Margaret Harrison, Winston-Salem, NC
Member Since April 2015
Artist Statement ee interview in entirety after Biography)
How do you define art, or what do you hope to show in your art?
I guess everybody's got to define it themselves, really. I don't do morbid or sad art. There was a period where I thought I needed to grow and do it, but I just don't respond to that at all! It just doesn't do anything for me. I think I do that in my counseling - you know, that side of life, the pain and sadness of "life's not all it's cracked up to be." But I think I want my art to show that other side, the joy...I've heard a definition that I think is good. "[Art is] making something that is there more real." That doesn't say you have to be morbid or joyful, but you make a reality more real...I think what I want to convey is a moment in time, as opposed to something that looks permanent. Something that has a slice of time. I don't want anything to look "there" and "solid" - I want it to look like it might be gone tomorrow. I also think I'm really yearning, striving for heaven. This life is just a moment in time, and I guess I want to capture a fleeting glimpse now of the permanent joy of heaven. For me, that is art.
Biography
Margaret Harrison grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C. After receiving her undergraduate degree in History and Education from Mary Baldwin College in Virginia, she completed her master's degree in Counseling at Wake Forest University. In addition Margaret is a family counselor licensed in the state of North Carolina.
Although Margaret has always loved art, she did not begin painting until fourteen years ago. While almost entirely self-taught, Margaret has stayed inspired to work harder by the heady experience of selling her work from the very start.
Margaret works in watercolors, pastels, mixed media, acrylics, and oils. She enjoys a wide range of subjects, from still life to landscapes, action scenes, abstracts, and commissioned portraits.
Margaret has been represented in the Winston-Salem area by erl originals Gallery, Solo Gallery, and Art Gallery Originals, in Raleigh by the Little Art Gallery, in Atlanta by the Laguerquist Gallery, as well as others. Through these galleries Margaret's works have been sold to a number of corporations including Wachovia Bank, Sara Lee Corporation, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest University, and SAS Institute as well as being placed in many private collections. Margaret has had her work reproduced and distributed nationally by Salem Graphics. In addition, she has regularly entered and been accepted into juried art exhibits where she has won awards.
Margaret's other interests include hanging out with friends and family, hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, and reading breezy mystery novels.
Interview for Associated Artists Newsletter of Winston-Salem
Stalking the Perfect Moment
by Liz Clayton
Margaret Harrison is a watercolor artist in Winston-Salem who began her career as an artist at the age of 35 (which was not too long ago...) She is also a counselor and the mother of three boys. The following are excerpts from a taped interview at the Rose & Thistle Restaurant on July 29. Margaret told me at the beginning of our interview she was afraid that if I got her talking too much she would get stuck and not be able to stop for days...
Liz Clayton: Let's get some general autobiographical information first.
Margaret Harrison: O.K. I was born in Washington, D.C. but moved here when I was five, so I've spent most of my time here in Winston. I went to Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. and graduated there in three years. I went to summer schools at Wake.
LC: What's your medium?
MH: Watercolor! I love watercolor! Sometimes I also like to use a little pastel, and I enjoy using pencil, not necessarily erasing all of it, as part of the medium.
LC: Did you study art?
MH: No, I didn't. I think I was attracted to it in college, but I felt like if you couldn't just sit down and instantly do a beautiful picture, then you weren't an artist and didn't have any pote
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