Richard L. Morrison (1927–2009) was an architect and artist born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He built a career designing with Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco before founding his firm, R.L. Morrison & Associates, in Cupertino, California.

Entering his profession in the 1950s, Morrison explored both the technical expertise of a draftsman and the conceptual and aesthetic aspects of mid-century architecture.

Though a career architect, he also left behind a collection of lifelong personal work expressed, namely, through watercolor and natural landscapes.

Selected Works

Valley View with Farmland

Watercolor on paper c. 1950

This landscape watercolor shows a sweeping view from a high vantage point, looking out over a patchwork of green farmland. With a nestled valley and a brown mountain range in the distance, this scene reflects the artist's appreciation for nature and the mountains, likely inspired by his home in Utah and the surrounding Wasatch Mountain Range.

Mountain Homestead

Gouache on illustration board c. 1960

An expressive landscape featuring a blue mountain, a green field, and buildings in the foreground and midground. The loose brushstrokes include highlights of unmixed primary colors.

Lovett Plant – Tomkins Cove, New York

Architectural presentation rendering, Ink and marker on mylar c. 1965–1975

Commissioned by Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc., this presentation drawing visualizes the Lovett Power Plant along the Hudson River during its mid-century expansion. First oil-fired and then coal-fired, the power plant was officially closed in 2007.

Rabbits in a Sleigh

Crayon on paper c. 1935

A childhood drawing in a style that suggests inspiration from the work of Beatrix Potter, who published illustrated children's stories, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, between 1902 and 1930. By the 1930s, her books were a staple of children's literature.

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