A normal day for Longview student Maxwell Harmon includes going to classes at Blue Springs High School, coming to Longview for classes, and then spending at least 10 hours working on his art. Even though they are long days, Harmon still finds time to master his hobbies, work, and to make more art for the art show he has opening on June 1.
“He works really hard to create his artwork and make it different and exciting,” said Whitney Brown, a student at MCC-Longview and a co-worker of Harmon. “He really listens to people and gets into long conversations about any topic. Max’s stories about doing his art work outside of school and work are gripping, too. He’s crazy for his art.”
Harmon does many types of art, but focuses mainly on painting. He has been working on expanding his painting styles since he was 11 years old, he said, and now works with painting in forms of acrylic, oil, spray paint, and multi-media. Aside from doing it as a hobby, he is even paid to do art at work, where he creates art for sale to the public.
“Art is an education. It’s my past and my future. Everything I do I can turn back into art,” said Harmon. Art has played a big role in his life, which is part of his motivation for his art show which he has coming up. The show is on June 1, part of First Fridays at the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City 18th and Baltimore Streets). Harmon said he’s been preparing for the show since December and has been working on it for 10 to 15 hours a day. The show will highlight artwork he has created, with pieces such as an 8 x 12-foot tree of life, graffiti murals, t-shirts, custom guitars, skateboards and more, all inside of a moving truck.
To see some of his artwork, search “Maxwell Harmon” on Youtube.
“Art is the trunk in my tree of life,” said Harmon. LIke a tree, Harmon’s art skill and experience can only grow.
June 1, 2012
Entertainment