Born in rural Maryland to parents who encouraged his artistic interests, J. Chris Morel found artistic inspiration initially in the rustic structures and rolling farmland at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. After studying graphic design in college and moving to Austin, Texas, Morel chose to pursue painting full-time and began with watercolor. However, in 1994, Morel moved to Taos and started focusing on painting outside with oil paints in the high desert region. The vast Taos landscapes, rich light, and strong artistic tradition of the Taos Society of Artists provided the best environment for Morel’s continued artistic development. “I was really learning to see color, light, atmosphere, and the four seasons directly from life,” he says. The drama of the West continuously inspires Morel, who often paints its mountain valleys, adobe structures, and plant life. “The West just takes my breath away.”

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