Artist's Statement
Shane Morris has a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Grand Valley State University. For the last 27 years he has worked in commercial graphic art and design.
In his off hours he merges his deep love of nature with his study of shape, color, symmetry and negative space. Rather than using media to mimic nature, Shane uses nature to explore the elements of design.
Each specimen is selected with incredible care. He then engages in a process of relaxing, pinning, cleaning. and drying specimens.
Specimens are pinned with the end artistic vision in mind and to museum standards. Insects are not embellished in color or outfitted with artificial legs or antenna. Specimens are removed from the pinning process and mounted. Wings, wing cases, and antenna are presented to create relief, texture, and volume in each art piece.
Consistent with his conservation ethic, all specimens are sourced consciously and carefully. No sensitive species have been removed from their habitats. Shane sources most of his specimens from a private collection he acquired that dates back to the 1970s.
In his off hours he merges his deep love of nature with his study of shape, color, symmetry and negative space. Rather than using media to mimic nature, Shane uses nature to explore the elements of design.
Each specimen is selected with incredible care. He then engages in a process of relaxing, pinning, cleaning. and drying specimens.
Specimens are pinned with the end artistic vision in mind and to museum standards. Insects are not embellished in color or outfitted with artificial legs or antenna. Specimens are removed from the pinning process and mounted. Wings, wing cases, and antenna are presented to create relief, texture, and volume in each art piece.
Consistent with his conservation ethic, all specimens are sourced consciously and carefully. No sensitive species have been removed from their habitats. Shane sources most of his specimens from a private collection he acquired that dates back to the 1970s.