Margo Harrison

FLAG Founding Member

BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1945 in Vancouver, Margo was raised near Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. She majored in fine arts at the University of Victoria where she studied painting with Toni Onley and earned a Bachelor of Education degree.

Margo taught "Painting in the Parks" classes from 1967 to 1972 for the Federation of Canadian Artists. She was a teacher and art specialist in the Surrey School District for thirty-four years before retiring in 2002.

Margo began watercolour painting in 1985 and started sculpting clay "Comfort Cats" in 1998. She has been working in mixed media since 2004.

Her work has been displayed in galleries and exhibition centres throughout British Columbia.

Private collections in Europe, United States, Australia and Canada contain her paintings and sculptures.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT
"I tend to work in series, exploring an idea thoroughly before moving on. My paintings focus on light, shadows, shapes and textures as I narrow the field of vision on subjects such as totem poles and organic shapes. To provide a challenge and a pleasing balance, I sculpt life-size figures of sleeping cats out of clay (Comfort Cats).

I see my future works celebrating sunshine, uplifting spirits, calming frayed nerves and exploring different themes and media."

  COMFORT CATS
Each Comfort Cat is an original sculpture which starts out as a lump of wet earthenware clay. No molds are used, and no two are alike. Once the cat has been hand-formed, it is hollowed out, dried, sanded and fired in a kiln.
Acrylic paint is applied by brush and sponge and the sculpture is finished with a clear acrylic spray. Baskets, mats and cushions are used to display most cats, depending on their size and pose. The sizes range from miniature desk pets to life-size. Comfort Cats add a calming coziness to a room and have travelled to homes all over the world. Video Clip