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Morris Cole Graves

Arriving in trying times, the sixth of eight children, Graves was born on the 28th of August, 1910.Throughout his adolescence Graves developed his abilities as a gardener and began to make watercolor paintings and drawings of the developing architecture. In 1928, before graduating from high school, Graves shipped off as a merchant sailor with the American Mail Service and made several trips to Asia and Japan. It was here he was introduced to the influence of nature in Japanese art, gardens, architecture and thought and became interested in the Eastern religions and the cultural practice of integrating one’s life with beauty. Upon returning to the States, Graves visited Los Angeles, San Diego, New Orleans and Beaumont, Texas—where he graduated from high school before returning to Seattle.

Primarily a self-taught artist, Graves and other artists of the time would go into the streets, neighborhoods and wilderness of Puget Sound to draw and paint, expanding their skills and understanding by creating a practice of studying and seeing. In addition, they would share ideas about art and life, all of which served to create a dynamic arts education. It was during the 1930’s and the early 1940’s that Graves developed many close life-long friendships with artists that provided camaraderie and encouragement in developing his skills, artistic vision and focus.In 1934 he set up an art studio with fellow Northwest School painter Guy Anderson. He began to paint for the Federal Arts Project in 1936 and had his first one-person exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum. He and other painters worked sporadically for the Museum, which left them time to pursue their own artwork. For them, a career in the arts wasn’t about making it ‘big’ but a lifetime commitment to using the arts in gaining understanding of the world.In the late 1950’s Graves moved to Ireland, an area that has a climate similar to that of the North Coast. He continued to draw, paint and travel before settling in Humboldt County in 1964 and resided here until his death in 2001.

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The Great Blue Heron Yogi and the Great Rainbow Trout Yogi in Phenomenal Space, Mental Space and the Space of Consciousness,1979

Tempera on Paper
Donated by Robert Yarber  1999.002.004
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Pacific Rim Image III,1994

Acrylic on Paper

Donated by Robert Yarber  1999.002.005
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Bird with Void, 1944

Tempera on Paper       

Donated by Robert Yarber  1999.002.002
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Soaring Osprey, 1997

Acrylic on Paper

Donated by Robert Yarber  1999.002.003
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Dawn Tao (container vessel & nesting puffin), 1983

Acrylic on Paper

Donated by Robert Yarber  1999.002.006
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Ant War, 1958

Tempera on Paper

Donated by Robert Yarber  1999.002.001
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Ireland by Moonlight, 1955

Oil on Linen Board

Donated by Robert Yarber  1999.002.007
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Untitled Vessel, 1948

Tempera on Paper

Donated by David and Sharon Cammarano Collection         2002.002.001
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Hedgegrow Animal, 1954

Graphite on Board

Donated byDavid and Sharon Cammarano Collection         2002.002.002
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Homemade Painting of a Homemade Bouquet of Sand Dune Daisies in a Homemade Vase,1982   

Acrylic on Japanese Paper  

Donated by the Students of Pacific Dunes High School          
2002.006.000
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Owl on Globe, c. 1965           

Tempera on Paper

Donated by Lewis Nash      2004.001.000
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Ganders, 1955

Print Reproduction

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.001
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Insects, 1957   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.002
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Hibernation (#1),1954   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.003
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Hibernation (#2), 1954   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.004
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Bird Experiencing Light, 1969   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.005
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Machine Age Noise, 1957   

Print Reproduction

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.006
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Irish Fauna, 1954

Print Reproduction

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.007
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Spirit Bird, 1954

Print Reproduction

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.008
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Shore Birds, 1939   

Print Reproduction      

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.009
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Emergence, 1944   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.010
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Owl, 1943   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.011
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Bird Calling Down a Hole, 1950   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.012
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Journey, 1943   

Print Reproduction      

Donated by  Robert Yarber  2001.007.013
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Screaming Laughter Cup, 1939

Print Reproduction

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.014
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Tree Frog, 1940   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.015
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Bird, 1950   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.016
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

The Circle Void, 1970   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.017
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Bird with Possessions, 1943   

Print Reproduction      

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.018
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Star of the Mandala, 1970   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.019
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

Goose and Gander, 1955   

Print Reproduction       

Donated by Robert Yarber  2001.007.020
Not Available for Adoption
Adopted by Morris Graves Foundation

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