ARTIST FOCUS PAGES
As a painter, Derek Harrison happens to be inspired by everything, and his biggest challenge is narrowing down what he has time to paint. “I love nature, being outside and enjoying the mountains of Colorado to the oceans of California. The two places where I have lived the majority of my life,” he says. “When I go out to paint, it’s all about capturing the effects of light. This creates some of the most beautiful designs nature has to offer. I believe working from life is one of the most effective ways to reinterpret the beauty of this world. Combining the figure with a landscape, interior, etc. can create an open narrative that allows the viewer to relate to the scene and/or
subject matter in a way that inspires.”
When he was a child, Harrison loved going to museums and viewing the work of the Old Masters. He was struck by
“how incredible these creations were” and “what they were communicating.” It took years of study and practice to develop his skill set to create paintings that he hopes will touch others in the way these past masterworks have touched and continued to move him.
“From the first brushstroke until the final varnish, the process of creating a painting is what I find to be the most enjoyable,” Harrison explains. “The entire process always presents challenges.” Often times Harrison starts with a plein air painting on location, then works with a live model, and finally goes into the studio. He is always searching for the most effective way to express the concept as well as experimenting with various design options. The results of this process and study are endlessly rewarding for the artist, and he wants to create paintings that will excite, inspire and move the viewer.
Harrison is represented by Waterhouse Gallery in Santa Barbara, California, and Abend Gallery in Denver.