THERESA HARRIS
Through sketches and oil painting I aim to translate observations of the world into energetic depictions of landscape, portraiture, figure, and still life. I consider my style impressionisitic representational.
Living in many different locations throughout the United States allowed Theresa Harris to enrich her view of art, landscape, and culture. Theresa was born in Santa Barbara, California, and her family has been rooted in California since the 1920s. Her father’s career took their family to Virginia as well as Colorado, and by her early school years they were living along the coast of Georgia. Theresa continued her understanding of diverse ecosystems and cultures while being raised along the Georgia beaches and marshes. Drawing and portraiture were always a part of her family lineage, and her skills were nurtured by her family and community. She first attended The Savannah College of Art and Design, but after two years she transferred to The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. During her schooling she attended Polimoda in Florence, Italy for two years as part of her degree specializing in Fashion Design. Theresa began her apparel design career in Santa Barbara, California with Teva Apparel at Deckers Outdoor Corporation, and then at Patagonia, Lost Arrow Corporation. By 2004 she began a consulting business in the apparel industry, and she continued designing full time until 2017 . While working she enriched her knowledge of painting by attending workshops and plein air events. She and her husband have been avid outdoor enthusiasts and travelers who have lived in California, Utah, Montana, Washington, and now in Canton, Georgia. She considers herself an impressionist representational painter, and finds inspiration for oil painting in the color and light of landscape, still life, portraiture, and figure.
Education
Fashion Institute of Technology - New York City, NY 1993-1997
Polimoda/ Istituto Politecnico Internazionale della Moda - Florence, Italy
Obtained B.F.A. degree specializing in fashion design
The Savannah College of Art and Design - Savannah, GA 1991-1993
Continuing Education
Mike Wise - Landscape - Edmonds, WA
Ned Mueller - Landscape - IssaQuah, WA
LA Academy of Figurative Art
Rey Bustos - Head and Neck Drawing and Anatomy
Sean Cheetham - Portrait painting
Ramon Hurtado - Figure Drawing
Karl Dempwolf - Landscape
Johanna Spinks - Figure Studio Workshops
Jeremy Lipking - Figure Studio Workshops
Sierra Plein Air retreat
David Leffel - Portraiture CAC workshop - USC Campus, CA
Bill Gallen Plein Air Workshop - Santa Fe, NM
