Charlie harper artist wiki

Charley Harper () was a famed, wildlife illustrator best known for his geometric, whimsical interpretations of nature. Later, Harper would refer to his artistic style as minimal realism. With technical drawing tools such as French curves, compasses, and straight-edges in hand, Harper created illustrations of his subjects that included what he thought were the most important features nothing more. As he developed his unique style, his interests in wildlife and conservation grew.¹ Explaining his style, Harper remarked, “When I paint a bird, I paint the wing, not the feathers.”² Though Harper’s style didn’t influence the world of fine art, his works did have a major impact on design and have been mass-produced and sold through an extensive variety of products from prints to books, puzzles, and more.³ One can see this vast array of products through authorized dealer websites such as, Charley Harper Prints.

Born in Frenchton, West Virginia, Harper left his family farm to attend the Art Academy of Cincinnati in Ohio.⁴ Through his education at the Academy, Harper learned and practiced realism in his art but felt it offered nothing new for the subject or viewer and limited his desire to include commentary. Often referred to as the “anti-Audubon” wildlife artist for his lack o

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