Steven Harris is a Studio Art teacher at Redwood High School who shapes and inspires the student artists of Redwood.
By: Madison Moya
Behind every great artist is a great art teacher. The talents of teachers often go unnoticed.
Mr. Steven Harris took a lot of steps before becoming an art teacher.
“I was a graphic designer, and I did a lot of different things. Finally, I decided you can make a living doing art, and so I went all into it…I’m really happy being an art teacher now,” he says.
Deciding on an art career didn’t come without backlash for Harris.
He says, “I was always told there are no jobs in art, don’t do it, and I believed these knuckleheads that say that kind of stuff because it’s not true.”
Harris doesn’t agree with those who don’t believe art could be a real job. Art is everywhere, you just have to look in the right places.
He says, “Almost everything is visually based. Look at Hollywood, many jobs are in Hollywood, jobs in graphics and in magazines and websites.”
Harris doesn’t just stick to one art style.
Photo by M. Moya/Gigantea
“[My art style] is eclectic. It means a little bit of everything, because I teach, I have to teach everything, all the different styles. I can appreciate the good things from all the styles,” he says.
Nobody is too good to get better, even Mr. Harris.
“I’m always trying to improve, like everybody is,” he says
Harris has promising words for any artist out there worried about going into the art career.
He says, “Pursue it. Don’t use it as a second choice, go for it, and go when you’re young, and when you’re not married and you’re single, and you can move to Hollywood or San Francisco or Atlanta, or wherever the jobs are. Go for it.”
Madison Moya
Tags: art, artist, arts & entertainment, humans of redwood, Mr.Harris, redwood high school, studio art, teachers
