Harry Sargent, on location, the Adriatic

Harry Sargent
FEATURE artist April 2017

A resident of Lake Jackson, TX, Harry Sargent is a retired Dow Chemical Company engineer. Harry began oil painting in Doris Munson’s class at Brazosport College in 1969. His production of art increased after retirement in 2001.

He has been active in the Brazosport Art League in various positions. He enjoys art inspired by faces and his occasional vacations. He paints in oils and sketches in pencil and pen.

Brazosport Art League Website

PSST:  Harry, PSST is fortunate to be exhibiting Art of the Pastel 2017 in the gallery at Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences. The Center is unique in that it is super successful yet is located in a small town. What is the story behind the gallery and Brazosport Art League?

Harry:  Our Art League was organized in 1955.  They had short term shows in the Bank lobby and in parks for several years.  It was very active through the years but the most significant event was the organization of a Fine Arts Council in 1970.  With it came corporate funding and in 1976 we moved into our present facilities which also houses two theaters, a historical museum, and a planetarium.  
 
The Center has a full time staff which deals with maintenance, utilities, insurance, annual membership drives, and advertising.  It is a major recipient of the Motel Tax of Lake Jackson and Clute.

State Capitol, pen and ink by Harry Sargent

Engineering + art

PSST:  You are an artist with an engineering background. What influence has your career had on your art?

Harry:  One of the shortcomings of an engineering background is unfounded confidence!  I like to think organization skills come with a natural engineering nature.  My colleagues laugh at my use of tape measures and calculations in hanging our shows.  
 
My artistic tendencies are supposed to be from another portion of the brain.  I learned perspectives from engineering drawing and also having an art major roommate. I do portraits utilizing a caliper to achieve improved likeness,  i.e. eye width to spacing between the eyes, nose length, lips, etc.

Painting by Harry Sargent

Painting by Harry Sargent

PSST:  As Exhibition Chair for BAL, what are your thoughts on framing and presentation in a show overall, and in sales in particular?

Harry:  I learned show hanging from a very artistic lady with considerations of compatible colors and subjects.  I introduced her to groupings of art as opposed to the traditional 60” viewing and aligning by bottom, center, or top edges of the frames.
 
The capacity of the Gallery is always an issue, what spacing is possible between individual pieces and within groupings.  We had a Taiwanese artist who taught me the importance of allowing the eye to rest between pieces.  This is not always possible with group shows.   
 
I am very sensitive to the tautness of the support wire which prevents the art from falling away from the wall at the piece’s top. 
 
Marketability of art is a more difficult subject.  Mats and frames can enhance or distract from the art.  They are an extension of the taste of the artist. 
 
I personally am attracted to art which extends over the mat or the paper which is “floating” away from the base.  These are both artistic tricks of the eye.  These may not be consistent with the pastel medium. 

Painting by Harry Sargent

PSST:  You are the administrator of BAL’s FaceBook page. What role do you think social media has to play in an artist’s career?

Harry:  Artists thrive on interactions with other artists and aficionados.  The Center maintains a fine arts website but this is more structured than FaceBook.
 
Facebook can present comments, photos, and videos.  It also has a notification process when entries are made to those who have “liked” previous entries.  It is also easier to maintain than a website.  Facebook does not delete any entries which can be an advantage or frustration.
 
Another media site which I have found invaluable is WETCANVAS.  Registration is free and offers international interaction with artists of all mediums. 
 
Another fun deviation from the original question is the website VIRTUAL PAINTOUT in respect to landscapes.  International sites are selected monthly using GOOGLE EARTH as the source.  Watercolor and pastels are used very effectively and there are no copyright issues since the artist essentially takes a screen-save of a personally selected street view location. 
 
I appreciate your giving me a chance to pontificate and am looking forward to the quality of art which your group will bring to our Gallery.

New York, by Harry Sargent

PSST:  You have been involved with BAL in different capacities, Harry. What can you tell our own members about the advantages of volunteering?

Harry:  I don’t know if I can comment on the advantages of volunteering but rather the personal benefits.  This broadens my life experiences with the people I associate with and the sense of accomplishment and contribution to my community. 
 
I am also associated with the local historical association and city planning.  This has given me a perspective of the functioning of different organizations, individual talents and personalities, and financial organizations.

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The Center for the Arts & Sciences, 400 College Blvd, Clute TX 77531