"I paint what delights me,
light and movement,
music and dance."

Biography

I was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. After a commercial art education in Vancouver, I worked in the field for 10 years as an illustrator, graphic designer and art director. Unhappy with the increasing role of computers in my work, I left commercial art in 1995 to become a full-time fine artist. In 2014 we left Vancouver, and now reside in Ottawa, Ontario.

Music and dance have always been a big part of my life and a major inspiration to me. I am a dancer of English cultural traditions: Morris, long sword, rapper sword, English country dance and also contra dance. I am also a teacher, caller, and dance leader in all of these dance forms. When I depict dancers I'm working from my own experience of what it feels like to dance, the movement, and the joy. Many of the musicians in my paintings are friends. I couldn't ask for better inspiration than the glorious music they make.

Artist Statement

No matter what the subject of my artwork is, it always contains music and dance. I'm working with colour chords, and rhythms of marks. Making a visual composition is like a composing a melody. As I work, my brush or pencil dances over the surface. Do I listen to music as I work? Definitely!

I make narrative art that leads you beyond the confines of the canvas into a heightened reality. I want to light up your other senses by creating shapes and patterns that make music in your head; using colours that sing in your eyes.

Members of Tiddley Cove Morris of Vancouver BC, after dancing up the dawn on May Day. I'm in the centre, front, next to the May Queen.

June Harman
june@juneharman.com