Morgan Kendall uses nostalgia as a medium. Along with her pencil and camera, recollections of the past are almost always used in her work. Growing up around the house of her antique dealer grandmother had a hand in nurturing the artist’s love for the past, along with the items that represent it. In each photograph, Kendall shares a memory—like the time her father disassembled an entire typewriter just because he was curious as to how many parts were inside. However, the moments she shares aren’t always so specific to her experiences. While they often tell stories from the artist’s own childhood, they’re meant to trigger memories from our lives as well.
Having become a first-time mom only weeks ago, Kendall is already attempting to strike a balance between continuing her work as a prolific artist while navigating parenthood. Thankfully, she had time to talk with CommonCreativ about her sentimental nature, the best (and worst) ways to sell art, and how the art scene has changed in the eyes of an Atlanta native.
CommonCreativ: It seems fitting to start this off with a memory. What’s your first recollection of art having an impact on you?
Morgan Kendall: I was surrounded by art growing up. I do recall going to the Smithsonian and seeing one of Monet’s paintings when I was about 8. He was my favorite painter at the time and I had never seen one of his works in person before. I just stared at it for a while, loving the subtle colors and texture. I also saw the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz on that same trip. Those were certainly works of art to me. I could not stop smiling after we left that place.
CC: Does creative expression always happen naturally for you, or do you sometimes have to convince yourself to sit down and create?
MK: I go through periods where I’m feeling very creative and inspired and I just have to make something! If I get an idea for a piece I sit down and work on it right away usually. If it ends up being a series, I usually get really excited about it at first and make several, then I have to force myself to go back and create more. I tend to work more on individual pieces in my photography and more on series works in my illustrations. Unfortunately, it seems like whenever the mood strikes, I have to do something else, like go to my day job.
CC: How do you usually go about selling your work?
MK: I sell in as many different venues as I possibly can to get as much exposure as possible. I’ve done craft fairs, pop-up shops, brick and mortar stores, online shops, flash sales like through fab.com—you name it. Some have panned out better than others. You never know what’s going to work best for you until you try. I’ve stopped doing fairs because it’s so much work to make enough pieces to fill your booth, pack everything up, sit all day and pack everything up again. I don’t think patrons realize how much work goes into all of it.
CC: Were your parents artists?
MK: My mother is a fiber artist. She taught high school and middle school art for 10 years. When she had my brother and me, she started making quilts. Now she focuses more on art quilts and wall hangings. She dyes a lot of her own fabric as well. My dad wasn’t an artist, but he worked a lot with his hands. He built all of the sets in our high school plays. He also built the deck to our house and a gazebo. He would even make planters out of old parts he would find, such as the pool pump and the old washing machine basin. He loved taking things apart and finding out how they worked. When I was in high school, I did a lot of work with typewriter keys. He took apart an old typewriter of ours, part by part, just to count how many individual pieces there were. I’ve used a lot of it, but still have some of the pieces left. My brother is a writer and my husband is a painter and graphic designer. I come from a very creative family.
CC: Did you study art in school?
MK: I did. My mom taught me extra lessons as a kid and I went to a couple of classes outside of school. I really go into it in high school. I had an amazing teacher who encouraged creativity and thinking outside of the box. I went to Atlanta College of Art for about a year and Savannah College of Art and Design for another year. I never finished though. I found the whole art school environment very pretentious and stifling. I’ve always liked learning on my own. I’ve taken classes at Arrowmont and online through creativelive.com. I’ve found them much more enjoyable.
CC: Who or what inspires you the most?
MK: I’m a very nostalgic and sentimental person, so I’m very inspired by memories and the past. My grandmother was an antique dealer, so I grew up surrounded by a lot of old, interesting objects. I like to create stories using objects from my childhood in my work.
CC: Your animal series seems to be super popular. How did this collection come about?
MK: It started with a circus-themed show I was working on. I had photographs and a few paper and lace sculptures that I had made, but I wanted to add some drawings. I was never really that into drawing in high school and college, but for some reason I felt the urge to draw. I had been through a rut with my photography, so I went in a completely different direction. I started with the elephant and a lion and then did a carousel and big-top drawing. The animals turned out so well, I decided to do a few more. I felt they needed a bit of whimsy so I added the colored circles, and the series was born. I’ve had so much fun working on this series and still hope to add more. The response to them has been amazing, so I’ve been really lucky with that.
CC: How have you seen the Atlanta arts scene change over the years?
MK: I think the art scene used to be more of a “high class,” gallery focused community. Over the last several years, with the additions of galleries like Beep Beep, Young Blood and Mint, more young emerging artists have had the opportunity to show their work and then make it to larger galleries later on. I do love our local shops as well, and I sell through the awesomely curated Crafted Westside. The Young Blood remodel is amazing also. I definitely have noticed a big surge in up-and-coming local artists here in Atlanta, which I think is fantastic!
CC: What’s next for you? Any events or new series coming up?
MK: I’m still working on my animal series. I also recently started a floral pen and ink with watercolor series. I’m switching back and forth between my illustrations and my photography, trying to find a balance there. I literally just had a baby a week and half ago, so I’m focusing mostly on him right now, and balancing being a mother and an artist. I’m sure he will inspire me to create many new things as well.
See more of Morgan Kendall’s work on her portfolio site or on Facebook.
