Artist Corner
Larenzo Harry seeks to capture spirit of his subjects
In his portraits , artist Larenzo Harry seeks to capture the essence of his subject whether it ’ s the innocent laugh on a child ’ s face or the wrinkly brow of a senior adult .
“ I love drawing people and the reason why … is because I love drawing the spirit of the person ,” said Harry , who taught himself to draw as a young boy growing up in Meridian .
A person ’ s spirit comes from their expression and mannerisms , he said . For example , if someone is not feeling well , it usually can be seen on their face . If someone is really happy , they tend to glow . A baby ’ s face is full of innocence , and the face of an older person is wrinkled from life and their experiences .
“ I am trying to do you ,” he said . “ I am not trying to give you something that looks like you .”
His favorite subjects are children and senior adults .
“ I love drawing babies because to me the babies are the closest thing to God , and the purity that they express , I love capturing it ,” he said . “ Old folks in their face , they tell the story of their whole life . That is what I like about them .”
A unique portraitist , much of what Harry knows about art is self taught
Story by Glenda Sanders Photo by Thomas Howard
Artist Larenzo Harry
although he took the typical high school art class and , later in life , enrolled in classes at Meridian Community College to sharpen his skills , working with MCC art instructor John Marshall .
Harry works in pencils , ink , charcoal and acrylic mediums .
Much of the detail in his work comes from his use of the grid method , which involves drawing a grid over his reference photo and then drawing a grid of equal ratio on a blank canvas . He then draws the image from the photo on his canvas , focusing on one square of the grid at a time . He draws just what is in the square until the entire image is completed .
Portraits are his specialty , but his work also features
I am focusing on my art , because I feel like if I die tomorrow I want to leave a legacy . I want it to be said I did something that will be remembered forever .
Larenzo Harry
downtown landmarks , especially buildings in Meridian ’ s historic African American district , such as the now demolished E . F . Young Hotel and the old Meridian Cab Company .
Born in 1956 , Harry is the son of the late Dorothy Baskin , who was a longtime employee of the Meridian Public School District , and A . J . Baskin , a former truck driver who operated the cab company for years .
Harry credits his mom for encouraging him to pursue art .
“ My mom went to night school and she worked during the daytime . She encouraged me when I got home to do my homework and draw , so I just started drawing ,” he said . “ I would practice out of comic books , trying to figure out how they do it .”
Fresh out of high school , Harry gave up any thoughts of art since he was newly married and got busy with life and a family . He worked many jobs over the decades , eventually landing at Weems Mental Health , where he was a direct care worker up until the COVID-19 pandemic hit .
Now retired , Harry concentrates mainly on his art . His works were on exhibit at the Meridian Museum
8 • MERIDIAN LIFE