Early Exhibit Pre-1990

This image from a Harkrader exhibition at the FACNRV (pre-1990) reveal two paintings that have since disappeared and one painting that was painted over. Harkrader rarely paints over a canvas and now expressing regrets of doing so. In his opinion, "I concealed a significant canvas in 2005 when I painted over it in the absence of a blank canvas."

Swarovski Crystal Lives Here

Swarovski crystal lives here. Harkrader has used Swarovski crystals on the face of paintings and sculpture. "Acqua di Fiori Essenziale" (detail) has within its composition face a single tiny red Swarovski crystal that resides in the top-center of the large black shape embedded on the canvas face located at the tail of one of the wandering black fibers.
http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/de/index

Early Work

Brick, circa early 1800's and painting on brick, circa 1973. During this time Harkrader lived in the log cabin between Plum Creek and Radford City limits on Rt. ll E. of Radford. The sturdy cabin was built in the late 1700's and probably used as a road house (tavern). There was once a book in an early library that identified this tavern as Harman property. The cabin is located at the present property of George Harvey. There are many stories of interest related to the tavern, some during the time Harkrader lived there in the 70's. The artist found old brick from an early mill on which he created this painting. The design of the painting is colorful primitive with indigenous like design. The uniqueness is the 'paw' impression embedded in the recessed face of the brick in which an animal set it's foot as the brick was curing. This specific area is the yellow circles which surround the orange sphere. Available and collection the artist. 6"x4"x2" / oil on clay-mud-straw (brick)