Harkrader Childhood Village

Rt. 600 leading into

Parrott, Virginia, childhood home of Harkrader.

Parrott is unique because there is only one way

in and one way out. Near the brick house is

Back Creek and at one time only a single lane bridge.

Near that point, Rt. 600 splits into three roads,

the River Road, the Mountain Road and

the Creek Road. All three dead-end. To depart,

one must return the way they entered.

A palette knife painting by Harkrader in the 90s.

Harkrader Antique Oil on Canvas

Recently spotted in an Antique Shop in Virginia, this Harkrader

oil on canvas street scene of Manhattan was painted in the

early 90s after a December 1991 trip with his wife,

Ellen Lee. They stayed at the Paramount Hotel

on W 46th Street. Harkrader rendered many

of his street-scenes as nocturnes with wet

urban reflections.

Four Homes for Harkrader Paintings

"Nuevo Botanico" (New Botanicals)

36" x 48" / Mixed Mediums

Media = fibers, collage, pumice & leaf.

Collector = Roanoke

"Fire & Ice"

48" x 48" / Oil on canvas

Collector located in Texas

"Sun Song III"

24" 36"

Acrylic Polymer on Canvas with fibers

Collector = Smith Mountain Lake

"Vase"

48" x 36" Mixed Mediums

w/ glass, collage, sand, vintage music.

Collector = Floyd

Creative Culture of Eastport Maine

Every other person we met in Eastport

was an artist, writer, musician or craftsman.

Eastport, Maine

Harkrader harbor photos of the seaport

of Eastport, Maine following a recent visit.

High resolution images available.

Heidi @ Eastport

Heidi lives in a late 1800's store front in the seaport

town of Easport, Maine. This historical structure was

once owned by a family who manufactored

and sold candy. The upstairs is one of the

warmest and most pleasant living rooms one

could experience. Heidi and Ellen sit

and chat one September morning 2018. 

From the 'Corolla' series

A rhapsody of dance and color.

by Harkrader

Collection AECOM

Rome Us near Romulus

Harkrader and Bride 2007

Rome, Italy

Trevi Fountain by Nicola Salvi 1762

Picasso and Harkrader in Paris

Harkrader and Picasso in Paris 2004

photo courtesy Ellen Harkrader

"Dog Sings Acapella"

"DOG SINGS ACAPELLA"

by Harkrader

Available

12" x 16"

Mixed Medium on Corragated Board

"Vase"

"Vase"

48" x 36"

SOLD

“VASE”

by Harkrader

I painted a vase as primary in a composition due to the remarkable meaning that a vase conveys, A vase is a vessel that typically holds cut flowers hence its place in my ‘Corolla’ series.

My heavily textured vase is red, symbolic of strength and power as well as passion and desire. The vase’s universal feminine shape is graceful and may hold the fertilizing power of water or other life giving liquid. Feel her heavily textured veneer that is resistant to damage or adverse effects—but is fragile too.

This vase is native earth—a female deity. A vase is a maternal wellspring and for that reason controls eternal life. The vase is sexual and nurturing, with a womb-like function that stores, transports, serves and quenches thirst. Her shape is calyx—a cup-like cavity that supports the flowering buds in her garden environment. A vessel of spiritual abundance, worthy of providing gifts to gods and represents peace and safety for that which lives within.

Sand and pumice was mixed into red cadmium to create my vase’s skin and she sits atop the canvas face surrounded by broad golden earth colors and their tertiary compliment—purple. Aqua lives peacefully next to its compliment—red orange. Embedded glass allows us a new version of seeing because below the glass surface lives another layer which represents a new perspective of hope in our afterlife. A collage with vintage music represents another form of communication when words fail.

Painted while Harkrader was working at his Roanoke City downtown location on Church Avenue—not too long after he moved from Studios Off the Square Studios on Campbell Avenue. Harkrader shared a store front on Church Ave. with Atturro Zanella, master framer, who presently resides in Los Angeles.

‘Vase’ is from Harkrader’s Corolla Series, most of which are abstract floral compositions that were sold by Pamela Jean Gallery in Roanoke, Red Sky Gallery in Charlotte, Little Gallery at West Lake Town Center and from Harkrader’s studio on Church Avenue and later his studio on Albemarle Avenue.

Mount Asia

Throw-back 2005

Harkrader and his 'Mount Asia' Installation

at Studios-o-t-Square 126 W. Campbell Ave.

Self portrait by Harkrader

Studios 'Off The Square'

Throw-back 2006

Harkrader, C.J. Phillips and Max Mitchell

C.J.'s studio at Studio's On (off) the Square

Photo by Ellen Harkrader

Exhibit Posters

Francois

Harkrader art agent, Francois, (Galerie Francois)
at the Harkrader studio on Albemarle Street (2012). 

War Dog

"War Dog"

Photo of police dog taken on Mexican Independence Day, 2017,

in San Miguel de Allende by Harkrader. This day honored and

celebrated protagonist, Ignacio Allende, who was born in

San Miguel. A lieutenant of the Mexican revolution that

helped fight and win Mexico's independence from Spain.

The "Uncommon"

A screenplay, "The Uncommon"

written by Harkrader 2008-2011 (copyright 2011)

Harkrader designed the above poster using photographic images

he captured in the years preceding the story. His bride, Ellen,

his family SUV, a friend's dog, a storefront in Roanoke, 

the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, and a local train

engine--all elements relevant to the very bizarre and original storyline.

Harkrader has written two screenplays and a five page synopsis for a

reality show, none of which have been optioned-at this point.

Action Excerpt:

"Between earth and lower heaven,

Dove lands, morphing to Infant.

Stands...knocks.

Winged arms with tiny hands struggle

to turn heaven's door knob. No access.

The milk-white infant sheds the feathered remnants of

it's cocoon-like velvety hull. 

An umbilical cord emerges.  

Audible coos morph into an oration of vocal tones.

Angel of destiny, URIEL, hoists Infant into her bosom.

Heaven's entry expands.

Spiritual beings CHANT.

Classical elements of fire, earth, water and light

ABSORB into a black hole. 

Heaven's panoramic curtain closes. 

Thunderheads fold inward.

ACCESS."

Doors of San Miguel

A Harkrader photograph (2017) of one of hundreds of doors located

on the streets of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

A fifteenth century city located in the central interior, located

approximately two hours north of Mexico City. Harkrader

and Ellen, there to visit friend, Eric Brady. Harkrader left two

paintings in San Miguel, one a small watercolor, an interior-plein
aire, a gift for their host, Eric. The second painting, a nude painted
from a model at the studio of Jonathan Williams, was secretly and

purposefully left inside a quaint shop located on the lower

end of Canal Street.

Rome 2007

Ellen and Harkrader (Rome 2007) attending the Julian Schnabel
exhibit located at the Palazzo Vinezia, a palace built in 1455,
now Rome's most eclectic museum.