Captivating, realistic, detailed, eloquent, JUST DIFFERENT, are just the tip of the iceberg when we speak of the artist Steph Morris. As a young girl, Steph was very much different from the girls on her street; while they played with makeup, she sat in her bedroom and drew from magazines. At the age of 10, Steph outgrew playing outside with go-karts and began her creative journey that would lead to success!
25 Hours of Realism
Steph’s artwork in realism is what BLACKSKULLZ, and other well-known brands, find astounding and captivating. As an artist, Steph has always loved realism because of what the process entails. Her artwork demonstrates her ability to study an object in so much detail that you’re able to capture the DNA of the object, which makes an object so significant, from the tiniest stitch of detail to the direction of the suede.
Some of the objects Steph illustrates are sneakers, hats, apparel, and objects that challenge her skills as an artist. She claims, “A lot of it comes down to personal taste… I’m drawn to detail though, if a subject is unique or stands out in a way, I automatically see it as a challenge.” Steph first started drawing shoe pieces, Nike Cortez as one of her all time favorites. Anything that includes textures catches her eye, “I’m a huge sucker for suede!” she shared; her rule of thumb is, the more difficult to draw, the better!
Being a detailed artist means taking the right amount of time to make an art piece perfect. Steph’s allotted time for her work varies, she states, “I generally work until I feel a piece is done, sometimes I get to the end and want to go back and re-work something.” A small piece can take up to 25 hours and her large pieces may take up to 200 hours to complete. When she is done with her art work, she takes a step back and thinks, ‘yep you’re done.” That is the moment in which she is happy with the final result.
The Big Shot!
Steph’s creativity has paved the way for many opportunities. Her first major project helped her rise from rock bottom to sky-high overnight; here’s what she shared with BLACKSKULLZ:
I actually remember it really well… I was working part time to support myself whilst I tried to get my illustration up and running. I hadn’t had much luck and I was only just staying afloat. I’d just finished the late shift at my part time job and was walking to the train station after a pretty crappy day. It was raining and I’d forgotten my umbrella. On the walk back I was flicking through some emails and saw that size? Had reached out. They wanted to work with me for their upcoming Reebok Pastels release. I was so elated!
Over the years, Steph’s work has changed and has become JUST DIFFERENT than when she first started. The evolution in her work, from the detail to the composition, can be depicted from then to now, “I try to think very carefully about balance, composition, and how things ‘sit’ on the page now.” She finds that in her older work, she missed most of those factors and just drew anything she could get her hands on from Google images, she shares, “ I was just eager to draw!” Now everything that she draws is photographed for her in a certain way and is much more controlled.
A BlackSkullz Collaboration
“I’ve always focused on fashion as a subject because this is where my interests naturally lies… I love all aspects of fashion and its brands though,” explains Steph. Because of her profound interest and POWERFUL MIND, Stephanie and BLACKSKULLZ collaborated on a captivating art piece: the BlackSkullz Snapback.
Steph and BLACKSKULLZ collaboration not only stemmed from her creativity that is brought to life, but also because she likes the ideas and ethos behind the brand itself. She finds that the creative direction of a brand is the heart of the brand, a place she refers to as a playground for artists like her. Steph’s creative influence stems from the influences she sees around her, from the everyday life that we see as humans such as handbags, sunglasses, or belts. She believes a creative direction makes a brand what it is, and it is what connects brands to the everyday lives of humans, “Whether that be Nike or Gucci, everyone can tell you why they wear that brand. For me, I like to take something iconic and freeze it in time and truly pay homage to its story,” Steph shared.
Stephanie is JUST DIFFERENT
As an artist who is different amongst the crowd, Steph does not like to compare herself to other artists due to the fact that she believes that every artist has their strengths and weaknesses, as she does. From an outsider’s perspective, what makes her JUST DIFFERENT is the detail that goes into her work. Steph explains, “I’ve always loved detail and the story you can tell with it. Detail for me truly makes a piece come alive and I always find art fascinating when you get lost in it.” The challenge to create what she sees with just a pencil is one that she loves.
As an artist who enjoys using fashion to create her art, Steph doesn’t follow any particular fashion trend, “casual and easy to wear is what I go for.” She also shared that we will never catch her in heels or a dress unless she has to because she has always been a tomboy. “Working from my studio everyday means I’m a plain Jane; usually a comfy tee with jeans or trousers,” explained Stephanie.
A Sneak Peek
Today, it is common to see high-end luxury brands collaborate with streetwear brands. Just like fashion, Steph is open to collaborate with other artists in the future. In the meantime, she continues to explore herself as an artist and find her voice.
I’m hugely inspired by many different creatives, who all have varying works. I’d be keen to do something completely different if I were to collaborate, or work with someone who is different stylistically. I love mixed media and collage style work. I also love abstract painting.
Most of Steph’s exhibitions have taken place in Japan, where she was lucky to hold her first solo exhibition there last year, 2016. “Tokyo is an amazing city,” she exclaimed. Stephwill be holding more pop up stores around the city, in London, and will likely be early next year!
Steph’s work has definitely demonstrated, not only her talent, but also her POWERFUL MIND in her collaboration with BLACKSKULLZ. Working with BLACKSKULLZ allowed her to study the BlackSkullz Snapback in detail and really connect with not only the object, but also the brand as a whole; “Looking back at those 3 days drawing on the project, I had the best fun…I’m really excited to see their streetwear apparel to roll out!” For more of Steph Morris, visit her website at stephfmorris.com and follow her instagram: @stephmorris.