Frank Harris’s art isn’t defined by one medium, style or subject matter. The Jefferson Drive painter and illustrator is more concerned with giving his artwork humor and deeper meaning, challenging himself to try something new with each piece.

“I have this crazy drive to paint stuff,” Harris said. “It helps keep my sanity. I just lose my mind in it.”

Harris is a formally trained, full-time artist, with a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. A Mt. Lebanon resident since 1991, Harris raised his two sons here, Sam and Max, mostly as a single dad after his wife, Thomasina Keremes, passed away from breast cancer in 2005. Harris worked on the design team for the Thomasina line of wedding gowns. His partner, pathologist Teresa LaCaria, is also a CMU graduate and Jefferson Drive resident.

Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Harris’s interest in art began at a young age. Cartoons were a gateway for him to discover art, as he was drawn to the inherent dichotomy between childlike animation with scored orchestra music that was featured in many cartoons of the ’60s and ’70s. “As a child, I realized there’s high art in everything,” he remarked.

His fascination with cartoons carries over into his work, even today, as seen in Bittersweet Symphony, on display in his recent gallery showing at Borelli Cellars in the Galleria. The show featured a wide range of pieces from Harris, with animals, historical figures, football players and many more subjects. His favorite paintings are usually “figurative pieces about subject matter that’s political, spiritual or fun. Sometimes I have an agenda,” said Harris.

A set of these paintings with an agenda recently won the People’s Choice Award at the Westmoreland Arts Fair. The artwork is a commentary on the current political climate, depicting George Washington atop a horse with his hand outstretched. In one, his middle finger is extended; in the other, he’s making a peace sign.

Animals are another subject matter that Harris enjoys painting, as he often explores the relationship between animals and people. “All living things are united,” he said. “A tiger is just as amazing as a human.” Harris said he feels a deeper understanding of an animal after spending so long painting it in
painstaking detail.

This level of detail is something newer to his work. Lately he uses oil-based paint, which takes longer to dry, so there is more time for him to carve out details before it’s set. Harris said he’s working with more fine detail and figuration now compared to his early work.

In addition to painting, Harris is also a well-established illustrator, with a diverse portfolio of artwork for Vanity Fair, the Major League Baseball’s All Star Games, Pittsburgh Magazine, Baltimore Magazine and several book covers. “I get a lot of joy out of doing illustration,”Harris noted.

Even with an already diverse portfolio, he hopes to continue evolving and trying new styles. “I’ve always wanted to do plein air painting, where you actually go out and set up a portable easel and paint right from nature,” Harris explained. “I think that would be fun because I’m a real studio artist. It’s kind of a dream of mine.”

Viewing every piece as a fresh opportunity, Harris said, “I’m always challenging myself to make a masterpiece.”

You can find Harris’s artwork on his website, and Instagram @frankh349. Stay tuned for Harris’s newest artwork next month on the December cover of Mt. Lebanon Magazine, featuring a snowy, seasonal scene.