While categorized as educators, art professors surpass traditional boundaries of academics. They are artists themselves and often have a specialized interest in a certain area of the arts, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, or graphic design. They also must have a strong understanding of art history.

Career:Art Professor

What was your motivation for taking this career path?

I have always enjoyed creating things be at out of timber, clay, paint and found objects as far back as I can remember. I think a major influence on my interest in the appearance of things around me, has been My father who spent a considerable amount of time showing me things in the natural world such as flowers, trees, rocks, animals, as well as getting me involved in building projects he was working on around the home. As a result, working with my hands, and developing an “eye” for  the appearance of things became second nature. After finishing school in year 12, I became a carpenter and constructed a number of houses for other people. I really loved the work, however, I was encouraged by a friend to spend a year at Avondale College for the experience. I thought I would do one year of Industrial Arts teaching as it would be logical given my trade background, however, on the day I signed up for the course I discovered that you could also study Art at Avondale as part of the Secondary Education teaching degree. That was 27 years ago, and I still absolutely love my work.

What do you do on an average day?

Ok, now a regular work day starts with Bible study in the morning (indispensable!) a healthy breakfast, occasionally walking the dog before driving to work. At work a typical day consists of teaching, preparation, administration, making art to exhibit, taking with students, etc. There is plenty of variation in most days, and I love to be busy.

How do you express your faith through your art?

God made us in His image, that is, creative. When I create things I feel I am doing one of the things I have been designed to do. Such activities stem from who I am as an individual and the things that are important to me, so when I create I am thinking about both formal things like shape, form, color, material properties, the environment around me, etc, as well as memories, ideas, places, conversations, people, etc. as well. Sometimes, my art is much more concerned with God and my understanding of who He is, and what He has done, and is doing in my life.   The funny thing is that I can look at most of the artwork I have ever created and see retrospectively how God has some major bearing on either the choice of subject matter, or the content of the artwork. I am reminded of the text in Romans the which says “…for in Him we live and move and have our being.” I recently did a painting titled One Tree Hill which is quite ‘religious’ in the sense that it speaks of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  However, on another occasion, I made a timber assemblage titled Nooma which was inspired by the notion of God breathing life into each of us. Most people who look at Nooma would have no idea of the connection with God, as it, along with most of my work, is quite abstract. That is ok with me, as at the end of the day there are more efficient ways to communicate faith to others if that is your reason to make art. (Writing and speaking are two examples which come to mind.)  I like to think that when God created the color scheme and shape of a beautiful creature like a Parrotfish, He was expressing His love of beauty as much as He was expressing the beauty of His love to us!

Education: PhD, GradDipArt, BEd

Employer: Chair of Humanities and Fine Arts, Avondale College

Richard Morris

Art Professor