Derek Harrison
Derek Harrison
Studio Address:
55 Waverly Dr. Unit 102
Pasadena, CA 91105
info@derekharrisonart.com
dharrisonart@gmail.com
Bio:
Born 1983, Derek Harrison began pursuing art since he was able to hold a pencil. It all began as an innocent journey of exploration and the excitement that came with applying a vision to a piece of paper. In later years Derek was consistently dabbling in art, always drawing, painting, etc...Initially the inspiration from graffiti played a large role in the type of art he was doing. Following years of experimentation with spray paint and eventually transitioning to canvas, Derek landed a tattoo apprenticeship with Colorado artist Brad Cramer. The formative years were spent drawing every minute of the day into tattooing full time for the next several years. In 2009 Derek made the move to Santa Barbara, CA and eventually landed at his current home and studio in Los Angeles.
Tattooing on the coast of California was incredibly inspirational and that's where the true journey of his painting would begin. Fellow tattoo artist Shawn Barber and contemporary painting phenomenon had recently moved into a new studio space in Los Angeles. This is where Derek began taking painting workshops on a regular basis. Two years later and he says "Shawn opened my mind to the revelation that art is not an innate "talent," it's the culmination of knowledge, study and relentless work. I wouldn't be where I am today without Shawn's influence and help. He instilled the values of hard work and determination relating to the pursuit of one's craft." After studying with Shawn Derek began a rigorous amount of self-study and began taking classes and workshops with other artists such as Sean Cheetham, Jeremy Lipking, Ignat Ignatov, Jeff Gogue and several others. All of this time was spent painting directly from life. "These years of self-study and learning from some of the best artists living today has provided me with the means to carry out my own visual expressions to the fullest."
Derek's work has become one that combines aspects of the old masters and the admiration for artists such as John Singer Sargent and William Adolf Bouguereau with contemporary subjects and settings. In 2010 Derek submitted work for the historical annual group exhibition at La Luz de Jesus Gallery (Los Angeles, CA). A gallery where artists such as Mark Ryden, Michael Hussar, Don Ed Hardy, Sean Cheetham, Robert Williams, Shawn Barber and the list goes on…have all shown and many have received their career start with the gallery at the very same show. That year there were over 8,000 submissions which were narrowed down to 120. Three pieces of Derek's were selected to be shown and before the show opened two had sold. From the galleries 120, the "top seven" were chosen for feature exhibitions. In August of 2011 Derek had his first feature exhibition in Los Angeles. Since this debut he has continued showing throughout CA, as well as out east, Europe, etc. and his work has continually progressed. After several years in the tattoo industry Derek transitioned into painting full time. Fine art became his true calling and he soon came to be one of the most exciting upcoming contemporary realist painters today. His work is figurative in nature and portrays the world in which he lives and the people whom inhabit it. "My aim is to convey the inspiration and beauty in the subjects and settings I paint. Art has the amazing capacity to connect with all people. My hope is to bring the amazing qualities that many years of study and experience has lead me to understand and now express through my work."
Exhibitions:
Upcoming/Current
"L.A. Woman" - La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 7/2013
Feature Shows
“Warmth” - La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2011
"Derek Harrison Open Studio" - DH Studios, Santa Barbara CA 2011
“New Works by Derek Harrison” - Wildcat Art Space, Santa Barbara CA 2010
“Derek Harrison” - Prizzi’s Piazza, Hollywood CA 2010
“A D.A.M.N. Art Show” - Muddy Waters Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA 2009
Group Exhibitions
-"LaLuzapalooza" - La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2013
-"Venice" - Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco CA 2013
-"100 Grand" - Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara CA 2012-2013
-"Nevermore" - Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco CA 2012-1013
-"Vexed" 423 West Fine Art Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2012
-"Notorious" Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco CA 2012
-"Friday the 13th" Third Eye Laboratories, Ventura CA 2012
-"Laluzapalooza" - La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2012
-"Undressed" - West End Gallery, Ventura CA 2012
-“La Luz de Jesus 25 year Anniversary Show” - La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2011
-“Undressed” - Dogwood Studios, Ventura CA 2011
-"Beyond Eden" - Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2011
-“Ink For A Cause” - Stoneworks Studios, Ventura CA 2011
-“Necropolis” - Congregation Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2011
-“Everything But the Kitschen Sync” - La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2010
-“Ag2 Group Exhibition” - Ag2 Gallery, Santa Barbara CA 2010
-“Zodiac” - Congregation Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2010
-“Black Plague” - Congregation Gallery, Los Angeles CA 2010
-“Dia de Los Muertos” - Muddy Waters Gallery, Santa Barbara CA 2009
-“Joshua Carlton & Friends” - Adorned Gallery, Indianapolis IN 2009
-“Group Exhibition” - Northstar, Santa Barbara CA 2009
Collections:
-Several Private Collections across the US and expanding into Europe. Specifically Warner Bros. President of Worldwide Marketing, Sue Kroll (w/husband Michael Desilets) - The Weinstein Film Company - Artist, Shawn Barber - Musician/Celebrity, Richie Sambora, Art Collector Alan Weinstein, Norman Harris of Norman's (World Famous) Rare Guitars and many others.
Education/Artist Training:
-2011-current
-Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art. Los Angeles, CA
-2011-2012
-Private Instruction/Weekly Figure & Portrait Painting from Life with Jeremy Lipking
-2010-2011
-Portrait/Figure Drawing/Painting from Life Workshops @ 3 Kicks Fine Art Studios (under Sean Cheetham), Pasadena CA
-2009-2011
-Private Instruction/Weekly workshops under artist Shawn Barber (sdbarber.com). Los Angeles CA
Commissions:
-"Ink For A Cause Hands Painting" Christina Diaz, Ventura CA 2012
-"Santa Barbara Courthouse" Sharon Dempsey, Denver CO 2012
-"Mother's Portrait" Mr. Barry Wilner, Los Angeles CA 2012
-"Family Portrait" Richie Sambora, Los Angeles CA 2011
-"Family Portrait" Mr. & Mrs. Harris, Westlake Village CA 2011
-"Portrait of the Infamous Norm's Rare Guitars", Los Angeles CA 2010
Press/Awards:
-2nd place Bold Brush Painting Contest (for the painting "Wildcat"), 2012
-"Eight Arms of Inspiration" Book Published by Last Gasp, 2012
-"La Luz de Jesus 25" Book Published by La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 2012
-"Anthony Bourdain's Layover" (Los Angeles Episode), Travel Channel, 2012
-"E-Volved" 5 Page Magazine Spread, 2012
-"Tattoo & Fine Art" 4 Page Magazine Spread, 2011
-"Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory" MTV, 2011
-"Cranial Visions" Collective Works Book, 2010
-Several small sections in American Art Collector, Hi-Fructose, Blue Canvas, Tattoo Society, Southwest Art
Online Interviews:
-http://www.killercreatives.com/derek-harrison-fine-artist/
-http://faso.com/fineartviews/49292/faso-featured-artists-artist-derek-harrison
-http://www.jinxiboo.com/blog/2011/3/4/art-spotlight-passionate-paintings-from-derek-harrison.html
-http://pulpfactor.com/art/9400/paintings-by-derek-harrison/
-http://www.e-volvedmagazine.com/step-by-step-charcoal-drawing-tutorial-with-derek-harrison/
Member of the prestigious California Art Club
Gallery Representation:
- La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles CA laluzdejesus.com (323) 666-7667
- Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco CA moderneden.com (415) 956-3303
- DH Studios, Pasadena CA - derek@derekharrisonart.com
