By Bridney C.
It is a pleasure to interview oil painter Robert Harris for the Sweet Scoop.
Harris is a 41-year-old photographer from Niagara Falls, New York. Now residing in Buffalo, New York, he is currently working on a big painting, which is a figurative piece along with seven other pieces of art.
In the last ten years, Harris's art has previously been on display at cafes, bookstores, and restaurants around upstate New York. His work was featured in an artist magazine in 2017.
"I’ve had few exhibitions at art institutions. One of them was a major exhibition at Niagara University back in 2016."
Coming from an artistic background, he has been doing art since 1990 and started creating fan art of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Harris started painting in 2001, focusing on watercolor. Citing it as an "on and off affair," Harris says he enrolled himself in a college painting course for one semester three years later. He took several art classes, including calligraphy, figure drawing, lithography, to name a few.
"I never pursued an art career... The art career pursued me, and it took years to realize that I had an art career," says Harris.
After his introduction to oils, he used oils on and off until late 2009 and says he has been using the art medium ever since. His favorite artists are Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, Kathe Burkhart, and Eiko Ishioka.
"It is highly likely that they will be on display in the foreseeable. Especially, after the Covid blows over," says Harris.
Sweet Scoop Media Q&A
BC: What does your artwork represent? On average, how long does it take for you to complete an art piece?
RH: I never gave much thought about what my work represents. On average, it can take 4-6 days to finish a piece. Few years ago, it took me one or two days to do a painting.
BC: Name and describe 3 of your top favorite artworks you created.
RH: I’m not sure that have a top favorite paintings. I like my works in 2020 better than past my works.
BC: What are 3 art essentials you use while working on your art you cannot live without?
RH: Oil paint, brushes, and pens.
BC: What do you love most about creating art?
RH: Satisfaction of finishing an art piece can be healing.
To check out Robert Harris and his art, be sure to follow
him on Instagram @paintingmachine.