Artist Statement

“I am inspired by the beauty of nature and creation. I wish that my work is viewed and enjoyed as a celebration of life and God’s creation. Now in my 6th decade of life, I am blessed to see and experience so much and still have a sense of urgency to share my vision.

Each piece I produce is an exploration of discovery. The challenge is to capture the moment; a water lily opening in early morning, a bird displaying in mating plumage, a farmer kneeling in prayer, anytime that light and time reveal a delicate balance of colors, forms and aesthetics where I find beauty.

My processes start with seeing, an observation or past memory, sketching or watercolors if time permits or taking reference photographs to review back in the studio. I currently work in oil paint, watercolor and silver-point. I have worked in mixed-media, encaustics and egg-tempera.

I reside on the Gulf coast in Florida. I was attracted to this area that is rich in wildlife and a haven for migrating birds. My current works focuses on the wading birds found in Florida and a second series on Prayers.”

BIO

John Harne was born in 1956. The artist began painting as a teenager in Maine and Western Maryland. He has had studios in WDC, NYC, Atlanta and currently in Homosassa, Florida, on the gulf coast.

Harne recieved national awards and scholarships in secondary school but chose instead to independantly study painting and life drawing for several years. He launched his career with an exhibition at the Bienville Gallery in 1977 at age 19. By the early 1980’s he was exhibiting in WDC, Baltimore and New York and his work had shifted to a narrative style focused on mythology and allegory. An example of his work can be found in this review from ArtForum: https://www.artforum.com/print/reviews/199204/john-harne-58242. He moved to NYC in 1984 and exhibited in numerous galleries before becoming disenchanted with the contempory art scene and the restrictions that galleries placed on his work.

While he continued to paint and exhibit, his creative efforts were pulled in many directions for over thirty years. Eventually Harne rediscovered his attraction to realism in his paintings and drawings. When not in his studio, he loves hiking, cycling and kayaking in search of inspiration. He credits his spiritual faith in Christ for his renewed life and work.

Solo Exhibitions
1993 Gallery K, Washington, DC
1993 Alain Mikli, New York, NY
1992 Gallery K, Washington, DC
1988 Gallery K, Washington, DC
1986 Gallery K, Washington, DC
1984 Hardart Gallery, Washington, DC
1983 Washington County Museum of Fine Art, MD
1982 Bienville Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1977 Bienville Gallery, New Orleans, LA

Selected Group Exhibitions
1993 Benton Gallery, The Art of Protest, Southhampton, NY
1989 Touchstone Gallery, Talking Pictures: Six Narrative Artists, WDC
1988 Fifi Oscard Agency, Imagism, NYC
1987 Todd Capp Gallery, Animals, NYC
1985 White Columns, Drawn and Quartered, NYC
1985 Maryland Art Place, Seeing, Thinking, Feeling, Baltimore MD
1985 Gallery K, Neo-Primitivism, Washington, DC
1985 Limbo Lounge Gallery, Harne & Friends, NYC
1984 Civilian Warfare Gallery, Sculptures from the USA, NYC
1984 Totem Plow, sculpture installation, City of Baltimore MD
1984 Greathouse Gallery, Gris-Gris Chair, NYC
1984 WPA Gallery, Content/Discontent, Washington, DC
1984 MAP, Six Visions From Western Maryland, Baltimore MD
1983 Phoenix II Gallery, Small Works, Washington, DC
1983 The Ritz, WPA/Colab NYC joint project, Washington DC
1982 Phoenix II Gallery, 10 Emerging Artists, Washington, DC
1980 Bienville Gallery, Self-Portraits, New Orleans, LA

Selected Bibliography
1992 Howard Risatti, ARTFORUM, April
1992 Michael Welzenback, The Washington Post, January 11
1988 Pamela Kessler, The Washington Post, June 4
1985 J.W. Mahoney, New Art Examiner, March
1985 Nicols Coleman, The Washington Post, January 17
1983 John Dorsey, The Baltimore Sun, December 30
1982 Roger Green, The Times-Picayune, September 24
1977 George E. Jordan, The TImes-Picayune, June 12