Marshall Harris

I draw things: sometimes they are pretty things, sometimes they are vexing things but always the finished works are created to compel the viewer to stop and look closer. ?I hope the question arises… “Why did he draw it that way?”

My often life-size, photo-suggestive presentations – whether the subject is a vintage western saddle, a weird vegetable or a nude figure study – replicates life down to the most minute detail, and although the viewer realizes it’s just a drawing, they are pulled closer to investigate the rendering’s accuracy. The observer is enticed to study an object the way I do when I’m creating my work, and it’s a way of “seeing” that is much different than just looking. This way, seeing something demands intense inspection and consideration of every nuance, each fold and flaw, bump and bruise, cut and scratch, down to the very last stitch or hair follicle, and makes someone wonder how it all got there. It’s that sort of introspection that grants relevance, realism and context to everything in our world.

Born and raised in Texas, I received his BFA from Texas Christian University and Masters Degree in sculpture from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia PA. Following my career in the National Football League, I turned his attentions towards creative vocations including Museum Curator, Graphic Designer, Interior Designer for restaurants and Exhibit Designer for zoos and aquaria and finally fine artist. Some of my design work include exhibits for zoos and aquaria in Antwerp and Taiwan as well as for US Aquaria and Science Museums.


Portfolio:

Big Drawings

I work in large scale in order to draw attention to both the subject matter as well as all the detail that make up an object or person.

The Burden of honoring one's father “The Burden of honoring one's father”

Graphite on Mylar, 54" x 108" , 2013

Onslaught “Onslaught”

Graphite on Mylar, 54" x 108" 2010

The Hand That feeds “The Hand That feeds”

Graphite on Mylar 54" x 108" 2012

Saddle Portraits

Historic western and spanish saddles recreated on a one to one scale and accurate to the stitch.

Fancy Frills “Fancy Frills”

Graphite on Mylar, 54" x 57" 2012

Carcass “Carcass”

Graphite on Mylar, 54" x 63", 2013

Negative Drawings

I draw subjects inverted or as a negative image. They look like film negatives used to make print photographs in a dark room. When the drawings are scanned and inverted they result in a positive representation of the original object. I achieve far deeper contrasts, depth of field and realistic works then when I draw conventionally.

In all of these samples the drawing will be featured on the left of the image with the reversal or inverted image on the right

Duet #2 “Duet #2”

Graphite on Mylar original drawing and archival print on paper
44" x 18", 2014

Ellitenment/ego- The chakra series “Ellitenment/ego- The chakra series”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

3rd eye “3rd eye”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
This negative drawing is then colorized with the chromatic opposite of the desired Chakra color. When the original drawing is scanned and then inverted and printed the result is a positive representation and coloration of the chakra desired.
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

Crown “Crown”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
This negative drawing is then colorized with the chromatic opposite of the desired Chakra color. When the original drawing is scanned and then inverted and printed the result is a positive representation and coloration of the chakra desired.
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

Throat “Throat”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
This negative drawing is then colorized with the chromatic opposite of the desired Chakra color. When the original drawing is scanned and then inverted and printed the result is a positive representation and coloration of the chakra desired.
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

Heart “Heart”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
This negative drawing is then colorized with the chromatic opposite of the desired Chakra color. When the original drawing is scanned and then inverted and printed the result is a positive representation and coloration of the chakra desired.
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

Solar Plexis “Solar Plexis”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
This negative drawing is then colorized with the chromatic opposite of the desired Chakra color. When the original drawing is scanned and then inverted and printed the result is a positive representation and coloration of the chakra desired.
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

Sacrum “Sacrum”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
This negative drawing is then colorized with the chromatic opposite of the desired Chakra color. When the original drawing is scanned and then inverted and printed the result is a positive representation and coloration of the chakra desired.
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

Root “Root”

Original Drawing is Graphite on Mylar, 30" x 36", 2015
This negative drawing is then colorized with the chromatic opposite of the desired Chakra color. When the original drawing is scanned and then inverted and printed the result is a positive representation and coloration of the chakra desired.
Reversal print, 30" x 36"

"9" the skull series

I took a cat skull and drew it in hyper detail and in 9 different positions, each representing one of the felines nine lives. The challenge with a series like this is that you just can't make stuff up. If a crevice in bone or crack shows up in one drawing it must also show up where it is supposed to be in all subsequent renderings.