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Ernie Morris Collection- About The Famous Western Artist

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Ernie Morris Collection- About The Famous Western Artist
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Ernest "Ernie" (Albert) Morris was born December 13th, 1927 at the family home in the small rural community of Fellows in Kern County, California. He was the olderst of two children of Donald Morris and Jessie (Wilkinson) Morris. He was a fifth generation California cattlemen on both his mother's and father's side of the family tree, and he was a great grandson of the late Samual S. Jobe, a Pony Express rider and stage coach driver. Ernie spent much of his youth on the family ranch in Kings County, California. After the tragic accidental death of his father when Ernie was 12 years old, his family moved to the Paso Robles area of San Luis Obispo County, California to be closer to other family members. During his high school years Ernie began working on some of the largest livestock ranches in the central coast area of California where he worked with older men who followed the California Vaquero horsemanship and livestock handling style. There he found the beginning of a fascination that lasted throughout his life. His love for livestock and the ranching life knew no bounds. He held very high regard for the daily working cowboys who practiced vaquero ways. Ernie especially credited his grandfather, Jesse Wilkinson, with teaching him many of the vaquero ways and the techniques for making quality rawhide equipment. Jesse was well-known in the California central coast area as an excellent vaquero and a master rawhide worker. When Ernie asked his grandfather to teach him details of expert rawhide braiding, Jesse had two requirements. He said "I'll teach you the rawhide business from A to Z, if youll make me two promises. Never cheat people in anything you do, and do what I tell you. If you cant get it I want you 'barking at the hole'." Ernie made that promise. and the lessons began. Under Jesse's tutelage Ernie became an expert horsman, livestock man and rawhide braider, and a knowledge source and encouragement for many aspiring horsemen and rawhide braiding aficionados. Ernie Spoke with pride about the six years he spent in the Navy. He served tours in the latter part of WWII and the early part of the Korean War, in addition to other global commissions. Ernie and his wife Blanche were married on March 10th, 1954. They eventually settled to their ranch near Templeton in San Luis Obispo County where they raised Blanche's two children, Linda and Ralph. Ernie and Blanche were married for more than 64 years when Blanche passed away in 2018. They were an icon couple at numerous public events. Ernie's art talents began to show at an early age, with special interests in the California Vaquero. Vaquero art was a hobby until 1964 when he took up art as a full-time occupation. in 1967 Ernie began placing a small hackamore beside his name on his drawings and paintins as a symbol to connect his art and his rawhide work. Ernie prided himself in creating authentic vaquero remembrances in all aspects - people, horses, equipment, cattle, terrain, livestock situations etc. He created vaquero art with pen & ink, pencil, charcoal, watercolor, oils, acrylic, bronze sculpting, wood carving, rawhide braiding, and horse hair mecates. His paintings and drawings provided a vivid and colorful replay of his personal experiences while working on various ranches in his younger days, and the many stories told to him by "old-timer cowboys" he knew. His art, rawhide work, and books have been featured in galleries, museums, and private collections throughout the United States and many parts of the world. Ernie authored and illustrated seven popular books about vaquero horsemanship and livestock handling. He also illustrated several books and publications for other authors, and he was published in numerous newspaper and magazine articles regarding horse training methods, rawhide braiding, western art, etc. He was a one-of-a-kind traditionalist and an icon to the California Vaquero system, and was an inspiration to many horsemen and cattlemen. Ernie died peacefully in his sleep on May 5th, 2021 at his ranch in Templeton, California. He was 93 years old. His final resting place is in the Veterans section of the Paso Robles District Cemetery, beside his wife Blanche. For more information on the amazing life of Ernie Morris go to elvaquero.com or search- YouTube for Ernie Morris Tribute.
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