Amy L. Harris
Amy L. Harris, a self taught artist grew up in Seattle and has been painting and selling her work since the mid 1990s. Amy has participated in art shows, street fairs and solo café showings in the Seattle area since 1999. She has been a resident at Vermont Studio Center and was a studio artist at Building C in Ballard. Amy Currently lives in New York City, she is coordinator of an NYU arts program for people living with dementia. She works from her home studio in Harlem.
Artist Statement
All works are done in watercolor, gouache, ink and pencil on paper. Textures are created using acrylic paste medium mixed with watercolor paint. The shapes, lines and spaces in my paintings come from the characteristics of volcanic rocky surfaces that appeal to me in nature. Color combinations are selected to emphasize mood and emotion in these landscapes.
Nature is the ongoing inspiration for my work including forests, coastal landscapes, all types of wildlife, trees, ground cover, mountain skylines and much more. I use sticks, shells, leaves, tree bark, lichen, moss, beach stones, sponges, sand and salt in my process to assist in creating textures, shapes and colors in my drawings and paintings. I am originally from Washington State and I’ve become accustomed to exploring and conducting “field research” while traveling to natural environments. I am always refreshed and revitalized by examining the flora and fauna in water and on the ground. Growing up in Seattle, I enjoyed exploring neighborhood wooded areas and rustic beaches, as well as tide pools of the Salish Sea. I developed a natural affinity for the ocean. Curiosity would take over as I rolled over large rocks and watched carefully as the tiny crabs scattered. My profound connection to water has led me to primarily paint with watercolors. I’m awed by the beauty of nature, in so many environments. As I observe creatures, textures, colors and the constant changing light from the sun I continue to be inspired to share my experience through my art.