Upon relocating to California in 2020, Alex Harman began exploring new grounds for figurative painting. It was at this point he encountered the relatively smooth surface on the inner side of eucalyptus tree bark. After initial explorations with this material, he quickly recognized them as an evocative medium of expression in themselves. His recent work emerges from the unadorned beauty of these objects of nature, reminiscent of the lyrical expressions of the human form.

Alex grew up in an artistic family, inspired at an early age by his stepmother, Vermont artist Judith Lerner. Following an early education at the Putney School, he pursued biological illustration at UCSC and illustration at ArtCenter College of Design. He then engaged in an in-depth échorché study under sculptor and anatomist Frank Porcu at the Art Students League in Manhattan. A prodigious collection of subsequent works on paper demonstrate his skill as a draftsman of the human figure.

He is a multi-talented artist who has produced works in a variety of media including charcoal, watercolor, photography, and digital media. Previously his art has featured representational subjects, demonstrating his keen eye for observation and naturalistic rendering. His work as a commercial artist is highly prized for its photorealistic renderings unachievable with traditional photographic techniques.

Alex's work has been displayed in group shows in Manhattan, Jersey City and Paso Robles, CA, and is included in several personal collections.

His studio is on the property of Bamboo Giant alongside his brother’s, Santa Cruz area painter and muralist Bruce Harman. 

Alex Harman’s TreeShells can be seen at Artisans Gallery (ARTISANS & agency) in Santa Cruz, or purchase directly from the artist.

Custom orders are also accepted.
Contact Alex directly for more details.