There is nothing Morgan Weistling enjoys more—or works as hard at—as telling a story. It is exciting and challenging, as he spends countless hours—and makes thousands of decisions—to create each painting in a manner that captures the attention of viewers, draws them in, and—he hopes—puts a smile on their faces.

Snake Oil Salesman is a prime example of how Weistling works. “I look at that painting, and I see 100,000 decisions I had to make,” he says of the piece, which depicts a gathering of men, women, and children around a man enthusiastically extolling the benefits of the snake oil he is attempting to sell. “Where should that finger be pointing? Where should those eyes be looking?”

Weistling attributes his sense of design to the 14 years he spent working as an illustrator in the movie industry.

Morgan Weistling

The Sleepover
Oil
18″ x 24″
“We have two daughters, and they have provided an endless source of ideas. For them, sleepovers are always a cherished event. These girls are good friends, who were over one night and, of course, ended up in a painting, a common occurrence, when visiting our house.”

Morgan Weistling

The Coachman
Oil
30″ x 22″
“I liken myself at times to being a time traveler with paint. I love exploring the different professions the Old West produced. I previously had painted a scene of two weary travelers in this stagecoach and was excited to portray their driver here.”