My Brother, the cellist
Dave Morrissey
My Brother, the cellist [detail] 2025
Portrait of Liam Morrissey
Acrylic on cardboard
74 x 52 cm
About the Artwork
My brother Liam started playing the cello at four years old. For more than 40 years, he has honed his craft to the point that he is not just a person who plays the cello, he is a cellist. His cello has taken him all around the world as part of his bohemian existence.
This portrait is my attempt at capturing a fraction of the magic that he delivers when he plays. I tried to capture the moment before he starts playing, where he picks up his cello and has a tiny pause. During this pause, he transforms from being his fun-loving self into an incredible artist.
About the Artist
Dave Morrissey is a North Queensland artist based in Townsville. His roots in stencil art trace back to his youth; however, in recent years he has returned to the medium. His current body of work focuses on multilayered, hand-cut stencils using acrylic spray paint on canvas.
Dave has exhibited at Umbrella Studio and Murky Waters Studio, and was awarded the Golden Paintbrush for a work featured in Murky Waters’ Members Exhibition in 2025.