
He uses colored pencils to render blooms, leaves, tree bark, and more in amazing detail.
As a result, these 2D drawings look like they pop off the paper.
