In Conversation With Sophia Harrison
Sophia Harrison's art encompasses a raw and vulnerable energy that often mirrors surrealism. Her body of work includes both traditional art and photography in which the human body and emotions are at the center. Recently, Salt Lily had the privilege to ask Sophia a few questions.
How did you start doing art?
I just gradually came about it. I’ve always doodled and sketched, but when I was ten, my elementary school art teacher introduced me to the various mediums and styles of art. I realized that I enjoyed creating art after I did a painting of a pink dragon in an elementary school art class. The assignment was to do a painting of a dragon symbolizing our fears, so I painted a cancer dragon. My mom had stage four breast cancer, and was mid-treatment at the time. My dragon, a pink breast cancer dragon, was selected along with one other to be hung up at a hospital for a few months. That was when I realized I actually liked art. I had poured all my pent up emotions regarding my mom’s cancer into that painting, and in doing so I realized the beautiful capabilities of art. I didn’t start doing art “professionally” (i.e. selling art, doing commissions, and seeking out showing opportunities) until middle school.
How would you describe your style?
Edgy women? lol. Just kidding. I think I have a very free-form style of painting. My drawings are traditional in that I like to capture human anatomy as it appears, but my painting style is more loose. I say that my medium is watercolor, but really I work in mixed media. I normally like to incorporate other mediums over the top of my finished watercolor work. Some of these mediums include silver metallic pen, regular pen, graphite, ink, and even acrylic.
Who are some of your influences?
Each of these artists have inspired my work in various ways:
Agnes Cecile (@agnes_cecile) is my watercolor idol. Her style is absolutely perfect in my eyes.
Tracy Lewis (@tracylewisartstudio). Her watercolors are so incredible. Her color palettes are unreal, and her technique is flawless at conveying a “real” image.
Hellen Jo (@helllllenjjjjjo) is another inspiration to me. Her edgy skater style is such a vibe and she is the god of street art in my opinion. I’ve got a tattoo of one of her pieces on my ankle.
Kim Hyunji (@kimkimkimxx). She works in acrylic, but her style is something I’ve learned from for years. Her brushstrokes are sporadic and her colors are gorgeous. I can’t get enough of her paintings
Xenia Lau (@xenia.lau). Her photography style and palette choices are amazing. I hope to be as talented as her one day!
What is your creative process like?
Normally, I just feel inspired, sit down and work until I’m finished with the painting. I find myself inspired by portrait photography, nature, and certain emotions. Normally I sit for 4 to 10 hours straight to complete a painting.
What is your favorite medium to use?
Watercolors, hands down.
Do you have a favorite theme to make art about? & Is there a general question or an idea you’re trying to convey to your audience?
Emotion. Every piece is tied to a particular emotion, some emotions are describable and others are not as they were a complex emotion experienced by myself. I hope to evoke emotions in others. Maybe help people feel something.
How is your traditional art different from your photography?
Tonally they’re similar, but I tend to focus more on the environment my models are in than the model itself in my photography. In photography, I enjoy playing with the environment and the lighting whereas I enjoy simple portraiture and stylistic portraiture in my painting.
I have noticed you draw a lot of women is there a particular reason for that?
I love the strength and beauty of the female face. I just see such ferocity and power in the eyes of a woman, eyes that are juxtaposed by the serene beauty of a woman's face. I paint emotions, and the depth of emotion can be found in the woman’s eye.
What is your favorite piece you’ve ever created?
My piece titled “Searching” is my favorite piece I’ve done. Stylistically, it’s the most aesthetically pleasing, in my opinion. It is also just a piece I feel very emotionally connected to.
Searching
What are some of your goals as an artist?
I just want to connect with people. Nothing more. If I can make someone feel something when they see my work I’ve already accomplished what I set out to.
Do you have any exciting projects coming up?
Yes! I’m always creating new paintings. You can see them when they’re done on my instagram page @s.q.harrison. Soon I’ll be releasing a series of paintings that I’ve been working on so follow my page if you’re interested. I also have some local shows coming up so all my local peeps keep a lookout!
