Observational Painter • Environmental & Community Art Advocate

Born in East Germany, my family emigrated to Canada when I was seven, settling in Regina, Saskatchewan. I developed an interest in painting along with a couple of friends just prior to and throughout high school. We explored painters that appealed to us without a historical consideration, jumping from DaVinci to Van Gogh, Constable to Breugel, Vermeer and Giotto to Cezanne and Corot, and on and on. Just three guys on their own, set loose in the stacks of the Regina Public Library and excited by art.

When I started my BFA studies, first in Regina and then finishing at NSCAD, I found it hard to accept the idea that the progression of art necessarily meant invalidating prior movements. This was especially true since primitive, folk, and outsider art, such as the artists in the Prinzhorn Collection, were all outside the main art historical narrative but important to me nonetheless.

Harry Hamm – November Featured Artist

• Posted by
• VANS
• November 6, 2014

My work is based in observation and often stems from the joy of looking intently at something. It is a luxury to stare, and rendering with pencil or paint is my way of giving permission to do so. Recurring subjects include fish, flowers, fowl, and numerous potato portraits. Sometimes my work reflects environmental considerations. Early botanical illustrations are a significant inspiration, often overlooked in the story of art.

Window for the wider community

I joined VANS during its slide library days. I have served as the VANS regional board representative and participated in regional group exhibitions. Living outside Halifax, I rely on reviews and profiles to stay connected with local artistic practice. VANS is an important resource for artists and, through Visual Arts News, a valuable window for the wider community interested in and supporting the arts. I have exhibited at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, which also holds my work in its permanent collection, as well as in the collections of the Nova Scotia Art Bank and private collectors in Canada, the U.S., and Germany.

The joy of looking intently

I find joy in observing and capturing what I see. My subjects often include fish, flowers, fowl, and potato portraits. My work sometimes explores environmental themes. Early botanical illustrations continue to inspire me, highlighting aspects often ignored in mainstream art narratives.

Balancing financial work and artistic practice

Like many VANS members, I have balanced part-time jobs—ranging from dishwashing and janitorial work to painting houses—with my artistic pursuits. I have worked for the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery, and the Provincial Art Bank. I also operated the Petpeswick Picture Gallery, hosting group shows and solo exhibitions from our home. These jobs provided financial stability but often limited my time and energy for creating art. I have also been fortunate to spend time at home with my two children while my wife provided the family income.

The power of art to bring joy

My roles at the Nova Scotia Art Bank and Saint Mary’s University involved collection management, ensuring artworks were safely housed and appropriately placed in non-gallery venues like government offices and university spaces. Most recipients appreciated the art, which often reached audiences who wouldn’t typically visit galleries. When works weren’t well received, we would replace them, recognizing that in non-gallery settings, art can evoke a range of reactions—bringing joy to some and anxiety to others.

Looking forward to more staring and creating

Now, as a new pensioner, I hope to spend more time observing, drawing, and painting, and eventually exhibiting some of my work.

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