We recently connected with Morgan Summers and have shared our conversation below.
Morgan, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to somehow have a creative job when I grew up. Despite drawing all over the walls and intentionally perfecting the style of my handwriting as a tyke (yes, there were artist-warning-signs early on.)– for some reason, I assumed the only creative job I could get that would keep food on the table was to become an Engineer. I didn’t know that there were professional creatives outside of my public school arts teachers!
I took a winding path through college, from being an honors mechanical engineering student to burning out rather quickly and frantically looking for a new way forward. To procrastinate on studying, I became obsessed with doodling motivational quotes on index cards and posting them around my apartment. This was motivational! The fun I had definitely encouraged me to– you guessed it– keep drawing out more cards instead of hitting the books.
One quote I came across on my procrasti-journey was “The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life,” and the sheer irony of the circumstances in which I read this completely stopped me in my tracks. That quote is attributed to Jessica Hische, a hand-lettering artist, which at the time I had never heard of as a profession.
After a deep dive into her work and career, and overcoming a lot of negative preconceptions about the “starving artist” stereotype, I pivoted towards pursuing a Graphic Design degree.
Branching off of those studies, I became obsessed with the work of tradesmen sign painters– seen prevalently before the invention of vinyl and digital signage. Now there was a form of making that scratched both sides of my brain! To fabricate a sign required creative talent to be sure, but it also takes the logic and reason needed to build something to suit a business, as well as incredible technical skill and know-how only acquireable from hundreds of hours of practice. I was hooked pretty immediately, and have been enjoying that process ever since!
I like to think I became an artist by sneaking in through the back door! As I reflect on my career so far, the aim of it all is to spend my time pouring love, attention, and intention into pieces that brighten up the everyday lives of others. The goal of my work is really to slow viewers down to enjoy the process of visual discovery, and to add surprising and compelling shocks of color into viewers’ everyday life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
UH BEAUTIFUL MES is my studio, wherein I make lots of different kinds of art! I take on commissions for commercial and residential mural projects, hand-painted signs, as well as smaller art pieces.
I am also currently developing my online store which hosts “drops” of self-initiated artwork and printed merchandise every season. My next Spring-themed collection is releasing March 22nd, and I am so excited to share this batch of products!!
Additionally, work is underway on a collection of pieces for my first solo art show– set to premiere in Fall 2024. I’m excited to be exploring themes of “home” as a place and feeling, as well as how my own hometown of Panama City, Florida is growing into its modern identity.
The best way to keep up with my new work and events is to sign up for my newsletter in the footer of my website https://www.uhbeautifulmes.com/, or follow me on Instagram @uhbeautifulmes for more frequent updates/behind-the-scenes peeks at my work in progress. For a commission, feel free to reach out through my website’s contact form or email [email protected] directly.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The qualities that have most helped me find my way on this winding journey are to stay curious and forever be a student, seek help and mentorship from those in-the-know, and to stay thinking outside of the box when it comes to drawing inspiration or remixing ideas.
I did go to school for Graphic Design, but the vast majority of the skills I rely on in my day-to-day operations as a creative business are things I learned in self-initiated continuing education post-college. I learned the basics of painting murals from investing in resources by Lauren Hom and PANDR, I learned signwriting skills from books by Mike Meyer, I learned about the business behind making art from the podcast Creative Pep Talk… Find the people who are somewhere you would like to be in their career and learn from them– or at the very least be observant of how they operate in the world. Never be afraid to ask a question either! Most people are far more generous than you may assume.
Additionally, think outside of the box and allow for some flexibility in your work and identity! I considered myself purely a Graphic Designer before I reframed the actual skills I have and use. I considered myself purely a lettering artist until a project came along that I couldn’t use lettering for! Stay open to working outside of your comfort zone, and the only possible outcomes are that either your skillset will grow, or you’ll learn what you don’t want to do again.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
It’s not quite a book, but the resource I refer creative folks to over and over again is the Creative Pep Tak Podcast by Andy J. Pizza. I’ve been listening to this show for years now– it does a great job of balancing practical and grounded art career advice with more “woo woo” mindset reframes that are equally helpful. I and so many of my creative friends tend to get really mired down in our heads and overthink our direction, and this podcast serves as kind of a weekly palette cleanser for me to remember why I do this work, why it’s meaningful, and why I love it so much.
They say that you become a mosaic of the five people you spend the most time with, so listening to this and other creative podcasts/audiobooks, engaging with a creative community online, and taking in art that inspires you (in many formats!) are all really important ways to add gas to your creative fuel tank, in my book.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.uhbeautifulmes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uhbeautifulmes/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uhbeautifulmes/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@uhbeautifulmes
Image Credits
Matt Miller, Lou Columbus, and Jessica Moore of Light + Lens Photography
