For many years, Gregory Frank Harris lived in Lyme, Connecticut, which has been home to artists of all types—including Guy Carleton Wiggins, Robert Vonnoh, Henry Ward Ranger and Childe Hassam—starting as early as 1899. Harris was painting impressionist works set in the late-19th and early 20th centuries. After a move to Northern New Mexico, Harris discovered the beauty of the Southwestern landscape, which he paints both in his studio and outdoors within the wilds of nature.
Autumnal, Chama River, oil on linen, 48 x 60"
His shift in subjects, locations and genres is reflected in the name of his new show, Modes of Expression, at Acosta Strong Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “Since moving to New Mexico I have been concentrating mostly on landscapes, which I call earthscapes,” Harris says. “I was moving away from costume figure pieces, and what I found here was refreshing.”
First Light, Eldorado, acrylic on linen, 30 x 45"
Harris’ new show, featuring as many as 15 new works, opens at the Canyon Road gallery on October 9, with a reception taking place October 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. Many of the new pieces will be in oil, but there will also be some paintings done in acrylics, which the artist completes on the floor due to the fluid nature of the paint. “They are painfully drippy, so I will use window squeegees to smear and move the paint around,” the artist says. “They do have an interesting look to them that I like.”
Evening Sky, oil on panel, 18 x 24"
One example of the acrylic pieces is First Light, Eldorado, which has magnificent pastel hues within sunset clouds that glow pink over the desert floor. “They are challenging pieces. The paint is difficult to work with because it dries very quickly. You have to work at lightning speed on the floor over a big sheet,” he adds.
Other pieces in the show include Autumnal, Chama River,an oil painting, that shows fall color lining the Chama’s riverbanks as hills and plants create blue and purple shadows.
Magenta Sky, acrylic on panel, 24 x 18"
“I’m an art collector myself, so I’ve moved through everything from Old Masters up to pure abstraction,” Harris says. “It’s all a journey when it comes to painting. Everything is a mode of exploration and experimentation.” —
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