Featured Artist – Morris Green

 

Recently we caught up with the Morris Green who is a graffiti artist, muralist and a tattooist out of Adelaide, Australia.

Whats up, Im Morris Green. I grew up in South Australia, living in Christie downs and Morphett Vale which are located in the southern suburbs. I lived with my grandparents throughout my childhood into early teens.

Growing up in the South played a massive role in getting into graffiti. There were a lot of dudes bombing and some piecing quite actively. This always caught my attention before I had started writing.

When/How did you know you wanted to be a graffiti artist?

My earliest memories of graffiti are seeing the bright colours on laid up red hens while traveling into the city on the train with my grandma in the early 90’s i would have been maybe 8-9 years old. We also used to travel out north a bit which i saw my first legal walls. These first experiences i believe sub consciously led me to paint graffiti. The artwork and colours were so impressive. Also around that time i saw “Jam Rcf” doing a mural near my house. These moments strangely enough all had a huge impact on my life and planted the seed. As i got a bit older i looked up to another local writer “sour” or “sizle” he was a friend of my mates brother. going to his house and seeing his photos, and pieces out and about really made me want to start writing. I used to practice on a mdf board biting his letters, I was about 14 with no idea. Quickly I learned that biting wasn’t cool so focused on my own letter forms.

How did you learn to do what you do?

The transition wasn’t as easy as i thought it would be, I was overly confident. I figured it was only another medium and form of artwork, how hard could it be? Once I attempted my first tattoo I realised I was completely wrong – the nerves kicked in, as this artwork was on the clients skin forever and theres no room for error. (Not a wall that could be painted over). It took quite a few tattoos to get over the nerves.

I feel having an artistic background helped me progress as a tattooist quite quickly. Already having basic drawing ability and an idea of contrast and light source made a huge difference.

Favourite place I have traveled so far would be the Gold Coast purely to relax and holiday. I haven’t done much traveling but a highlight for me was my first tattoo convention which was rites of passage 2015 in Melbourne. This will be an inspiring moment in my career.

What/Who are some of the inspirations for you and your art? 

I love modern architecture, square buildings. lots of tones and shadows. always inspiring. I am hugely inspired by Positive minded business people, not on an artistic level but a motivational level. Artists such as Jimmy C, Smug, Sofles, Mad C, Dvate and The Meataxe inspire me daily, just to name a few.

100% my artwork wouldn’t be where it is today without the personal drive to do my best all the time. This personal drive is inspired by people around me that are doing the same. Putting in everything they have to get where they want. The Artists that inspire me prove that there are no boundaries to painting. Without pushing hard your only going to stand still.

What are your personal goals now and in the future as a tattoo artist?

As a tattoo artist my immediate goals are:

• To continue to improve and grow as an artist on a number of levels.
• Focus on managing and building my studio – Masterminds Studio.
• Long term I would love too travel, tattoo at conventions and in other studios.

What are some of your most prestigious honours, awards, achievements, and renown clients?

In 2015 I won the “peoples choice” award at the “king of canvas” aerosol competition, ran by The City of Onkaparinga Council. My painting was also purchased by the Mayor of the City of Onkaparinga. I have been lucky enough to have been asked to do two murals in honour of our service men and women past and present, also for the local council. My biggest mural to date was last year at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds at roughly 90sqm.

What’s the biggest misconception other people have of tattoo artists?

One of the biggest misconceptions of tattoo artists is that we don’t have a life outside of tattooing. That we work in the studio tattooing after hours. From 10 am till 10pm. We are only human, we do put long hours into each week but a lot of that is design time too. We also won’t be designing tattoos weeks or months before the appointment. We tattoo 5 or 6 days a week. Which all require designs, which are usually done the night before.

Tell us a little about how you like to work. (Alone, with others, in phases, details, etc…)

As a painter I really prefer to work alone. headphones in, no distractions. I like to complete murals in consecutive days. keeps the job fresh in the mind. it can be a juggling act bouncing between murals and tattooing. A lot of organisation so taking on both increases the work load by double.

What direction do you feel your art is going?

I will continue push my paintings and tattooing in the realism direction. I would love to be more creative with designs. A lot of my murals are for small business and council so its hard to push creative limits design wise. I would love to paint more portrait style work and black and grey monochromatic style pieces.

If you could share a message with the next generation of graffiti/tattoo artists, what would it be?

As Corny as it sounds, never give up. Keep working, keep drawing, keep painting. Work hard, there will be a struggle, you will be told your not good enough. But persistence is the key.

Plenty of experienced amazing mural artists in Adelaide. In the tattoo scene our shop apprentice Raydems is coming up real quick. He also has a graffiti background. One to watch for sure.