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May 2005

AOD:
Who inspired you to become an artist?

BURTON MORRIS:
I loved art as a kid, and can remember drawing from an early age, but I really got into it after an accident in 1967 left me with a broken femur. There was plenty of time to draw while I was learning to walk again. Of course, I loved comic books but I was also inspired by Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance artists.

AOD:
Why POP art?

BURTON MORRIS:
I was fascinated by Andy Warhol‘s images; the colors, too, were amazing. Without a doubt, he opened the door for today’s POP artists. The idea of mixing illustration with graphic design and putting a twist on familiar images of popular culture, such as comic strips and supermarket products, really appealed to me. It’s a positive, upbeat, and refreshing style.

AOD:
What was your first commercial break?

BURTON MORRIS:
My artwork was chosen to hang on the set of Friends in the mid-1990s. Actually, over a dozen original paintings were part of the show’s permanent set over its ten season run, most notably the painting of the coffee cup titled “Coffee Break”, which had a home in the Central Perk coffee shop.

AOD:
What was your most challenging assignment?

BURTON MORRIS:
There are two, in fact, that come to mind. In 2004, I was commissioned by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create a re-energized image, something that would get people’s attention, for the 76th Annual Academy Awards. The pressure to come up with a brand new vision – capturing the essence of Hollywood by mixing the town’s traditional chic with its contemporary style – was enormous! I had to come up with ten ideas in the space of two weeks, knowing that over a billion people would be viewing my work. The Dick Tracy image was used on posters, billboards, banners, and television advertisements. The second assignment was for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. I was selected by the International Olympic Museum of Lausanne, Switzerland, to provide a contemporary vision that captured the Spirit of the Games.

AOD:
From your portfolio, what is your favorite piece?

BURTON MORRIS:
The question stumps me! Personally, I can’t pinpoint a favorite piece. Each has a different appeal to me. That’s the beauty of any artist’s work…it’s subjective. I like to make a statement with my art, and have an impact on society. Some pieces, of course, have a greater impact than others.

AOD:
So, how was your experience on The Apprentice?

BURTON MORRIS:
I loved the challenge and was honored to be invited as one of two POP artists. I was surprised to see the broadcast edit, though, because it implied that we came up with the design in a matter of minutes. In fact, we had three hours and I presented three themes for consideration. But the team didn’t take my agent’s suggestion about marketing the t-shirt to existing clients and through our gallery – an error of judgement that cost them dearly!

For information about Burton Morris, please visit:

burtonmorris.com