The Oil and Soft Pastel Portfolio of Kev Harris
Don't sweat the technique, oil on canvas
Kev Harris is an artist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In his practice, Kev works primarily in oil and soft pastels, creating packed figurative and still-life scenes, based on contemporary life and the artist’s surroundings.
Playing with fire - I, oil on canvas
I love the texture that Kev injects into most of his works -- though oil and pastel are two media that lend themselves well to soft blending, Kev takes a dedicated approach, self-described as “tactical,” to conserving a sense of his own hand and presence in the works. Kev’s palette knife works show off this style, with the artist rendering detailed, voluminous portraits in layer upon layer of quick, confident swipes of pigment. The resulting works seem to shimmer and fluctuate.
Kev’s pastel works look more toward a smooth blending technique, often taking the form of close-up portraits. In these works, the artist expertly blends different tones to render skin, hair, and facial features in lifelike relief.
