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Episode Description
My guest today is Kelsey Morris, and this is her second time on the podcast—which feels long-overdue, because a lot has happened since we last talked.
When Kelsey first joined me nearly five years ago, she was balancing a full-time job while building her art career on the side. Shortly after that conversation, she did something many creative people dream about and very few actually do: she quit her job, changed her phone number, and went all-in on her work as an artist. Since then, she's built a deeply recognizable visual style, taken on major commissions, and quietly carved out a career that sits at the intersection of Western art, wildlife, and the modern outdoor world.
In this conversation, we pick up right where we left off—talking about what it actually takes to make the leap into full-time creative work, how Kelsey thinks about balancing artistic curiosity with financial reality, and how discipline, professionalism, and showing up every day matter just as much as inspiration. We also talk about her evolving style, the pressure of deadlines, why some days the work just doesn't click, and how she's learned when to push through—and when to walk away.
We also get into some big life changes: closing her gallery, preparing for motherhood, spending time at her off-grid cabin in Alaska, and a major upcoming milestone—being selected to paint the 2026 covers of Field & Stream, one of the most iconic names in outdoor media.
Kelsey is thoughtful, grounded, funny, and refreshingly honest about the realities of creative work. This is a conversation about art, ambition, patience, and building a life that actually fits the work you want to do.
I really loved catching up with her, and I think you will too. Enjoy!
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
Mountain & Prairie is listener supported via Patreon, and brought to you with support from the Central Grasslands Roadmap, The Nature Conservancy in Colorado, North Bridger Bison, and the Old Salt Co-op for their generous sponsorship.
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TOPICS DISCUSSED:
- 0:00 - Introducing Kelsey Morris and sponsor information
- 5:55 - Intro and going all in on art
- 10:42 - Marketing oneself
- 13:06 - Space to explore
- 15:57 - Individuality
- 20:05 - How to pay the bills
- 23:02 - Attention to detail
- 26:22 - Deadline torture
- 27:50 - The days when it's not easy
- 32:40 - Milestones
- 37:04 - Who Kelsey looks up to
- 42:00 - The gallery
- 45:02 - Parenting
- 49:16 - The Alaska house
- 55:13 - Field & Stream exclusive
- 59:13 - Book recs
- 1:02:45 - Wrapping up
- 1:03:45 - Ed's goodbye and thank yous
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