Melvin Harris

Melvin Harris was born and raised in Harlem, NY. He has been a resident of St. Albans, Vt. for the past six years.

His interest in a career as an artist began early in life. He fondly remembers taking some of the Art Instruction School’s “Draw Me” courses. He spent a good amount of his after-school time and weekends visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. It was the freedom of expression in  the works of the modernists that impressed him most.

After his tour in Vietnam, he moved to California where he re-connected with his desire to be an artist. He took classed in watercolor and acrylic painting, life drawing, graphic art and design, technical illustration and airbrush photo retouching (taught by Sol Dember of Jet Propulsion Laboratory).

The advent of the personal computer brought new opportunities and challenges for many people and artists were certainly no exception. There was an entirely new frontier to explore. Melvin decided to learn this new technology and earned an Associates Degree in Electronics Technology. During several years he worked as a computer technician, as a production manager of a local advertising publication and he did freelance graphics and illustration which included an album cover project for CBS records. He also studied most of the new art oriented computer programs that were being produced.

Melvin found his medium of expression in 3D landscapes and modeling, specifically Ultra Fractal and Apophysis. These programs generate patterns and designs using highly complex mathematical formulas and calculations. For Melvin, it was love at first “byte”. These programs allowed him the freedom to create and explore an infinite variety of patterns, designs and color combinations as well as produce one-of-a-kind images that inspire and amaze. Melvin produces prints on watercolor paper and fine art matte paper using Epson Ultrachrome ink.

Please visit his website for more examples of his work.