Hello and Welcome to my website! This page is updated every month so bookmark this page and visit often. Here you will find a series of drawings, doodles, and paintings from the age of 5yrs up to present day -right now I'm almost 33. I am currently living in Los Angeles, California while publishing a book about my travels to the Peruvian Amazon. Hopefully the page doesn't take too long to load. Thank you for visiting and enjoy the trip through time! (click "Refresh" for latest update)

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Creation Begins: Born August 1977, Morgan Hill, California


I don't remember drawing this, but I wonder what the yellow circle
above my head is, and why I drew red lines all over it.
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This is one of my favorite early drawings-
I'm not sure what is happening with the nose.
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Thanksgiving drawing on a plastic oven bake plate.
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I have hearts on my cheeks, and hearts floating out
of my head leading to a tree in a bubble. Interesting?
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Moved to San Juan Bautista, population 2,000, 1983

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I enjoyed reading MAD Magazine as a child.
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Like most kids, I was an instant fan of The Simpsons TV show.
Again, shows something that had an impact on my life at a certain age.
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Entered San Benito High School, Hollister, California 1991

I thought low-rider art and cars were so cool. In this drawing, I
wanted to use my imagination a little more so I added a few giant hands.
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Another influence on my life at an early age: Comic Heroes.
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Three years after this drawing, I will find myself enlisted in the
United States Marine Corps.
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Expanding my imagination with lines, movement,
hidden creatures, and a red pen.
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The 8-Ball was popular in 10th grade, and I drew a few of these
for friends at school when I should have been doing class work.
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I enjoyed Reggae music and listening to Bob Marley, which
had a big impact on the way I thought about life and myself.
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I began drawing with pen and ink this year and found it
much better to work with than pencil. I have too many to post here.
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First Painting, c.1994, Acrylic on watercolor paper


I was afraid to use color and paint for many years because I didn't know how
to mix colors. I was given an acrylic paint set and this is what came out onto canvas.
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The artist MC Escher had a big influence on the way I viewed reality.
This is a sample of the free flowing style of art I enjoyed.
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Graffiti Art was popular in High School, and allowed me to use my
imagination in new ways- exploring shape, design, and color.
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A fast pencil sketch for a high school art class.
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I drew this for an art magazine while I was still in high school, and after a few
months it was finally published while I was in Marine Corps Boot Camp.
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Joined The US Marines, age 18, 10/1995


I didn't want to go to college after high school because I really didn't enjoy the education
system. I felt like I should do something with my life, so I joined the US Marines.
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Stationed in Okinawa Japan for 1 year, 1996-1997

Typical style of ink drawings found in my sketchbooks for a few years while I
was in the Marines. I have a few hundred, but only posted this one here.
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Letting my imagination run wild on sketchbook paper. Okinawa Japan.
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The new generation of Marines:
Raised with TV, Computers, and Video Games.
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"Happy Valentines Day"
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Pen and Ink, I really enjoyed drawing hair.
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Stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 1997-99

I have always been fascinated by the limitless depths
of imagination. Things just appear out of seemingly nowhere.
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I think mushroom people are cool.
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One of many drawings I did while sitting in my small barracks
room at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
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My Marine roommate Jason Harris inspired this drawing.
I wanted to capture the feeling of finally being set free from the Marines.
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Our ability to Imagine and Create is part of what makes humans
so special. I like to find ways to EXPAND my Imagination.
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I saw this image of starving children in Africa in a magazine. I added
"got milk" to put things into perspective. We have so much in America.
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This pen drawing took several days to complete, whereas
most sketchbook drawings take me about an hour.
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Pen and ink, with colored pencil.
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Sergeant Harris discharged from the Marines! 10/99
Living in Fremont California 3 months, then move to Santa Cruz

After 4 years in the Military, I was happy to have my freedom back.
I worked in an office for a few years and didn't draw too often.
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First Watercolor Painting (experiment), 2001

I bought some watercolors and this is what happened.
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Stretching the skin to reveal the cells and spaces in between.
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Watercolor with pen and ink. After one of MC Escher's drawings.
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Logo Design: Scotts Valley Chamber Art & Wine Festival '02
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Bubble Boy was born with a flying chair because
he has round feet and has difficulty walking.

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After working in an office for a few years, I wanted to figure out what to
do with my life. So my girlfriend and I sold everything and we decided to
volunteer on organic farms in France, and then hike 350 miles across Northern Spain
6/2002

watercolor, 5" x 8", 9-2-02
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watercolor, 5" x 8", 9-4-02
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watercolor, 5" x 8", 9-16-02
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After returning from France and Spain I moved to Portland,
Oregon with only my car, a few clothes, and a credit card.
My dream was to be a fulltime self-employed artist.

9/2002

2002 - Begin selling original artwork on ebay.com
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2002 - Discovering new colors and designs.
Looking at new ways to express feelings and emotion.
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2002 - Playing around with abstraction, texture, and color.
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2003 - Trying out different ideas for modern decorative abstract paintings.
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2003 - One of many commissioned pet portraits
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2003 - Lilly Pond, 24" x 30", acrylic on canvas. Painted from a photograph.
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2003 - Inspired by Native American/ Southwest Art. I love the
colors and imagery of this style of art. It really speaks to me.
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2004 - A transition to calm landscapes. Here, I really begin to meditate
while painting. Thinking about my life, and what is most important to me.
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2004 - 15 different paintings licensed and published in 4 countries.
This is "decorative art" but it allowed me to continue painting,
meditating, and exploring my inner world. *This painting was featured in
the 2008 Movie, BABY MAMA (see below)
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2005 - Continue to paint landscapes
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2005 - Exploring texture - Tuscany Series
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2005 - Gallery Exhibitions at Graystone, Zeek, Ballentyne,
and Dragonfire Galleries, Oregon
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2006 - Exhibition at DragonFire Gallery, Cannon Beach OR
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2006 - Published Artwork - Discovering different techniques and styles
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2006 - Abstract Meets Tuscany- I loved getting into red paint!
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2006 - Learning how to express certain feelings through the artwork.
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2006 - Art Cards: Sold online and at art galleries
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2006 - Tuscany Reflections, 36" x 48" I was inspired by water
reflections from another artist and adapted it to my style of painting.
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4.20.06: Sold everything I owned and lived in the Amazon region of Peru for 1 year.
I took one year off from painting and creativity, and focused on finding answers to life's questions. In the Amazon, I worked with a visionary/shamanic plant called Ayahuasca which allowed me to view reality from a different perspective, and has changed my life forever.......You can see the change by looking at the Before (Tuscan Paintings above), and After: (New Art Below)

Links:





4/2007 - "The Self Is Within" a Self Portrait, 48x48"
- The eye is the window to the Real Self-
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4/2007 - "What Are You Looking At?" 48x48"
Am I aware of who I am?
And, do I know why I am here?
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5/2007 - "I AM" 48x36"
*Click Painting for more details.
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5/2007 - "Secret To Life" 36x48"
*Click Painting for more details.
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6/2007 - "Human Life, Day 1" 48x48"
*Click Painting for more details.
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6/2007 - "Entering The Light" 48x48"
*Click Painting for more details.
(photo credit: source image for this painting came from google images. attempting to locate photographer, original painting not for sale)
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7/2007 - "The Happiness Factor" 48x48"
*Click Painting for more details.
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7/2007 - "The Answer" 48x48"
*Click Painting for more details.
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"Awakening To Our Power"


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"War Is Insanity" 11x14, Pen and Ink, 12/07
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"Love and Fear" 11x14, Pen and Ink, 1/08
In each moment I have a choice. Am I choosing Love or Fear?
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"Balanced Earth" 8 1/2 x 11, Pen and Ink, 2/08
Everything that exists within creation is
always (in all ways) balanced.
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2/08 The beginning of a"WAKE UP!" campaign.
I often ask myself, "How aware am I? Could I be more aware?"
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"Feel Me" 12 x 36, Acrylic on Canvas, 2/08
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"The Great Observer" 10 x 24, Acrylic on Canvas, 5/08
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"Be What You Are" 18 x 18, Acrylic On Canvas, 5/08
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"Seeing Through Illusions" 12 x 12, Mixed Media 7/08
(click for more details)

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"Evolution Of Consciousness" 12 x 12, Mixed Media 8/08
(click for more details)

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My first book has been printed!!!
"Journal: Into the heart of the Amazon in search of Truth"

My art is featured in the 2008 Movie BABY MAMA, Starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler,
and my girlfriend and I just had a baby girl on November 16, 2008!

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"Bringers Of Light" 30x40", Acrylic on Canvas 12/08 *Commission for L.Ransom
(click for more details)
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"The Awakening" 5 x 7, Acrylic on Canvas Panel 1/09
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"Granchi UFO Symbols" 48 x 60, Fluorescent Acrylic Paint on Canvas
Commissioned by Marcin in Poland, 1/09
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"Vortex #7" Acrylic on Canvas, 6x6" 02/09
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"Venice Beach" Acrylic on Canvas, 9x6" 03/09
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"The Creator", 24x24" Commission 4/09
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WAKE UP! Mixed Media,12x12" 6/09
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Per W""PEACE" Acrylic on Canvas, 48x36" 06/09
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"Fly A Kite" Acrylic on Canvas, 6x8" 01/10
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- Click Image for more info -
The "WAKE UP!" Van, 1991 Ford E250, 8 Cylinder Mobile Art Studio
Have you seen me driving around Los Angeles?



"Deep Sea Peace" Acrylic on Canvas, 12x6" 04/10/10
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"World Hatch" Acrylic on Canvas, 12x6" 4/20/10

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2010 Little Dream House Coloring Contest Winner: Ellison, Los Angeles, CA
Acrylic on Canvas 11x14" 5/5/10 (by Joel Harris)

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..............

*Right now I am living in Venice, California and have just published a book about my
2006 journey to the Amazon, living with Shipibos, experiences with Ayahuasca, and my own search for TRUTH.







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counter start date: 1/17/2008

.copyright 2010 JRHarris www.joelharrisstudio.com