karen E Harman
“My childhood was spent painting still lifes in oils, at 9 years old, drawing dogs and their owners at the dog shows we went to at the weekend. I couldn’t go on holiday without a sketchbook, and still can’t.”
I grew up in the hamlet of Hainworth, near Haworth. It is remote, wuthering, lonely, wild and free. All that is ingrained in me. At 8 years old, I knew I wanted to be an illustrator.
My childhood was spent painting still lifes in oils, at 9 years old, drawing dogs and their owners at the dog shows we went to at the weekend. I couldn’t go on holiday without a sketchbook, and still can’t. I received a BA Hons in Illustration in 1991 at the University of the West of England .
For me, intermittently from childhood, mental health has not been kind. Painting has got me through tough times, and is my mental best friend.
In addition to being a professional artist, I went on to work in web design in the dotcom boom, trained in professional photography and am now a lecturer in FE, teaching animation, fashion, observational drawing and concept art for games.
I often work to commission. My main focus is figurative - and representational. I am influenced by Degas, John William Waterhouse and contemporary Impressionists Peter Brown NEAC, Rob Pointon and Haidee-jo Summers.
As a founder member of AVA, I have experienced many years of valuable creative support and now benefit from working in the inspirational artistic UNESCO World Heritage Village of Saltaire.
Email: happyclangerart@gmail.com
Facebook/karenellenharman
Instragram @happyclanger
Linkedin: Karen E Harman
