HARRY KOYAMA

Harry Koyama, a lifelong resident of Montana was born in 1949 and has always had an interest in art. After graduating from high school, he began formal art training at Montana State University-Billings receiving a Bachelors Degree with an Extended Art Major in 1972. Since that time Harry's award winning sculptures have been shown and collected extensively, including a one man show at the University of Minnesota. 

Harry has turned to oil painting full time as another means of artistic expression finding an affinity to impressionism. His paintings reflect an attraction to the use of interesting texture and most of his work is done with the painting knife in combination with a bold color scheme. Memberships include Oil Painters of America and the Oil Pastel Society with gallery representation in Montana and Wyoming.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"Art is most powerful when rendered through the power of suggestion." Although not a revolutionary statement, that phrase sums up my approach to painting. Avoiding minute detail allows the observer of my art to complete portions of the work with the viewer's own imagination thereby experiencing some of the same feelings that I experienced while conceiving and creating the painting. To that end, I find myself being totally immersed in my work attempting to make certain that every dab of paint has a meaningful purpose. Although accuracy is important, equally important is the human creative process which directly influences the work, something that cannot be created through mechanical means. 

Much of my inspiration for painting can be attributed to my uncle, Ed Burns, an accomplished wildlife and landscape painter and to the work of the Russian master painter Nicolai Fechin. Although creating art can be a struggle at times, the feeling of success when solving problems always makes the effort worthwhile and I, like other artists, strive for that feeling of satisfaction which comes with the completion of a successful work of art."