I would like to introduce you to the artist Harrison Howard.
His works of fine art are so exquisite;executed with such detail and precision. I know you will love his paintings every bit as much as I do! Please enjoy this interview with Mr Howard.
The Astronomer
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| In the Studio |
Harrison, when were you first drawn to the world of
art and painting. What inspired you at that
time?
My father made his living as an artist and my mother
painted off and on for pleasure. They
encouraged that interest, and I can’t remember a point in time when I did not
think in terms of spending my life painting.
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| The Flower Lady |
Did you take art classes in school or are you a self
taught artist?
I spent a total of seven years in art programs at the
college level although I only hold an undergraduate BS in industrial
design.
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| The Green Folly |
I have seen some of your Father’s Works (murals) in
La Jolla at The La Valencia Hotel. (my late husband actually proposed to me in the wonderful Whaling Bar there)
What kind of influence did he have on your decision to begin painting
and drawing?
I am a very different kind of artist than my father, but
he taught me a large part of the methods I use in watercolor, and more
significantly I think his and my mother’s interest in art and the decorative
arts fueled many of my own life long
interests.
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| Parasol |
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| Bibliophile |
I love all of your Chinoiserie paintings, your Flower
Ladies, and the Sea Shells especially appeal to me from my own years in San
Diego near the beach. What led you in these directions?
There was a book in my father’s studio that
contained Jean Pillement’s chinoiserie designs that caught my lasting attention
when I was about twelve and I was hooked from that moment forward. The French
19th century illustrator,
Grandville, was another artist that interested me very early on, especially for
his work “Les Fleurs Animees”. The subjects I’ve focused on are partly an
extension of my interest in certain artists that have focused on imagined
imagery and my preoccupation with different aspects of decorative art and
illustration. I started a shell collection as a
child.
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| Shells with Sea Grass on Gouache on early 19th century. hand penned document |
Do you have
a mentor or who are some artists that you
admire
or emulate?
There are countless artists that I admire, and I’m
indebted to many of them both living and dead for their continuing inspiration.
When I was young I thought that if I could only learn to paint like so and so
that my ambitions as an artist would be resolved. There were quite a few
different artists along the way. Finally I realized that I was pursuing a
formula for failure, and that I’d need to find a way to interpret the world
around me through my own way of looking at it. Some artists emulate others but
almost invariably disappear in their shadows, and I think artists serve their
own best interests if they persevere until they are able to produce work that
reflects their own take on the world. To me that is the essence of
originality.
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| Rendezvous at Night |
That is a very poignant statement and one that could inspire many beginning artists to search for their own style early on in their careers.
Where do you find inspiration? Does an idea
percolate in your mind, come from nature, places you have been, or
photography?
Inspiration comes to me from all of the things you
mention and many others. I have hundreds of sketches that I will probably not
live long enough to paint, but as I grow older the chain of ideas that passes
through my mind increases, and a benefit of being a visual artist as opposed to
an athlete or singer is the potential to actually reach higher levels with the
progression of age, unless you’re afflicted with a major health
issue.
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| The Architects |
Harrison,
where are your works being shown or how can people contact you for information
on your works of art. Your website www.HarrisonHoward.com has many of your gorgeous works. Any special
upcoming projects you can tell us about?
On the Internet I depend mainly on my own website to
generate business although I am represented through a number of businesses that
in some cases post my work online. The prices are the same everywhere, so in the
interest of not competing with myself I don’t list the places that represent me
on my website, but I may change that approach. I have a lot of new work that has
not yet been translated into prints or posted on my website, but both time and
cost have delayed me from keeping my website up to date, and at this point it
needs a good deal of revision. I’m doing paintings currently for an upcoming
fall exhibit in La Jolla and to add to the inventory at a business in Palm Beach
and other businesses that sell my work.
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| Yellow Tree Snails with Red Coral on early 19th c. hand penned document |
Finally
what words of wisdom would you impart to the aspiring artist of any
age?
I’d feel a bit ridiculous trying to tell younger artists
a formula for success, because things will always play out differently for every
individual, but two tenets that I cling to for my own use after learning them
rather late in life
are:
1)
Business and marketing are completely separate from
artistic integrity and talent, but those areas require a lot of attention for
most artists that want a stable existence. Even the best art schools tend to do
poorly in preparing art students to cope, and some basic business, computer, and
accounting courses might be a good idea, even at a city
college.
2)
The sooner you realize the need to avoid emulating
anyone else’s work and to ask yourself over and over again how you really see
the things around you in your own unique way, the more likely you will evolve
into an original artist. The world may not come to your doorstep or thank you
for it, but you will find gratification in realizing that you have a valid way
of seeing the world that is as individual as your own
DNA.
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| The Seahorse |
Thank
you so much Harrison. It has been a pleasure to have this
conversation for The 2012 Artists Series .
Dear readers I sincerely hope you have enjoyed seeing these amazing works of art! I feel like they can virtually fit in any style of decor in any room! Visit Harrison's Website and be sure to leave a comment below!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Images Courtesy of Harrison Howard
