Today, we’d like to introduce you to Maidy Morhous.
Maidy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born in New York but raised along the beaches of southern California, I took on an instant love for my surroundings, the ocean, mountains, and beaches, and followed my mother’s influence in the arts. From early drawing and sculpting, be it coil pots and stick figures, I have always known I loved working with my hands. Being raised in the 60s, I was steered toward teaching. I finished my MFA in Printmaking and sculpture and set off for Europe to study at Stanley Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris.
Before returning to the States, I traveled to Italy to further my studies in casting techniques at the Fonderia Artistica–Marinelli Foundry in Florence. I returned home to find a few jobs and needed income! As explained below in Obstacles/Challenges, I moved to San Diego to pursue my artwork. Through the years of raising two kids, I continued sculpting and entering art shows, selling in galleries, and traveling, which brought me to a life-changing event in my life.
My life changed forever on March 11, 2011, as I sat on a tour bus having just pulled into the parking lot of an art museum south of Tokyo, Japan, in the Owakudani Valley. A strong jolt was the first indication that all would not be the same. The ground moved, people ducked to the ground, and I wondered if the air brakes on the bus had suddenly deflated. It only got worse as roads closed from falling utilities and trees, trains ran off tracks and were halted, and the great earthquake of Japan was just unfolding.
I arrived in Tokyo, Japan, on March 7, 2011, to visit a society infused with elements of nature, honor, grace, and ritual. As an artist, I came away with admiration and great respect for the people, their sense of order, beauty, and love of nature. Little did I know that I would be part of one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of Japan. Having experienced the Tohoku Earthquake and watching the subsequent tsunami and the Fukushima power plant scenario unfold, I felt true helplessness. I came away from the experience totally distraught, feeling that I needed to do more than just donate monetarily.
As a sculptor, I created a series of three bronze sculptures that were dedicated in 2013 to the people of Japan so future generations and visitors alike will not forget the devastation this community endured. Since this life-changing event, I have been invited to participate in the annual International Exhibition held at the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art in Japan; along with gallery recognition and online presence, I am immersed in my artwork and loving every moment.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Upon return from Europe, with my degree fresh in my hand, I was caught off guard and could not find a job teaching. I struggled to “slip” my portfolio for a year, calling on art galleries, designers, and anyone who sold art. I sold a few, but not enough to keep me going; it was always the next sale while trying to produce art at the same time.
I tried to start a mail order (before the internet) business to sell artwork. I lined up artist friends and photographed their artwork, producing a beautiful color brochure. The problem arose when I realized that the cost to advertise was prohibitive. In the meantime, I called on “Fidelity Arts,” an international art company out of Beverly Hills, who liked my etchings and bought full editions, fairly cheap, but it allowed for a decent income (what I would have at the time have made through teaching).
After ten (10) years of producing subject matter and color, which his buyers wanted, I could take it no longer – this was not producing art, being creative, but a commercial endeavor that was very unfulfilling! I quit and moved to San Diego to sell real estate and do my artwork for myself. Today, I still find it hard to do commissions because of the restrictive nature. I do not create pretty art. I create art with an underlying message and hope to make the viewer think and maybe even smile. I took up painting while waiting three months to get bronze sculptures back from the Foundry.
My creative juices were driving me crazy. I needed to do something with my hands while I waited. Self-taught – I did not take painting classes in college; life drawing, metal smithing, sculpture, and printmaking classes made up the requirements. My lily series pictured has been an energizing group that has propelled me, at the moment, to make a living as an artist. “Starving artist” is not easy to accomplish – I was able to earn a living early on, but I soon realized that I was not creating but producing commercial art to match a sofa or wall color.
A true artist might need to work in another field for income, but it will expand your knowledge, creativity, and outlook on the world. My choice of pursuing sculpture is another drawback in the arts, for most (like all) people think of art as decorating their walls, and a labor-intensive bronze sculpture that costs a fortune does not fit the bill for most. As I said, I am first an artist and second smart when it comes to actually selling the artwork. I leave it to galleries and their ability to promote an artist. Through all the challenges that go with the title artist… I would not change my life or direction, for it is a passion I love!
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Maidy Morhous expresses herself through the medium of bronze, which allows her to portray the extremes of the soft flow of water and the harsh asphalt pavement of our world. The artwork encompasses the pop theme of presenting commonplace objects as fine art. It is meant to engage the viewer and allow them to contemplate and pull from within and, for a moment, disengage from the outside world.
Referred to as contemporary still life sculptures, Morhous continually searches to portray her environment in the world today. These sculptures expose the view and pull them in to react and question what is being viewed – be it life and one’s existence, the world’s plight, or just to bring a smile. Idiomatic titles prompt metaphorical interpretations of these works with hints at multilayered meanings.
The act of creating is an emotional release; it centers one, giving an inner peace that allows us to reflect not only on who we are but how we think and feel. I realize now that the pride of being an artist comes not from what one sells, but the inner peace one derives from the act of creating.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
When it comes to new ideas, I watch YouTube videos for ideas on techniques, color, texture, etc. The various art organizations that I am a member of have Zoom sessions with artists and advice on matters of business, portfolio, sales, and advertising.
I love to visit our local museums that exhibit local artists as well as those that are well-known. I am active on Instagram and Facebook, which is a must if you are an artist trying to be seen. There are a lot of us vying for attention!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MaidyMorhous.com
- Instagram: @MaidyMorhous
- Facebook: @MaidyMorhous
- Linkedin: MaidyMorhous
