Artist of the Month October 2007

Don Harvie

Stockton, CA

Don Harvie began painting in watercolor full time after his retirement from the business world 15 years ago. He attended many workshops throughout the USA, and for the past few years has been concentrating on competing in national shows. Last year Don's work was accepted in over 50 national shows, winning several awards along the way. A partial list of these exhibitions include: the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, the Allied Artists of America, Rocky Mountain National, California Watercolor Society, Georgia Society, Rhode Island Society, Hudson Valley, Cape Cod, San Diego Watercolor Society, and the Taos National to name a few. Don's work was presented on the cover of "Cascade Arts & Entertainment", and has been featured in "Artist Magazine" and "Fine Arts" magazine. He is an elected artist member of the American League of Professional Artists, a Signature Member of Watercolor West, Missouri Watercolor Society, Texas Watercolor Society, and Wyoming Watercolor Society, as well as a juried member of several other Professional art societies.

How and when did you start creating art?

Since I was a teenager, I was a fanatic on photography.... I think this really helped me with my composition.

What media and genres do you work in?

I work strictly in transparent watercolor

Who or what are your influences?

Have taken over 50 workshops with top artists during the past 15 years, so it would be hard to single anyone out... However, for the past few years my "guru" has been Judy Morris, AWS, NWS, who has been of tremendous help to me witness the fact that I have been accepted in over 35 national shows just this year....

To me, this painting has all the drama that I am looking for, and which really excites me... It has been published on the front page of an art publications, which made me feel quite proud.

Describe your creative process?

If I get excited about a scene that I have witnessed ( and gotten photos of ) that is usually where I start.. You see, I am a studio painter ( cannot take any sun) and so in the studio I will review all the photos I took of a particular scene that excited me, and then start on the composition. What do I leave in, and what do I take out.....Do I have a painting here?? So after many sketches to see what can convey my message as to what excited me in the first place, then I am ready to paint.

What are you working on currently?

Our city is currently getting ready for a charity where they have asked me do some "small paintings that will sell readily"... and so I have been painting 10x16 scenes, still lifes, etc., that hopefully will help out this local charity.... But my real work starts with a "full sheet" ( 22x30 ) and that's where I really feel like I am producing a painting.... And I can't wait to get started!!!!!

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

To try and become a Signature Member of both the AWS and the NWS. At this moment, I have attained Signature Status in six national organizations...

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

I have a modest website called www.donharvie.com that shows about eight of my paintings.... Anyone interested in my work can e-mail me at harvie1@aol.com or call me on my phone at (209)951-1559