Our November Local Talent article features a Q&A with Brian Alan-Morrison…
How and when did you get into this form of art? My name is Brian, I am 82 and have always painted, but thirty years ago I had a stroke which left me semi-paralysed and it took me years to get the confidence to paint with my left hand.
Have you always been creative? I paint under the pseudonym ‘Skitz’ – in my 40s I spent some time living in Sydney, Australia, where I painted and sold t-shirts and it was there that I adopted the name, partly because my full name didn’t fit on the t-shirts!
How would you describe your style, and how do you find inspiration for your pieces? I think my style is so diverse that I can’t quite think of having ‘a style’. I draw inspiration from whatever I see.
Tell us a little about the pieces you have shared in this article? My favourite painting is ‘Colour & Movement’ as it is the first one I painted after my stroke. The others I have chosen are ‘Red Wine and Black Grapes’ – I painted this while I was still delighting in my newfound ability to paint with my left hand. The third one is ‘A Day Out’ (pictured above) – I like it because of its charm and a sense of innocence. Finally, ‘Mr Huntley’s Prize Blooms’ – I like this because it brings the flowers to life, knowing that ‘Mr Huntley’ took such pride in his flowers.
What advice would you give to a reader who is considering taking up art as a hobby? I would advise anyone who is thinking of taking up painting to go for it. Paint anything, paint the sky, the sea, linoleum – anything!
How can our readers find out more about your work? If you would like to enquire about any of my paintings, please call me on 01584 891 221.
