Lynn Morgan

Before I begin a painting, I already have an idea in my head about the subject matter. That idea is often inspired by photos taken on one of my adventures, but it is always my intention to use photos only as an initial idea. Since color is my primary passion, I will select a color palette based loosely on the subject but more on what colors I am in love with that day.
I begin with a loose sketch of my subject using a dark hard pastel. Then I block in dark and light shapes with hard pastels, usually in a color complementary to my final color scheme, and usually with a very bright color for the lights. At this point, I will wash over the entire underpainting with denatured alcohol which creates the lovely drips, splashes and patterns that I will incorporate into the finished painting.
The emotion of the painting begins with the application of soft pastel colors. This is where I let my awareness of the beauty of brilliant color shine. With every stroke of the pastel stick, I find delight in the tiny flecks of pure color that remain on the surface of the paper. When I think the painting is complete, I leave it on the easel until the next day, when I will undoubtedly see adjustments or additions that need to be made. I will study the piece and ask myself a series of questions about design and composition. Does the work convey the emotion I felt when I saw the scene in person? Does it convey the emotion I felt when I imagined the idea? Depending upon my response to these questions, I will then make further adjustments or declare it complete and sign it.
My goal is that my work expresses my quest to consciously understand my spiritual self to participate in creating a personal and collective reality for the world around me.

For Lynn Morgan, creating art is an integral part of her philosophy of being consciously aware of the world around her. Lynn has been creating art all of her life. Until her retirement from the corporate world, art was one of her hobbies, but it was the only hobby that she never tired of. She knew that when she retired, she would reinvent herself as an artist, and that’s what she did. By attending classes and workshops, she learned techniques that have evolved over the years from realistic renderings to a much more abstract style. Lynn loves to travel the world and is considered quite the adventurer by her friends. Her works are inspired by the sights and sounds of her travels to various parts of the world.
Lynn’s early art experiences were orchestrated by her mother, a former student at the Parsons School in New York. As a pre-teen, she was allowed to ride the city bus to downtown Detroit (imagine that!) by herself. She would browse the stationary departments at the big department stores to find drawing paper. As a teen, she began to paint with acrylics.
Life took the marriage and career path, and those demands became primary. Lynn has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management. She ultimately became a single mother, so the ability to support her daughter became the driving force in her life, although painting remained a hobby. She tried flying a plane, playing guitar and piano, playing golf, SCUBA diving and sailing, but she always came back to painting.
In later years, Lynn began painting with watercolors and took classes with Garri Katz, Barbara Nechis and Robbie Laird. She also took art classes at Palm Beach State College where one of her instructors introduced her to pastels. She was hooked on the look of the pastel sticks, the feel of the medium in her hand with no brush as a go-between, and the brilliant color that clings to the tooth of the paper. She has also studied with Miroslav Antic, Terri Ford, Casey Klahn, Jen Evenhus, Aline Ordman and Tony Allain. Her style continues to move toward more abstraction in both landscape and figurative works.
Lynn is now a full-time artist. She is a signature member of the National Association of Women Artists (N.A.W.A), the Artists Guild of the Boca Raton Museum of Art, the Florida Artists Group (FLAG) and Women in the Visual Arts (WITVA). She is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America and the Martin Artisans Guild. She exhibits both locally and nationally and has won awards at several exhibits. Lynn is currently represented by GalleryVibe in Naples, FL, and she teaches pastel classes and workshops at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, FL.

Lighthouse ArtCenter
Annual Member Exhibit, 2016-2018, First Place
Spotlight on New Talent, 2013, Honorable Mention
Painters of Scenery Juried Exhibits, 2010 – 2013, 2nd Place 2013
Art Gallery of Viera
Brush With Success, 2017, Award of Merit
Art on Park Gallery
Absolutely Abstract Juried Exhibition, 2017, First Place
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Artistic Visions Juried Exhibition, 2016, Third Place
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, Eau Gallie Arts District
100% Pure Florida Juried Exhibition, 2012 - 2020
Award of Distinction, 2014
Sandy Johnson Memorial Award, 2020
Florida Artists Group
Art of Association, 2016, Third Place
Women in the Visual Arts Exhibits
Artful Spirits, Armory Art Center, 2017, Judge’s Recognition
Art for Art’s Sake IV, 2016, Honorable Mention

I have been teaching "Exploring the Vibrancy of Pastels", and intermediate-level pastel course, at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, FL for the past two years.

Solo Shows
Schuyler Gallery, Lake Park, FL, 2018
Gallery 14, Vero Beach, FL, 2018
Group Shows
Too numerous to list here

I first became interested in the art of the French Impressionists, an interested that was cemented by visits to the Musee d'Orsay. As I began taking art classes, I was influenced by the Bay Area figurative artists, particularly Richard Diebenkorn, and specific artists such as Kandinsky's earlier work, Matisse and Cezanne.

pastel paintings, contemporary pastel paintings, landscape paintings, contemporary landscape paintings, figurative paintings, abstract paintings