Meet Maidy Morhous | Visual Artist, Sculptor & Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maidy Morhous and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maidy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
After finishing my Masters studies in Fine Arts, I dismally realized that the job market for teaching on the college level opportunities were far and few between. With little or no prospect of landing a job on the west coast I set out with my portfolio in hand to call on interior designers, galleries and anyone selling artwork. This was a challenge for me as an artist; I let my artwork speak for me and am rather meek and understated when it comes to representing my own artwork. A little over a year later, having sold a piece here and there to design companies, I met with an international gallery out of Beverly Hills, California that liked my work and for the next ten years purchased all that I produced. I never looked back to teaching, although I think it would have been a great direction in my life, I pursued a career as a professional artist, then sales representative and marketing director for a developer in San Diego, Ca. Life evolves and sometimes that uncomfortable step is the one that opens doors.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artwork itself keeps me in my studio daily creating for hours on end… to me this is my happy place! I must also apply to numerous art exhibitions and art fairs nationally and internationally so as to get my artwork out to the public’s eye. Brochures of my artwork, both sculpting and painting, must be designed and printed to send to galleries in the USA and abroad. The brochures, as you can well guess, must be constantly updated with new artwork. My website must be up to date and fresh, as well as social media posts of new pieces. I think I spend the most time beyond working in my studio on social media to help broaden my reach. My sculptures are mostly bronze so there is constant work with the Foundry throughout the process. I am as busy, if not more, now with my artwork than when I was doing marketing for a local company.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My friends are so multifaceted; let’s take my family – my son I hike with, camp and enjoy the outdoors, whic is definitely my favorite! My daughter likes to travel, explore the cities, enjoy a good meal and glass of wine, hang out and people watch. We have enjoyed this yearly until covid-19 hit- this year it was more about doing things together that did not involve flying or being in large crowds. I enjoy both worlds, although as an artist I am a recluse and the daily joys are to walk alone on the beach or through the hills, paint or sculpt in my studio undisturbed. So if a friend comes to visit I must first consider their desires, what type person they are; be it a trip to a local reserve to hike, walk the beach, hang out and get some great food locally, or the friend who enjoys the city and being surrounded by the sounds, and chaos. With the pandemic, this has become a drive by sport, but I would still take them to Oceanside Museum (a gem in the north county representing “living artists” – such a radical idea!) and another favorite “Little Italy” – it might be take out but one can’t help but love the charm they pack in a few streets~ What I really miss taking people to with this pandemic is the Gallery art receptions and street fairs that Little Italy and North County has each year…next year!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A shoutout goes to my fellow artists in California, New York, Massachusetts who have been very supportive of my artwork, concepts and pursuit of sculpting, and now painting. My success and where I am in life today is owed to the efforts, support and encouragement of others; my fellow artists, my family, and dear friends. Without them an artist works within a floating void that has no walls. or the ability for one to self examine and ascertain direction.

Website: maidymorhous.com
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Image Credits
Photographed by Maidy