Harry Underwood is one of my favorite painters. I first saw his work at the Outsider Art Fair about ten years ago and immediately purchased a piece (which was a rare occurrence back then). It’s hanging above me as I write this.
Harry was born in Florida in 1969 and currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a self-taught artist who began painting in 2001 while working as a flooring installer. Harry dedicated his spare time to working on his art, and his persistence eventually paid off. His work is represented by several notable galleries and has been in shows in the United States, France, and England.
Harry’s paintings evoke a sense of nostalgia and are slightly surrealistic. They conjure up feelings of simplicity, summertime vacations, childhood memories, and a longing for another time or an imagined place. The nostalgia is enhanced by his use of beautifully subdued and expressive colors.
His process involves outlining his painting on plywood using a mechanical pencil and then filling it in with latex house paint. The pencil marks become part of the picture – adding an extra element to them. He also layers poems and words onto his paintings, and has referred to his work as “illustrated poetry.”
“And there’s no truer sound than a sound never found from the shy, the innocent, and the unknown.”
-Harry Underwood
For more information, please visit Harry’s website: www.harryunderwood.com. Have a great day!
Image Credits (top to bottom):
Flame Vine of Florida.Pencil, latex paint, wood. 36″x 42″.
The Pepsi Principle of Refreshment. Pencil, latex paint, wood. 3’x 4′.
Sit. Pencil, latex paint, wood. 26″ x 26″.