Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

John Morfis
Yellow Plug on Cedar Shake

2018

About the Item

John Morfis was born in Glen Cove, Long Island in 1976. His humble beginnings made pursuing a career in art difficult and paradoxically necessary. Fixated on making things aesthetically pleasing, John made an extreme departure from his family life when he chose to base his life on art. Surrounded by mechanics, welders, and otherwise trade workers John had a tough time expressing his interest in a world much more utilitarian and much less expressive and impractical. With an extraordinary desire to be an artist and a grant awarded, John was able to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting from the University of Hartford in 1998. While there John studied oil painting under American realist Stephen Brown. John’s first solo show took place in 2007 at the Ellen Traut Collection Gallery in Hartford, CT and was a near sell out. Since then John has had success up and down the northeastern coast of the United States working with various galleries and collectors. His work has also appeared in various group shows at the New Britain Museum of American Art in Connecticut. ARTIST STATEMENT Each painting, although a portrait of a tired hand tool, is really my outward expression of the passion I have for objects that serve a humble, yet meaningful purpose. I cannot help but relate to worn-out, forgotten tools the way one might reminisce with old photographs. Fatigued wood feels good in my hands. That same wood bound to cold steel can excite my eyes with dancing light, flickering in between its aged patina. Even a tool’s shadow-work can create a unique performance all its own. When given the presentation and attention each apparatus deserves it becomes an instrument of progress and a peaceful record of time and place. Each painting begins with a traditional drawing and a tonal underpainting. With the best materials available I meticulously paint each tool portrait from acute observations made over many sittings. Like the devices themself, my painting methods are longstanding and true. Each dent, scratch or wear mark that I represent on canvas tells a story of a person’s deliberate skill or passionate misuse.
  • Creator:
    John Morfis (1976, American)
  • Creation Year:
    2018
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 14 in (35.56 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Frame dimensions: 25 x 19 inches.
  • Gallery Location:
    Sag Harbor, NY
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: MOR-0046681stDibs: LU38932812313

More From This Seller

View All
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
By Rachel Personett
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting depicting the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. This nocturne shows the beautifully sculpted spires of a cathedral designed by architect ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Log Bridges" Oil painting of woodland path in forest, dappled light, realism
By Rachel Personett
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a log bridge spanning a stream in the woods. Soft dappled light filters through the dense woods onto the path. In the distance the path leads to another log bridge...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Metal

"Norwegian Sunset" contemporary tonalist painting - sun sets beyond green trees
By Rachel Personett
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a glowing sunset beyond a verdant patch of trees, painted en plein air, in Norway, while Personett was apprenticing at Odd Nerdrum's stu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Panel

"Meat" contemporary realist oil painting by American artist, raw, uncooked, chef
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Meat" is an oil painting of two raw cuts of meat resting on a wooden cutting board, atop a rickety wooden tabletop. A perfect painting for the kitchen or pantry. Painted from life, using classical techniques. Painting dimensions: 12 x 16 inches Framed dimensions: 14.5 x 18.5 inches Framed in a black frame with silver trim. Matthew Weigle...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil, Panel

Pauls Jacket
By John Morfis
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a vintage flannel zip-up. A classic red tartan plaid jacket, on a wooden hanger, hanging from a single nail, against a grey backdrop...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Coffee, Fireworks, and Amphetamines
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Coffee, Fireworks, and Amphetamines" is an oil painting of the titled items, a to-go coffee cup is the focal point, a few red firecrackers resemble miniature dynamite sticks. Pills scattered about the tabletop in capsules and tablet forms. A single match with a red tip rests along the table's edge, ready to ignite a spark. A diagonal shadow dissects the composition. A hole in the wall can be found on the upper right. Painting dimensions: 11 x 14 inches Framed dimensions: 13.5 x 16.5 inches Matthew Weigle...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil, Panel

You May Also Like

Vitrum Umbrae 02, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Christopher Garvey presents a group of varying glassware in different colors, sizes, and shapes. Set against a tonal background, the focus is drawn to ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil

Pomegranate, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A minimalist realistic still life of an open pomegranate by artist Christopher Garvey. The tart fruit is cut in three portions with its seeds scattered around...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vitrum Umbrae, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Christopher Garvey presents a realistic display of glassware and ceramics set atop a wooden table joined by billiard balls...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vitrum Umbrae 03, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A realistic painting of an assortment of glassware set atop a wooden desk by artist Christopher Garvey. A fitting muted back...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil

Focus, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
"Being a single father and working a full-time job limits the time I have to paint," shares artist Christopher Garvey. "This...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil

Roll with Four Objects, Oil Painting, Realism, 24 x 24 , Free Shipping , Realist
By David Harrison
Located in Houston, TX
FREE SHIPPING David Harrison, is a master in the style of Realism painting. Roll with Four Objects shows the simple beauty of Realism paintings. Gallery Wrapped so no need for a fram...
Category

2010s American Realist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All