Successful paintings have the power to immediately engage the soul before the mind has a chance to dissect or critique the work. Will Harmuth's creations exert such an influence, drawing the onlooker into frames filled with intriguing perspectives. Whether a piece revels in gorgeously muted abstraction or deftly articulates a regional artifact, landscape or flesh, he always infuses the art with an uncanny emotional dimension marked by a unique atmospheric spaciousness.
When asked about the sources of his inspiration, Harmuth says, “Whether it is the light of day, the beautiful textures of an old sycamore tree or a local stream trickling over icy rocks in the woods, I find great satisfaction in painting those moments in time. I like to paint the ordinary and make it extraordinary—as I see it.”
Harmuth's vigorous strokes and poetic appropriation of paint ignite zones of appealing light and grit. Rich textures tangle and accumulate until they achieve a satisfying level of saturation.
Here one can see anew that which the rush of routine or over familiarity has robbed from perception.
Although this veteran painter has a considerable academic background and has been mentored by gifted artists and instructors, there is nothing dry or overly cerebral about his art. Harmuth stays tuned into his immediate emotional responses to the memories of people and places when developing a new work. He explains, “I always try to focus greatly on what emotionally grabs my attention and [try] feverishly to get that feeling onto the canvas.”
Hundreds of exceptional paintings testify to the fact that this is a winning strategy for Harmuth. He is unfettered in his ability to construct images that subtly activate the imagination and explore an enchanted integration of form and feeling.
