After growing up on Nantucket and going through school here with my dad, Paul C Morris, as my art teacher and inspiration, when it was time for me to leave for college, I decided to follow in my dad’s footsteps and become an art teacher as well. I did a double major-fine arts with teacher certificate. The trouble was I wanted to live on Nantucket and there were only 2 art teacher jobs available but after 4 years at Southeastern Mass University I returned to Nantucket in 1979 to student teach and began substituted and part time teaching in January of 1980. Luckily,I did become a full time art teacher here on the island, first in CPS and then in NHS. I loved my time as an art teacher mostly because I loved the kids I worked with and their endless creativity kept my artistic spirit alive and thriving. After retiring in 2015, I began painting for show and sale rather than for lessons or my own pleasure. I also become a volunteer at Nisha and began working with troubled dogs. My love of animals and my connection with them has always been a huge part of my life. I fostered puppies and learned training and behavior modification methods . I also adopted animals, and my dog Pepper and I formed a lost dog search group. My dogs, Pepper and Fergie, get me out daily on the back roads of Nantucket where I often find my inspiration for new paintings. I also found pickle ball and new friends. And to sum it all up I have to say life is very good and I am as busy as ever.
I love color - and yes shape form and texture… but I love color. And I love the possibilities that art gives the world. It allows people to see things and the world itself if different ways… in ways that perhaps they have never thought about before. Working with my school students taught me that and so much more. And yes I do now paint for sale but my paintings still have to satisfy me as the artist as well as the viewer. There is something so satisfying about getting lost in working on a painting and then being able to say that I truly like it and am proud if it.
