BIO:

Cristall Harper was born in Texas in 1978. She credits her parents for her early interest in art, due to the art supplies given as gifts each Christmas and birthday, as well as the original artwork that hung around the house. Her family moved to Missouri in 1984 where she graduated high school in 1997 and won the coveted Outstanding Student in Art award among the graduating class. She had a wonderful art teacher, Ms. McCord, who encouraged her to pursue art in college. Harper did just that and graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, emphasis in painting. From 2000-2002, Harper worked on a mural team with well-known Utah artist Linda Christensen and completed ten murals installed in LDS temples around the world: Lubbock, Texas; Monterry, Mexico; Campinas, Brazil; Snowflake, Arizona; Columbia River, Washington; Brisbane, Australia; Redlands, California; Accra, Ghana; Aba, Nigeria and Manhattan, New York. Harper became a full-time artist in 2007 and has enjoyed a fast road to success: she has participated in numerous city, state and national juried competitions, and will be published in Southwest Art magazine in October 2009.

Harper is represented by Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ, Terra Nova Gallery in Provo, UT, Gallery MAR in Park City, UT and Alpine Art in Salt Lake City, UT.

 

Artist Statement: 

Cristall Harper is a realist painter who has searched farm country from Oregon to Massachusetts to find images to paint that take us back to the good old days of apple pie and Grandma’s farm. Her artwork usually emphasizes one object per painting by painting with a strong light source and simple background. Those who observe Harper’s paintings can rediscover a common object, like a cow or tractor, that may otherwise have been passed unseen.  

Harper works in oils from photographs she has taken. Before paint is applied to the panel, it is gessoed, then primed in gray. Harper draws the composition with black charcoal, and then the paint is applied alla prima, Italian for “at once.” Alla prima painting simply means that instead of building up colors with layers that dry between applications, the entire painting is completed while all of the paint is still wet. This method of painting requires impressive skill because final adjustments are not easily made. Harper works quickly to establish first the lightest areas, then the medium tones, and finally the darkest areas. Working quickly allows a freshness to stay in the color and brushwork, and this freshness is vital to her signature look.

Harper’s newest farm series, Pastoral America hearkens back to a simpler time, a slower time. Her farm paintings enrich the feeling in a room and help people feel good about themselves and their living space. Enjoy the art of Cristall Harper and enjoy life!

Examples of her subject matters are tractors, barns, chickens, cows, horses and sheep. Harper shares her enthusiasm and optimism for life by painting farm life: an iconic symbol of vigor and joy.