By
his own admission, Kent Harrison, an internationally acclaimed artist
who lives in Álora, does not talk often about his work. Of
course, the paintings speak adequately for themselves, but here
is a privileged insight into the mind of a very talented and highly
individual artist.
Why
do you paint, Kent?
It´s a type of exploration for me really, I am fascinated
by the technical aspect of painting. I get carried away by it, it´s
a bit like being high, if you know what I mean. I lose myself in
my work.
What do you think you´re doing when
you paint? What´s the point of it?
I learn about technique. Sometimes I spend months on one project
and then I tackle something new, with the knowledge I have gained
from the previous painting. It´s an ongoing process. Sometimes
I regret spending too much time on one thing, but it really is all
about learning.
Is there anything in particular that triggers
your inspiration?
I think the methods I use and the development of those methods are
more important to me than the actual subject of the paintings. These
days I tend to deal with more abstract concepts, usually intended
to be slightly comical, but no, there isn´t any subject as
such that gets me going, it is more a case of how to go about it.
I used to paint more specific subjects, such as cactus plants for
example, and I spent a long time on one in particular. Strangely,
it was only when I stopped doing that sort of thing that people
started showing a lot of interest in it. But now the technique is
my main aim. Sometimes when I´ve finished a painting, other
people will give it a name or description and that´s fine
with me.
Am I right in saying that you have dedicated
your life to painting?
Yes, that´s right, I have.
And are you glad, looking back on your life,
that you chose that way to spend it?
Well, perhaps I should have been a lawyer or an accountant, but
I don´t regret what I have done. I get a lot of enjoyment
from it.
People talk about the light in Andalucía.
Do you have anything to say about it?
I know what they mean. There is a certain sharpness with the light
here and some colours seem to glow like an aura. There is a lot
of contrast too. Even when the sky is overcast or when it is raining.
You said that your paintings often have a
comical element to them, but some of your paintings seem rather
dark. Does it all depend on your mood?
Perhaps, but I would say there is usually a comical component in
my paintings, if they seem dark sometimes, it´s probably because
I prefer the dark colours.
In Kent´s
studio, situated in an old house folded away discreetly in a maze
of typically narrow Andalucían side streets, I was shown
his latest project and Kent explained the technical process he had
referred to earlier. On a huge canvas, spread out on the floor,
he had laid down smaller pieces of canvas and had then painted across
them.
You might see it as working with the negative of a photograph, he
explained.
In a separate room, also spread out across the floor, were other
pieces of canvas which he had painted.
When I´m ready, I take off the strips from the main canvas
and then these ones fit perfectly into the holes created. It usually
takes quite a long time. Sometimes I wish that it was quicker, but
I need time to think about each step and I don´t ever want
to rush a job. The materials are expensive too and I don´t
want to waste them.
Having had many
international exhibitions over the years and having sold many paintings,
Kent Harrison is no stranger to success. Yet the driving nature
of his art and the pursuit of mastering his own special technique
affords him little time to rest. An exciting, intriguing artist
and at the same time a likeable, friendly and very unpretentious
man. |
|
